Buying phone from overseas...

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iDear

60 posts

Master Geek

#76269 31-Jan-2011 23:45

Hi all,

my mate who is working in HK right now and he can get some nice Android smart phone. I was wondering will that work in New Zealand?

From the spec that I've got, the phone runs on
Android OS, v2.1
General 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100

will that run on Vodafone or Telecom network? I want to able to use 3G here.

When I search for phone, what sort of network I should look for?

Kiwi1971

696 posts

Ultimate Geek

#433517 1-Feb-2011 08:43

I bought my HTC Desire from a HK supplier and it works fine on 2Degrees 2G & HDSDPA and I assume Vodafone & XT too as nobody has complained about them not doing so.

Mine was 2.1 when I got it and despite it automatically finding and downloading the Froyo 2.2 update, it would not install it.

I just rooted it and now use custom 2.2 ROMS.
Came pre-installed with Chinese input etc which obviously gets removed once the phone is rooted and reflashed.

I can't answer the last bit. I couldn't tell you what networks are used locally. For me it either works or doesn't. If I make space in my brain to remember network numbers, I might forget where I live.

DLS

Behodar

10501 posts

Uber Geek

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#433520 1-Feb-2011 08:49

That specific device will work on Vodafone, but not on Telecom (it lacks 850 MHz WCDMA/HSDPA).

pando

235 posts

Master Geek

#433551 1-Feb-2011 09:42

I bought a HTC Desire Z from Hong Kong and it's the same freq specs and works briallantly on Vodafone

Only downside is the Hong Kong phones have the additional Chinese symbols on them

With the NZ strength against the UK pound i'd recommend buying from there instead, is cheaper than HK or Aus at the moment. I also bought a Sammy from Germany when the NZD was buying 58 euro cents and it came out to a good saving as well but no where near as good from the UK

Jamms

22 posts

Geek

#433558 1-Feb-2011 09:50

Could we have a sticky in the android forum with the frequencies and technologies (gsm, hspda etc) for the different networks to help decode new phone announcements?

I'm the same in that I can never remember the full number and alphabet soup for each network.

Kiwi1971

696 posts

Ultimate Geek

#433559 1-Feb-2011 09:51

pando:
Only downside is the Hong Kong phones have the additional Chinese symbols on them

With the NZ strength against the UK pound i'd recommend buying from there instead, is cheaper than HK or Aus at the moment

My advice is not to get a phone from HK unless you are prepared to root it. you run the risk of not being able to upgrade the OS as I found out. Also the supplier I used simply washed his hands of me once they had my money and I had the phone.
Also unless you root it, you get stuck with a lot of stock chinese apps and chinese inputs.

I hear CLove UK are pretty reliable. see other threads about buying from overseas.

DLS

TheUngeek

924 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#433653 1-Feb-2011 12:52

Clove are pretty good. And an HTC Desire from them is pretty cheap at the moment.
Clove phones are also 100% unbranded so you get updates pretty fast and no issues with chinese or weird branding logos etc

randomdude

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#434050 2-Feb-2011 06:28

Hey guys Ive been lurking here for a while and have finally made my first post

Anyway my trusty sanyo 9000 is finally starting to wear out after several years of good use and I have been looking into importing a phone for sometime now the phone that I think best suits my needs is the LG gw620. Thing is I'm after a phone that is compatible with XT which seems to be a rare thing unfortunately telecom is so damn frustrating! After countless hours of searching I think Ive finally found a LG that's compatible with XT (UMTS 850) here's the link.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170597694108&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:CA:1123

I would just to check with you guys and make sure its compatible with XT (and that Ive done my research right) just wanna make sure don't wanna spend my hard earned money on it only learn that I can't even use it, thanks guys.

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Disinfo

80 posts

Master Geek

#434215 2-Feb-2011 12:19

I'd be careful about what version of Android that comes with - could be 1.5 which is ancient now, slow and generally pretty horrible.

You can probably root it and install a modern version of Android (you'll want at least 2.1) but make sure you do your research before purchasing.

Also it would appear to have a resistive touch screen which is far from ideal (although less of an issue if you're planning on using the hard keyboard exclusively)

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#434292 2-Feb-2011 14:46

Check out www.handtec.co.uk - their prices are pretty good, including fairly reasonable, quick shipping to NZ. You know it's going to be the right language.

Expansys are always a good option, they generally come from HK as well though.

A fair few phones support 850Mhz WCDMA/HSPA/3G that XT uses, as long as it supports that frequency then the others become fairly irrelevant. (Same is true of 900Mhz 3G for Vodafone).

@KnightNZ

Disinfo

80 posts

Master Geek

#434305 2-Feb-2011 15:09

I don't think you're going to be able to source a suitable phone from a UK based website - they don't use 850MHz at all there.

A couple of North American carriers do as does Telstra in Australia but that is pretty much your choices.

Linuxluver

5828 posts

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Subscriber

#434497 2-Feb-2011 21:06

Jamms: Could we have a sticky in the android forum with the frequencies and technologies (gsm, hspda etc) for the different networks to help decode new phone announcements?

I'm the same in that I can never remember the full number and alphabet soup for each network.

The only thing you need to know is XT need 850MHz WCDMA and they don't do GSM at all.

Otherwise, everything works with everything. In the big cities, you can even survive - mostly - on a phone that can only talk to Telecom on 2100MHz. In Auckland, their 2100MHz coverage is pretty good. Lots of black spots....but if your home and work are covered, you can get through a day.

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