UK Laptops and mobiles in the USA
Dec 5th 2011, 4:53 am
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,712
Re: UK Laptops and mobiles in the USA
no idea why it didn't work but just kept blowing.Was fine when he used it after the visit back in US
Dec 5th 2011, 3:32 pm
#17
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: UK Laptops and mobiles in the USA
computers are fine.
Tracfone SIM won't work. The phones have been flashed specially to work on their network so the SIM itself will only work on other tracfones.
Tracfone SIM won't work. The phones have been flashed specially to work on their network so the SIM itself will only work on other tracfones.
Dec 5th 2011, 3:45 pm
#18
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: UK Laptops and mobiles in the USA
You can buy a no-contract PAYG Android phone for as little as $100 these days. If you're looking for low cost, Tracfone is fine for voice but not data services. Best value in data services with a smart phone is probably virginmobileusa. It won't be worth the hassle trying to get a foreign phone hooked up.
Dec 5th 2011, 8:55 pm
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Location: North Salt Lake, Utah
Posts: 318
Re: UK Laptops and mobiles in the USA
All of the phones in the UK are GSM, but not all of them would work at the GSM frequencies that are used in the States!
Canada and the USA use 850 MHz and 1900 MHz, while Europe uses 900 MHz and 1800 MHz.
To be sure that the phone will work you need to have a "quad-band" phone. These phones will support 850,900,1800 and 1900 frequencies.
A "tri-band" phone supports either
850,1800 and 1900 frequencies (this phone will work in the USA)
OR
900,1800 and 1900 frequencies (this will not give you complete coverage in the USA as you can only receive your service in areas that support 1900 MHz).
Canada and the USA use 850 MHz and 1900 MHz, while Europe uses 900 MHz and 1800 MHz.
To be sure that the phone will work you need to have a "quad-band" phone. These phones will support 850,900,1800 and 1900 frequencies.
A "tri-band" phone supports either
850,1800 and 1900 frequencies (this phone will work in the USA)
OR
900,1800 and 1900 frequencies (this will not give you complete coverage in the USA as you can only receive your service in areas that support 1900 MHz).
AT&T is probably the best bet, in that instance, unless there's a local company that may work too.
