Buying a cellphone in U.S.A.

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Buying a cellphone in U.S.A.

Beanlekin

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#89971 12-Sep-2011 20:21

I'm going to the U.S.A. soon and am wanting to buy a cell phone while I'm over there. Is there any specification that I can look at to see if it will work on the New Zealand Telecom network? Or is it just luck?
Thanks

billgates

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#520161 12-Sep-2011 20:39

Only AT&T phones will work on the XT network in NZ. The phone needs to have UMTS/3G 850MHz band. All the phones sold at carriers in US incl AT&T are sim locked so you will need to get them unlocked there before you bring it back to NZ.

Do whatever you want to do man.

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sbiddle

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#520162 12-Sep-2011 20:42

First question would be why you want to buy a phone there - is it for use in the US? or do you just think you'll get a better deal on a handset?

You need something that supports 850MHz WCDMA, and also need it unlocked. The vast majority of phones from retail stores are locked, so you'll need to work around that issue also.

Technofreak

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#520165 12-Sep-2011 20:50

I think any phone out of the USA that is WCDMA capable should be OK. Just beware that the US still has CDMA in widespread use so don't get a CDMA phone. Be aware that some operators over there "cripple" the functions on the branded phones so that they can charge for services that may otherwise be provided on the phone. Get an unbranded one if you can.

What phone were you thinking of?

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Beanlekin

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#520234 12-Sep-2011 22:50

I'm thinking of getting a blackberry. Amazon has an unlocked one for way cheaper than in NZ. Either the curve 9300 or bold 9700 probably

freitasm

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#520238 12-Sep-2011 22:55

Don't get a Blackberry, even if it's from AT&T. You won't be able to get the full Blackberry service as those handsets are not only SIM locked to the operator, their Blackberry service is tied to the original network.

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Beanlekin

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#520243 12-Sep-2011 23:05

Thanks heaps for the help! That's the kind of info i wanted to hear, not "oh well it might work" from a minimum wager at telecom!

akia

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#520322 13-Sep-2011 09:43

Well these phones could 'potentially' work but sometimes do require a lot of work to get there. Depending on what you bring in and where from.

We currently have three blackberries for sale in each price bracket range:

$399 - http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/pay-monthly/blackberry-9100-pearl
$599 - http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/pay-monthly/blackberry-curve-9300
$1099 - http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/pay-monthly/blackberry-torch-9800

Mobiles can be discounted if you buy a termed plan (i.e. 12 or 24 months).
http://www.telecom.co.nz/mobile/yourmobile/plansandpricing

johnr

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#520337 13-Sep-2011 10:11

I am here now " New York " I have no idea why you would want to purchase a phone from the US,

They are not that much cheaper and most are sold under contract SIM locked

John