ISO Unlocked Cell Phone >$20

[thesofine]

I am currently deployed to a location in the world where an unlocked (or unlockable) mobile phone would come in very handy. The options available here for an obvious outsider are WAY too expensive. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[thesofine]

bump?

[newgps]

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-...sku3320226


http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-...sku1190029

[bowlofturtle]

ebay....

there are PLENTY of phones that are unlocked and cheap. very basic phones. you can get a razr for $50 or less. i picked one up last year for $60.

compusa always has a listing of a very BASIC moto candy bar phone for $30,

if you have a tmobile phone, you can try to call and ask them to give you the unlock code for free. They did it for me in the past.

[thesofine]

Quote from newgps : http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-...sku3320226 http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-...sku1190029

Thanks so much newgps!! This is what I was looking for

[rea11y]

Quote from thesofine : Thanks so much newgps!! This is what I was looking for

Well - those links point to two locked phones that would work only in the US.
You need an unlocked Tri or Quad Band GSM Phones.
The main GSM operators in the US are AT&T and T-Mobile. But they obviously sell phones locked to their networks. If you want them unlocked, you have to call/email them and Tmobile unlocks phones after 90 days AND a recharge in the prev 30 days.

The GSM phones operate on 850/1900 MHz in the US and 900/1800 MHz overseas.
So if you just get an 850/1900 Dual Band phone, it will work only in the US.
If you get a triband phone 850/1800/1900, it will work many places overseas. But a quad band phone 850/900/1800/1900 should work everywhere once you unlock it.

Tmobile had some cheap ($29) quad band phones (Motorola V195) plus $10 (min) if you refill it once just before the 90 days and ask it to be unlocked.

[bzhayes]

You need to make sure the phone you buy is going to work where you are located. Let us know what frequency you are going to be using.

Nokia's used to be easy to unlock for free, but the newer models have changed that. Do a little research before you buy one of those phones to verify you can unlock it.