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Cell phone: Bring from US or buy in PI?

Discussion in 'Dumaguete City' started by kaayo, Aug 26, 2017.

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  1. kaayo

    kaayo DI Junior Member

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    When I was there last, I could not message and chat on Facebook, using data SIM, with my old Samsung GT-S5282 (bought in 2012).

    Can they all do that now? Or how do I know which phones can do this and which can't?

    Would you recommend bringing a phone from the US (e.g. an LG Tribute HD for $49, it's Virgin Mobile, which I would unlock), or buying a phone there in the PI (in Dgte)?

    Thanks.
     
    kaayo, Aug 26, 2017
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  2. Dave_Hounddriver

    Dave_Hounddriver DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster

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    Dave_Hounddriver, Aug 26, 2017
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  3. tanjay

    tanjay DI Member

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    Your data sim was Globe or Smart?
     
    tanjay, Aug 26, 2017
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  4. Brian Oinks

    Brian Oinks That's Mr. Pig to you Boy! :) Highly Rated Poster

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    I have a Samsung S GT-7562 and the Wife did use a little for Facebook here, but I think when you buy your Smart/Globe SIM here you need to enable extras like MMS etc to have all working features.

    Depending on where you plan to go, you can also look up the coverage here for Smart & Globe to decide which SIM will best suit your needs;

    Utilities & Mobile - Cell Phone Coverage in Negros Map

    *Edit:
    I bought my 2x Samsung's and 2x Nokia phones here, all worked fine so you should have no problems using Phones here that are made abroad (pretty sure all are made in China anyways) as long as they are unlocked so that you can use the local SIM Cards here...
     
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    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
    Brian Oinks, Aug 27, 2017
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  5. Graham_B

    Graham_B DI New Member

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    Don't forget most in the US are locked and you'd need an eprom burner to reprogram them; you can't just change the chip.
     
    Graham_B, Oct 3, 2017
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  6. Leifen

    Leifen DI Junior Member

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    Many phones are looked to a region, use it in the country where it is purchased for at least 10 minutes first. It will open it for use worldwide.
     
    Leifen, Oct 5, 2017
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  7. jimeve

    jimeve DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Army

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    I bought mine already unlocked from the UK, so when I got here I just put in a Filpino sim card in and bingo.
     
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    jimeve, Oct 5, 2017
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  8. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    You don't need any special tools or programs to unlock a US cell phone. Just call the mobile provider you bought the phone from and ask them to unlock it and they must do it. (There are some limitations.)

    That was in 2015.

    From the FCC:
    If your phone was able to make calls in the Philippines then it was capable of picking up 2g and 3g internet there as well. The Philippines uses the 900 and 1800 frequencies for calls and 2g/3g. (If your phone is cable of picking up the 900MHz the 1800MHz is going to be built into the phone as well.) The OP likely couldn't access the internet because he did not activate mobile internet with the local carrier(s). You have to text "3g" to a certain number to have that activated or you will not get mobile internet.

    4g (or LTE) is another story. I believe the Philippines mainly uses band 1 (2100MHz) for their 4g. The rest of the world:
    USfrequencies.PNG

    *Most LTE modems in phones can handle multiple LTE bands.

    Example: my Google Pixel phone can pick up LTE bands 1-8, 12,13, 17, 20, 25-30 and 41
     
    Rye83, Oct 5, 2017
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  9. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    The UK and the Philippines (and all but one or two countries in Africa and the US) use the same standard frequencies. Us Americans like to do things our own way. Americans traveling abroad will need to have a "quad-band" phone (800,900,1800,1900MHz), whereas you can travel with your normal dual-band phones (900 and 1800MHz).
     
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    Rye83, Oct 5, 2017
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  10. djfinn6230

    djfinn6230 DI Senior Member

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    I did the same with my USA format open sim, quad band, HSDTP (sp?) Apple 6+. Actually never had problems with mail-order unlocked Samsung or LG.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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    djfinn6230, Oct 5, 2017
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