US unlocked phone in the DR - which ones work?

[giacomo]

So I am shopping for a cell phone to bring to chica in DR. You know they all ask for you to bring a cell phone, but I have not fallen for that one yet, lol. Well until now, since in this case _she_ is paying for it so I will do the favor.

However, important question: I know I need an unlocked phone, but I am not sure which particular ones will actually work correctly in the DR.

I was looking at "unlocked GSM tri or quad band phones" But the details can get complicated and the last thing I want to do is bring a phone that does not work. Every once in a while they mention "does not work on verizon, or may cause problem on ATT" and that is here in the US, forget about any little advise on any issues abroad.

Anyone cell phone expert here that knows the exact scoop on this ?

My info on the carriers is as follows (info from GSM website):
Claro: GSM 850/1900
Claro: 3G 850
Orange: GSM 900/1800/1900
Trilogy: GSM 1900

So I am thinking that a north american "TRI band GSM phone" would work since it sports 850, 1800 and 1900 frequencies. No need to go for a more expensive QUAD band phone (?)

This sounds pretty logical but every time I dig deeper into cell phone technology it gets an order of magnitude more complex ! (like how about UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, EDGE, or GPRS compatibility, huh)

Help!

[weyland]

She can buy a new one in the DR for 375 pesos, so why bother?

[greydread]

So I am shopping for a cell phone to bring to chica in DR. You know they all ask for you to bring a cell phone, but I have not fallen for that one yet, lol. Well until now, since in this case _she_ is paying for it so I will do the favor.

If she paid you in advamce (meaning you are holding her cash now) go here: http://www.abesofmaine.com

If she's expecting you to front the money for the phone, go here: http://www.refurbdepot.com

Don't get the insurance. Any Claro shop will program it for free with 100 peso calling card.

[SeaWeed]

a guy on Sosua Beach sells new cell phones for 300 Pesos and comes with ten minutes of talk time......hard to beat.......

screw bringing down the cell phones........mi use to get so sick of them begging in Jamaica to bring cellies down to dem......then they wanted the Razors.....now dem want the Iphones.........never ends mon

[greydread]

Guys...slow down....

You can get an unlicked GSM phone with a full qwerty keyboard and all kinds of apps for under $100 on ebay if you have a little patience. If she's paying in cash or with a week of anytime punani, coulo and blowjobs, WTF is the harm?

Let the young Man do his thing!

[giacomo]

It is a trusted partner I am not worried about the money. More worried about the phone not working for whatever odd reason.

[rushdog34]

i brought down an old broke down phone that i knew was unlocked way back when and it worked fine on my last trip with the orange sim card... if that piece of crap worked i think anything unlocked should

[Beads]

Plenty of information on this site about cellphones in the DR. Check the search function with the word GSM.

To briefly answer your question I suggest any quadband UNLOCKED GSM phone. The trick is making sure its unlocked. If its not unlocked it will cost you to have someone do it. Costs more in the DR for sure.

Like I said try the search function plenty of info.

[gdogg]

I brought an old 1999 analog phone down with me once...worked just fine. Never had a problem with any phone I bring down.

[whynotme]

i have never travelled with a cell phone but as said here basically any unlocked phone will work, just add the sim card. for next months trip to thailand i decided to get myself a phone and it cost me 80 bucks already unlocked with both american and european plug adapters.

[greydread]

It is a trusted partner I am not worried about the money. More worried about the phone not working for whatever odd reason.

Any cellular that works here will work there. I use an old POS Moto V360 in the DR (Claro) but my T-Mobile Samsung works there as well. Buddy's I-phone works...I've brought a bunch of guys down there and none of them had cellular problems....until the bill came

[NYC2DR]

Basically any phone that uses a sim chip (ATT, T-Mobile, Global Verizon Phones such as Blackberry Storm). You will have to unlock for around $15. Just do google for "unlock cell phone"

Regular Verizon, Sprint, Metro PCS, etc phones w/out sim card will not work.

Craigslist is a good source depending on your location.

I guess the chica would not be happy with a RD$300 (US$8-10) Alcatel Phone. LOL! She at least needs a phone with a camera i assume. I am sure she mentioned more or less what she was looking for.

[giacomo]

Thanks guys! An "unlocked GSM" phone it is.

FYI: an LG Cookie is one of the best choices for those who want an iPhone but only have $150 (buying an iPhone wiithout a contract is somewhere north of $800 ! )

[greydread]

Regular Verizon, Sprint, Metro PCS, etc phones w/out sim card will not work.

Not true!

The Motorola V360 I mentioned (Verizon) does not have a SIM card and works just fine on the Claro (formerly Verizon) network.

[Beads]

Claro has both CDMA and GSM networks running currently. CDMA is what Verizon uses in the US. I prefer using GSM currently overseas as the phones are compatible with more networks and once unlocked almost any country you visit just bring that same phone and get a new SIM card.

[MrHappy]

Thanks guys! An "unlocked GSM" phone it is.

FYI: an LG Cookie is one of the best choices for those who want an iPhone but only have $150 (buying an iPhone wiithout a contract is somewhere north of $800 ! )

I think it would be very wise of you to ask her exactly what kind of cel phone she is expecting you to bring down to her.

If not, you're in for a rude awakening when you hand that Alcatel cel phone to her. I'm serious.

Girls say they want a cel phone. To them, it's implied that it should be an Iphone or a blackberry.

[giacomo]

Had her look up the LG cookie on the website and she loves it, so we are good. Thanks also for the tip that Claro used to be Verizon. I will take an old verizon phone with me and see if I can turn into my DR phone (I know I can buy one there for $30 if that idea fails)