Buying Mobile Phones Overseas

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mme

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#23115 18-Jun-2008 19:18

Hi

I will be going to Europe and stoping in Seol (South Korea) on the way, are phones cheaper to buy there then in NZ and can I use those phones with the telecom or vodafone network back in NZ?

Thanks for any info

Dratsab

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#139034 18-Jun-2008 19:31

Take a little note of the frequencies used here and make sure any phones you look at over there broadcast within those ranges and that they're unlocked.

I've brought 3 phones (Motorola) and my partner has brought 2 phones (Nokia and Samsung) in SE Asia and we've had no problems operating on the VFNZ network.

Edit: Yes, phones in SE Asia are generally much cheaper than the same models here. Don't know about Europe...

nzbnw

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#139050 18-Jun-2008 20:23

As above take note of the frequencies used. Primarily Vodafone use 900 MHz GSM and 2100 MHz UMTS / HSDPA (they do also use 1800 MHz GSM to a lesser extended and UMTS 900 MHz).

Currently you will not be able to use an imported phone on the Telecom CDMA network. Telecom's new GSM network will be here in November and they will use 850 MHz for GSM/EDGE and 2100 MHz for UMTS / HSPA.

nzbnw