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I just started a job with a company that does business all over the planet. They will pay me $50/month allowance for company use. I would like to hear from people who use their phones worldwide on what I should do for a service plan (Sprint or other) and a good phone (smartphone not a requirement)?
Frambosie
03-25-2008, 08:15 PM
Your best bet is to look at the Samsung Ace. It was just released about a month ago and is a World phone. What that means, essentially, is that within the United States it operates on Sprint's CDMA network + roaming agreements. The phone also has a GSM radio built in along with an international SIM card that will allow roaming on international GSM carriers. Because GSM is the more popular type of service abroad, i would say this is likely your best bet when your overseas. You would have to contact Sprint directly to determine roaming rates and plans as i do not know these things off hand.
BrettW
03-25-2008, 08:25 PM
i would recommend the ace or 8830, that way you an use your sprint service here, and use a carrier of your choice abroad just get a prepaid sim and your good to go.
badutahboy
03-25-2008, 08:31 PM
Isn't there a blackberry offered that's a worldwide edition as well?
BrettW
03-25-2008, 08:34 PM
thats the 8830
Frambosie
03-25-2008, 08:44 PM
i would recommend the ace or 8830, that way you an use your sprint service here, and use a carrier of your choice abroad just get a prepaid sim and your good to go.
Thanks for that clarification, my wording was a little confusing and i didn't realize that Sprint allowed you to utilize a third party SIM.
Eric Lensherr
03-25-2008, 08:57 PM
It actually depends on how you intend to make and receive calls while you're overseas. If your primary purpose is to allow your US-based colleagues call you while you're overseas, or if you travel to a large number of countries quite often, you're better off switching to a GSM carrier (like AT&T) and paying for the roaming charges. I believe AT&T has an unlimited international roaming package, although I'm not sure how much it costs.
Personally, I don't see why frequent flyers can't carry more than one phone. The only time you'll have 2 phones in your pocket/belt is when you're flying. Other than that, data synchronization either through a Blackberry or Exchange server, or through your personal laptop, should be sufficient to keep the information on both phones in sync.
VDubb
03-25-2008, 09:10 PM
I don't believe AT&T offers an unlimited international plan. It's pretty much the same deal with Sprint and you have to make sure your phone is Quad-band (just like w/ Sprint).
-VDubb
The Red Baron
03-25-2008, 09:15 PM
Depending on how much time you spend outside of the country, it may be worth it for you to get an unlocked phone and stick with pre-paid service both domestically and internationally. If you need a permanent number for domestic use, sign up for grandcentral (http://www.grandcentral.com/).
VDubb
03-25-2008, 10:00 PM
The Samsung Ace and 8830 are SIM unlocked.
-VDubb
CellGeek
03-25-2008, 10:19 PM
Sprint has an unlimited international all you can eat data plan for $80/month. If you don't need voice this is the way to go.
Dan
03-25-2008, 11:27 PM
The Samsung Ace and 8830 are SIM unlocked.
-VDubb
I don't believe that sprint has ever locked their world phones, from the IP-790 and going forward. That has been the big selling point over verizon, and though AT&T or T-Mobile will unlock their phones after X months of service, you have to wait to get em unlocked or pay someone to unlock them.
I have 2 unlocked GSM phones (3rd that needs unlocked) and have no real need to have one device for "everywhere" I might go.
OP: where do you have to travel to the most? Do you travel everywhere, or generally stick to one area?
Mr.Gecko
03-26-2008, 07:27 AM
I won't be traveling to a particular area every time. I will have a couple of clients in the Middle East and in Europe & I may need to go to Japan on some business calls.
That's why I'm looking for a good general phone & plan.
VDubb
03-26-2008, 07:41 AM
Then get the Samsung Ace with the International Calling plan, and when you travel abroad, activate the International Roaming.
-VDubb
CatchMeChillin
03-26-2008, 11:11 AM
We use the Blackberry 8830 and get clear voice AND data in other countries while traveling.
inftaxs
03-26-2008, 11:21 AM
I won't be traveling to a particular area every time. I will have a couple of clients in the Middle East and in Europe & I may need to go to Japan on some business calls.
That's why I'm looking for a good general phone & plan.
Japan uses 3GSM technology on 1700/2100 freq. 3GSM and these frequencies are not supported by any of the phone you mentioned. In general none of the phones used outside of Japan will work in Japan. I think this also applies to South Korea.
VDubb
03-26-2008, 11:45 AM
The Ace has the same international specs as the Blackberry; however, I don't know if there is an Unlimited International Data plan for the Ace.
-VDubb
scotsboyuk
03-26-2008, 04:25 PM
You can use a UMTS handset that supports the 2100 MHz frequency band in Japan. However, whilst there are many European handsets that would be fine for this, they probably wouldn't be the best option for prolonged use in North America, and of course none of them will work on a CDMA network.
xchpstang
03-26-2008, 06:10 PM
Japan uses 3GSM technology on 1700/2100 freq. 3GSM and these frequencies are not supported by any of the phone you mentioned. In general none of the phones used outside of Japan will work in Japan. I think this also applies to South Korea.
South Korea has a CDMA network so regular Sprint phones would be able to roam there.
thepla
03-26-2008, 08:58 PM
I have a Sprint GSM phone that is linked to my account. www.sprint.com/international.
They have one phone that works everywhere including Japan, I opted for the $250 small flip phone (RAVR V3) beause the one that works in Japan was much more money and that is a place I do not go often.
WHen you go out of the country turn off your "Normal CDMA" Sprint phone and when you arrive in the country turn on the GSM Sprint phone. All of these, except the least expensive one, are unlock which means go ahead and buy a SIM card in the other country and you get to use their minute plan of a few cents/minute to call the US. You will not receive calls to your number while using the other SIM card. If you desire for your phone to ring when someone calls your number keep in your Sprint SIM card. Check the prices in some countries, like Russia, the rates are quite high.
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