Cell phone in China?

I need a cell phone that can call to the US from China and receive calls from the US. I have a new LG which Verizon says can do that, but there is a charge of about $1.29/min from Verizon PLUS whatever China charges which they don%26#39;t know what that is. They said my phone can%26#39;t use a Sim card. As I recall I looked into buying a cheap cell phone that would work in China made by Mobal (?) Any suggestions on how to get a cheap phone?

I read that there is locked phone problems, etc. Not sure what is the best way to keep communications open.

Thanks!

Cell phone in China?

The price of low end cell phon here can range 400-500RMB. Go to local consumer electronic shop, you may find some bargain mobile phone.

Cheers

Cell phone in China?

How much are you going to be calling/receiving calls and how long will you be in China?

Although the Verizon rates are astronomical, if you only expect to be in China a few weeks and plan to make 6, 1-2 minute calls, it wouldn%26#39;t cost more to use your phone than to buy a cell phone to use just in China. Of course if you buy a phone you could sell it after your trip.

For making calls, it is actually better to buy an IP card at a shop and use that to dial the US from a land-line. You need a different card in different cities, though. You can also buy a card online in the US with local access numbers in China. It is more convenient but a little more expensive.

Calls to the US from a cell phone in China cost a lot even if you buy a local sim card.

The local cell phone is best for calling within China and for receiving calls from the U.S. Even then, some calling cards from the US charge much higher rates to a cell phone than to a land line.

For a short visit, I would probably just receive emergency calls on the Verizon phone and use an IP card to call the US from whatever phone is available.

asprila,

I would like to have a cell before I leave so that I have use of it immediately. Not sure how much time the tour group will allow for me to try to find a store and buy one there as soon as we arrive.

travellevret,

Hello again. I remember you were very helpful last time I looked into this trip. I would need to use the cell extensively I would think. I probably can%26#39;t use the IP as much since we won%26#39;t be in the hotel much at all, always touring around. I need to be available all the time for medical reasons for relatives in the US. You are saying even using a SIM card with my cell would be expensive? How much are these local Chinese added costs that Verizon doesn%26#39;t even know the value?

People are suggesting to buy one on eBay. I might need to look into that, although I have no clue where to start.

Thanks!

Calls from a cell phone in China are pretty expensive even using a locally purchased sim card. Of course it would still be a lot cheaper than using the Verizon phone if you are using it a lot.

I gave people a calling card number they could use to call me--that way I was still paying for it, and it was a lot cheaper for me than for me to call them.

You could buy a phone on ebay, but you have to make sure it is compatible with the Chinese network and unlocked.

travellevret,

You lost me on the calling card number you gave your friends. Would that be to call a landline number in China or cell phone?

Since I don%26#39;t know where to start, I will have to research before going on eBay, like you said.

Thanks!

do some research. there are tons of cheap, used cell phones on ebay and other mobile phone forums(preferrable, such as howardforums). Make sure they are world band (900 and 1800Mhz) and SIM unlocked. In fact I have a couple lying around and didn%26#39;t bother to sell them as it%26#39;s not worth my while.

Verizon uses the CDMA network, which is used sparingly outside North America. The GSM network is prevalent elsewhere. T-mobile and Cingular also operate on the GSM network in the U.S.

Currently, GSM has four frequenies. In North America, we use the 850 MHz (sometimes called the 800MHz) and 1900 MHz, while the rest of the world uses 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. However, China only operates on the single 900 MHz frequency.

If it is important that people from the U.S. can get hold of you using your usual Verizon mobile number in the U.S., then your only option would be to purchase/upgrade your phone to a CDMA/GSM hybrid phone offered by Verizon. Check at www.verizonwireless.com. Keep in mind that all the hybrid phones offered by Verizon are GSM dual band, operating on the GSM 900/1800 only. That means you cannot engage the GSM network while in North America. Once you are in North America, your phone switches back to CDMA. These phones are suitable for people travelling frequently outside North America (except to Japan, which uses 3G, and South Korea, which uses CDMA but may be on different frequencies).

You may also check the price plans of T-mobile and Cingular. If you sign up with either of them, and get a quad band GSM phone, you would be able to roam in China. But the roaming rate may not be cheaper than what you can get from Verizon. If you go with T-mobile or Cingular, you must get a quad band phone. As stated before, China operates only on the 900 MHz band, a new tri band GSM phone sold in North America usually lacks that particular band.

If this is a one-time deal, I second bibimbob%26#39;s suggestion that you consider purchasing a second-hand GSM phone on ebay or any local second-hand market, but you must make sure that the phone is unlocked, and that it works on the 900MHz band. A %26#39;locked%26#39; phone restrictes the use of SIM card from one specific cellular provider. A SIM card purchased in China would not work on GSM phones locked by Cingular or T-mobile (in U.S.), or Rogers or Fido (in Canada). Depending on the phone model and your locale, you may get a GSM phone unlocked for $20-$50 at a local shop. Make sure your unlocked phone is not set to automatically receive software updates. Sometimes such %26#39;flashing%26#39; would re-lock your phone to the original provider again. Also avoid purchasing a GSM phone with extensive PDA or computer functions; a %26#39;hanged%26#39; screen that requires a hard reboot may also re-lock your phone afterwards.

There are international pre-paid GSM SIM cards available. You would still need an unlocked GSM phone. The SIM card company will mail you a SIM card with a telephone number domiciled outside North America once your payment is processed. You leave that international telephone number with your contacts in the U.S. The U.S. caller would call that international number (it may be a country in Eastern Europe), and would connect to your roaming phone in China. You may google the varies companies by typing ';GSM SIM card';. I have not personally used any of these companies, and I cannot vouch for any of them or ascertain the legitimacy of any of them. Their costs may not be so economical, depending on your usage. You will have to do the comparison. Buyers beware.

As bibimbob suggests, you may go to howardforums, or www.phonescoop.com to learn more about the phones and different cellular networks. You may pose your cellular questions there, or to a technician at a local independent cellular shop. Your Verizon representative may not be interested in telling you all the options, as mobile phone companies make loads of money on international roaming. It is sometimes in their self-interests that you do not understand too much about the cellular systems.

Good luck.

Thanks for your suggestion, bibimbob. I do need to do a lot of research.

Wow, what an extensive answer aquacochin. Thanks so much. I need to look into all your suggestions. Agreed that it%26#39;s to Verizon%26#39;s advantage if I know little about cell usage in China.

Thanks!

I can tell you when I was in China I just rented a phone. It was a very easy painless cheap process all things considered. My son and I were in Beijing and Shanghai with a student group and I needed the phone to call home (US). I paid a total of $50.00 (US) and it included the rental of a good phone, came to me fully charged, the charger, dropped off at my first hotel (Beijing) and provided me with an envelope to leave at the front desk of our last hotel (Shanghai) and 60 minutes of talk time. I was there for 9 days and I purposely talked longer on our last conversation to use up my minutes. I would definitely do this again.

Hi to the person who rented the phone -- do you have that contact number or web site? I followed the info in the above emails but something as easy as what you did sounds perfect.

I did not know about the possibility of my unlocked phone maybe locking again -- so thanks of that inof.

la3

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