Favourite 'roamer phone'?

adam917 · **Favourite 'roamer phone'? -** 24-01-2010, 02:51

Does anyone here like to carry multiple devices that has different capabilities just to have all the bases covered? Is there a such thing as a device that can do all in-use bands just yet? Here are what I usually carry around:

BlackBerry Bold 9700 (T-Mobile USA version): 3G on 900/AWS/2100, 2G on 850/900/1800/1900 + WiFi w/ UMA
Nokia N95-3: 3G on 850/1900, 2G same as above + WiFi
Sony Ericsson Z750a (debranded to Z750i): 3G on 850/1900/2100, 2G same as above
Aoke 09 watch phone: 2G only on 900/1800/1900 (I would like to replace this with at least something that is quadband for 2G but ideally the LG GD910, though that's extremely expensive for something I'd rarely actually use)

My primary device is the BlackBerry, on a post-paid T-Mobile USA account that has unlimited everything (loyalty plan). This can come in handy when abroad if I use UMA in a WiFi area. The N95-3 is mainly used for photos & video. The Z750a is I guess a backup. It's nice to at least have the ability to run multiple J2ME apps at once. I usually have eKit SIMs or my Celtrek SIM in the other phones besides the BlackBerry, unless I am somewhere that has better offers (read: anywhere outside North America, I would hope - correct me if I'm wrong) locally.

I wonder if LTE will wind up making the frequency band problem more complex or if we're going to eventually see a day when all bands are using LTE and a software radio will just be able to switch between all the bands till it finds a working band. I wonder if anyone here has thought of GSM sunset yet or if we will likely still see GSM in use around, say, 2020.

RTuesday · 24-01-2010, 05:01

For the price (it was under $200 unlocked) my Nokia E51 has been "good enough" to cut down the need to carry extra phones.

It has wifi, 3G 850/2100 and 2G quadband, so all I'm really missing are 3G 1700/1900, and since those are just North America I usually have another alternative (such as 850, or more likely wi-fi).

I do normally carry a basic 2G phone on a trip as well, just for backup or for receiving texts on a second sim. But could do without.

PhotoJim · 24-01-2010, 18:36

I've got an iPhone 3G (HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 and GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900), but it's still locked. It would be nearly perfect if it were unlocked (that's a project on my list).

I recently picked up a Nokia E93 (UMTS 850/1900, GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900) that can be my North American phone (I have prepaid on a local provider with a larger network, and this phone will ultimately have that account on it once the network fully deploys 3G GSM). I also have a Sony-Ericsson K610i I got in London that's UMTS 2100, GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 that I use when I go abroad.

I have a few other phones too, although I'm intending to send some of them along soon. One is a Treo 680 which is quad-band GPRS/EDGE and now with the E93, I don't have a lot of use for it anymore.

adam917 · 25-01-2010, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

I've got an iPhone 3G (HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 and GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900), but it's still locked. It would be nearly perfect if it were unlocked (that's a project on my list).

I recently picked up a Nokia E93 (UMTS 850/1900, GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900) that can be my North American phone (I have prepaid on a local provider with a larger network, and this phone will ultimately have that account on it once the network fully deploys 3G GSM). I also have a Sony-Ericsson K610i I got in London that's UMTS 2100, GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 that I use when I go abroad.

I have a few other phones too, although I'm intending to send some of them along soon. One is a Treo 680 which is quad-band GPRS/EDGE and now with the E93, I don't have a lot of use for it anymore.

Don't you mean the E63 (or N93)? I don't think there exists a Nokia E93. The highest in the Eseries is the E90 IIRC.

PhotoJim · 25-01-2010, 04:10

Err, yes I do.

E63 it is.

Malkav · 25-01-2010, 17:31

Motorola u9 (the second pebl) quad band....small...don't tend to use data etc whilst abroad....just use text or calls......maybe the odd pic message

	(#1)
adam917 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Fan Posts: 187 Join Date: 14 Sep 2008 Location: North America Country:	Favourite 'roamer phone'? - 24-01-2010, 02:51 Does anyone here like to carry multiple devices that has different capabilities just to have all the bases covered? Is there a such thing as a device that can do all in-use bands just yet? Here are what I usually carry around: BlackBerry Bold 9700 (T-Mobile USA version): 3G on 900/AWS/2100, 2G on 850/900/1800/1900 + WiFi w/ UMA Nokia N95-3: 3G on 850/1900, 2G same as above + WiFi Sony Ericsson Z750a (debranded to Z750i): 3G on 850/1900/2100, 2G same as above Aoke 09 watch phone: 2G only on 900/1800/1900 (I would like to replace this with at least something that is quadband for 2G but ideally the LG GD910, though that's extremely expensive for something I'd rarely actually use) My primary device is the BlackBerry, on a post-paid T-Mobile USA account that has unlimited everything (loyalty plan). This can come in handy when abroad if I use UMA in a WiFi area. The N95-3 is mainly used for photos & video. The Z750a is I guess a backup. It's nice to at least have the ability to run multiple J2ME apps at once. I usually have eKit SIMs or my Celtrek SIM in the other phones besides the BlackBerry, unless I am somewhere that has better offers (read: anywhere outside North America, I would hope - correct me if I'm wrong) locally. I wonder if LTE will wind up making the frequency band problem more complex or if we're going to eventually see a day when all bands are using LTE and a software radio will just be able to switch between all the bands till it finds a working band. I wonder if anyone here has thought of GSM sunset yet or if we will likely still see GSM in use around, say, 2020.

	(#2)
RTuesday (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 344 Join Date: 28 Mar 2005 Location: See flag Country:	24-01-2010, 05:01 For the price (it was under $200 unlocked) my Nokia E51 has been "good enough" to cut down the need to carry extra phones. It has wifi, 3G 850/2100 and 2G quadband, so all I'm really missing are 3G 1700/1900, and since those are just North America I usually have another alternative (such as 850, or more likely wi-fi). I do normally carry a basic 2G phone on a trip as well, just for backup or for receiving texts on a second sim. But could do without.

	(#3)
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 389 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	24-01-2010, 18:36 I've got an iPhone 3G (HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 and GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900), but it's still locked. It would be nearly perfect if it were unlocked (that's a project on my list). I recently picked up a Nokia E93 (UMTS 850/1900, GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900) that can be my North American phone (I have prepaid on a local provider with a larger network, and this phone will ultimately have that account on it once the network fully deploys 3G GSM). I also have a Sony-Ericsson K610i I got in London that's UMTS 2100, GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 that I use when I go abroad. I have a few other phones too, although I'm intending to send some of them along soon. One is a Treo 680 which is quad-band GPRS/EDGE and now with the E93, I don't have a lot of use for it anymore. CA: SaskTel, Wind postpaid; Rogers, Bell postpaid iPad flex plans; US: T-Mobile postpaid data, prepaid voice; PureTalk (AT&T MVNO) prepaid voice/data; AT&T prepaid iPad plan Hardware: Too much but notably iPhone 5, iPad Mini Retina LTE, Moto G LTE (N.A. version), iPhone 4. All unlocked.

	(#5)
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 389 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	25-01-2010, 04:10 Err, yes I do. E63 it is. CA: SaskTel, Wind postpaid; Rogers, Bell postpaid iPad flex plans; US: T-Mobile postpaid data, prepaid voice; PureTalk (AT&T MVNO) prepaid voice/data; AT&T prepaid iPad plan Hardware: Too much but notably iPhone 5, iPad Mini Retina LTE, Moto G LTE (N.A. version), iPhone 4. All unlocked.

	(#6)
Malkav (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 267 Join Date: 09 Jun 2006 Location: Malkavian University Country:	25-01-2010, 17:31 Motorola u9 (the second pebl) quad band....small...don't tend to use data etc whilst abroad....just use text or calls......maybe the odd pic message Current networks: Orange 3g UK, 3 pay monthly, Virgin pay as you go UK, 3UK payg, Tesco payg, Asda mobile Active phones: Blackberry Torch (02), Google Nexus one (Vodafone) Inactive Sims: Oskar Czech R, BT Genie Pay as you go UK. Spare (unused phones) NEC 616, Ericsson t68/i, Nokia 3310, Sendo m550, Mototorola v66i, Motorola a1000.lg u880, Sony Ericsson t230. Orange spv m5000, Samsung z400, Motorola SLVR (Red)!, lobster tv700, spv m700, prada phone, motorola l7e, Skype phone, siemens sl65, blackberry 8810, Nokia 6500 slide X2.