I have a question about switching sim cards between phones, and am hoping that someone more tech savvy can answer it. On my most recent trip to Rio I purchased a Nokia tri-band phone from Claro, used the rest of the trip and later on a trip to Thailand (after unlocking). When I returned to US I decided to replace my Cingular freebie Nokia with the tri-band for domestic use as well, inserting my cingular sim card. Although it worked well in Brazil and Thailand, it gets inferior reception at home compared to the freebie Nokia. I was surprised by this, because I had been able to use the Cingular sim with both the free phone fr Cing and a previous freebie NOkia from ATT with similar results. But the more expensive Brazilian triband Nokia just doesnt get as good reception, often drops or cant make calls. I'm wondering if this is because it's somehow incompatible w/ Cingular, or it's just starting to breakdown. Shouldnt unlocked phones usually work with any sim card as long as it can transmit on the frequency(s) used in that country? If I purchase another Nokia phone online to avoid the excessive prices charged by Cingular or signing up for another 2 years, can I expect to be able to make it accept the Cingular sim card, or am I forced to buy one from Cingular?

I believe the problem is that the Brasil Nokia tri band does not have the 850 band. 850 is the primary band for Cingular, although they use 1900 also(which your Brasil phone does have), this could be giving you some problems with coverage. Quad is the way to go.
CG

Manga,

You may be the first hombre I've ever heard of to have bought a cell phone on purpose in Brasil. Particularly when you had an Asia trip comining up, you paid probably 3 times what you should have paid.

Cat,

Even I knew that you don't buy any electronics in Brazil!

BTW, when does your precious "24" premier this season? I'm waiting to get even.

Jag

Sometime in January, but since I Tivo everything you never know when I'll be watching.

By the way, I heard the MBL was PMSing so bad she chased you out of Rio. Good stuff.

Cat,

Fuck you! Yeah, MBL was PMSing big time. She was like a fucking bottle-rocket--you never knew when she was going off or what kind of damage she would do.

Come to think of it, she was exactlty like an IED (improvised explosive device) that those crazies use in Iraq. You know what I mean--BOOM, then nothing but misery. Yep, that describes her behavior.

Jag

Best Buy has unlocked phones in there stores and on their website:

bestbuy.com/unlocked

It is now pretty easy to get your ATT phone unlocked. As long as you've been a longtime customer (not sure how long is necessary), just call customer service. Tell them you travel internationally a lot, and you would like the "subsidy unlock code" for your phone.

In the past, it could take a week or two for them to send you an email w/ the code. Now, they just confirm your phone's 15 digit IMEI number (check the back of your phone usually under the batter)and give you the code. Just make sure that they give you the INSTRUCTIONS as well. Some phone are easy, others a little less so.

Also be careful entering the code. Most phones will totally lock up if you enter the wrong code something like five times.