Android phone with UMTS 850, 900 and 2100 that's around $400

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AKLWestie

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#94383 9-Dec-2011 14:36

Hi all,

I am thinking about buying an Android phone for my wife. Currently we are with Vodafone but I found that its 3G / HSDPA connection is not fast. So we might switch to Telecom in the near future.

Having said that, we might switch back to Vodafone one day.

So I want to buy an Android phone that supports UMTS 850, 900 and 2100 with a price tag of around $400 and $500 so that I could switch between Telecom and Vodafone when need be. I understand UMTS 900 is really for Vodafone 3G extended so it is not too important in main centres. However, I really want the peace of mind.

Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot!

kiwijunglist

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#555983 9-Dec-2011 16:19

LG 2X - $500 parallel imported
Motorolla Atrix - $550 parallel imported

The other quad bands are more expensive.

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Dratsab

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#555990 9-Dec-2011 16:37

Samsung Galaxy S is currently $499 at Vodafone. Has all you require. Reasonably large screen though which maybe a little low on the WAF.

Gilco2

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#555993 9-Dec-2011 16:51

not sure if you will find one that covers 3G 850/900/2100. You will find 850 OR 900 not both. I looked for a while and never found one. I bought a LG 970 from trademe that claimed to but when I got it found no it doesnt. You will find ones like the LG I got that cover 850 and 2100 on 3g which will work on Telecom XT and Vodafone 2100 around main cities but not outside cities.

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kiwijunglist

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#556000 9-Dec-2011 17:19

Galaxy S1 is not quad band like he asked, but for $399 at warehouse it's good deal.

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AKLWestie

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#556397 10-Dec-2011 16:32

Thank you all for your replies. I bet I better wait until there are more choices.

kiwijunglist

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#556420 10-Dec-2011 17:23

if u want quad band you gotta buy a premium phone, the mid end ones are only tri-band.

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sbiddle

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#556436 10-Dec-2011 18:08

AKLWestie: Thank you all for your replies. I bet I better wait until there are more choices.

I doubt you'll see a great change in the market in the short to mid term. At the end of the day NZ is one of around three countries in the world that have both 850 and 900 3G networks. With chipsets supporting all bands obviously selling at a premium there is probably no real business case to build these into low to mid range handsets as it's clearly more cost effective to continue the status quo and build multiple devices.

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#556440 10-Dec-2011 18:23

the only choices for that price are LG2X / Atrix, or wait till the current premium phones become old and go on sale. You wont see them release any new phones in that price range that do both 850 / 900.

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