Buying Mobile Phone in the States

[momomo]

Does a mobile purchased in the states work when you bring it back to Ireland?

 

[johndoe64]

will depend on the type of phone, what model is it?

 

[tiger]

I believe you will need a tri-band phone for it to work both here & in the US.

 

[momomo]

no phone picked out. Brother wants a phone for Xmas present.
Will be heading to the states, so just wanted to know could I buy one over there.

Probably looking at either nokia or sony

 

[Squonk]

You need a tri-band GSM phone to work here in Ireland (Don't purchase a CDMA phone)

 

[momomo]

so when im buying one, i have to make sure its "tri band gsm phone" and then i wont have problems with any network?

 

[Squonk]

so when im buying one, i have to make sure its "tri band gsm phone" and then i wont have problems with any network?

Exactly....(or Quad-band GSM will also do)....and another thing, make sure the phone is "SIM-free" and not tied to any network in the US.

 

[momomo]

Brilliant, thanks squonk.
All I have to hope now is that they are cheaper over there.
Cheers

 

[Squonk]

Brilliant, thanks squonk.
All I have to hope now is that they are cheaper over there.
Cheers

They proabbly won't be cheaper!! Because you need to buy a phone that is network-independent (i.e. no SIM) you lose the subsidy that the network operators apply to the handsets to "suck you in". Do a google search on a few phones here and in the US and compare prices.