Cellphones: Calling-Using-Buying-Importing-Activating-Renting

[QUOTE=Mpexy;432724]With Personal, the 1-peso per 24 hr Internet comes activated automatically with all prepago sims.[/QUOTE]Wow! Really? I'm on a monthly plan and get the 1 peso / day thing, but had assumed you'd be paying through the nose on a pre-pago like you do for calls.

In that case it's worth getting. Although as already mentioned several times, don't expect full coverage or lightning speed!

I am pretty much in the android system. A factory unlocked droid with 3 g on 1900 should be available somewhere. I have placed a $200 arbitrary limit--which can be increased for a valid reason. There are locations in the USA, I think, where t-mobile uses 1900 mghtz.

It is better to buy something that is factory unlocked, so I have no t-mobile rom on the phone that might prevent it from working well with personel? Question?

The galaxy III's are $350 to $400. Shopuld I bit the bullet? Other models that one might suggest?

I can get a 16 gig iphone 3 factory unlocked within my range or maybe a lower priced iphone4. It seems like a good number of you folks have dealt with the iphone situation in ba?

[QUOTE=MiamiBob;432734]I am pretty much in the android system. A factory unlocked droid with 3 g on 1900 should be available somewhere. I have placed a $200 arbitrary limit--which can be increased for a valid reason. There are locations in the USA, I think, where t-mobile uses 1900 mghtz.

It is better to buy something that is factory unlocked, so I have no t-mobile rom on the phone that might prevent it from working well with personel? Question?

The galaxy III's are $350 to $400. Shopuld I bit the bullet? Other models that one might suggest?

I can get a 16 gig iphone 3 factory unlocked within my range or maybe a lower priced iphone4. It seems like a good number of you folks have dealt with the iphone situation in ba?[/QUOTE]I have been using a IPhone 4 in my travels to BA for the last several years with no problems.. I personally think the Galaxy III are a nice phone (the Samsung screen is one of the best in the market.. Its one thing Samsung does well) .. But the cost is a bit much.. You should be able to find a IPhone 4 for a reasonable price.. I have at&t as my provider and they cover the gamit in terms of frequency.. Quad band.. Etc.. I travel quite a bit and have not found a country where my phone does not get service..

Just some input.. But it does become an issue as to home much do you want to spend.. And what features and capabilties are really really important.. No different that making a Chica decision.. .

Labrador.

[QUOTE=MiamiBob;432734]I am pretty much in the android system. A factory unlocked droid with 3 g on 1900 should be available somewhere. I have placed a $200 arbitrary limit--which can be increased for a valid reason. There are locations in the USA, I think, where t-mobile uses 1900 mghtz.

It is better to buy something that is factory unlocked, so I have no t-mobile rom on the phone that might prevent it from working well with personel? Question?

The galaxy III's are $350 to $400. Shopuld I bit the bullet? Other models that one might suggest?

[/QUOTE]If you are going to spend $300 for an unlocked phone you might look at the Google Nexus. From what I have read, the advantage of the Google-branded phone is that you get the android updates at a faster pace and you do not have the providers-own apps embedded. It is a more generic android setup. I bought mine for $350 and they are now selling for $300. I am not a phone expert. The Nexus is the only smartphone I have owned but I like it. I use T-mobile in the States and Moviestar in Buenos Aires. I found the the data transmission too slow in Buenos Aires to use an app like Translate. I needed to be on a Wifi connection.

Verizon phones, even unlocked do not realy work well on personel / movistar. Verizon is cdmi and Argentina is gsm. Verizon techies told me in theory my note II unlocked should work. Note operates the voice on cdmi, but the data is on gsm. There is a gsm card in my phone that in theory can accept A FOREIGN SIM CARD / CHIP. QUITE FRANKLY, I don't want to be cruzing around BA with my USA primary work phone.

Techie android types: I think I found something pretty good pantech p9070.

GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS /.

HSPA+ 850/1900/2100 MHz, LTE 700 MHz (Band.

17)/1700 MHz (Band 4) networks in North America, South.

America, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific where these.

Networks are supported.

Ebay $80 [URL]http://www.ebay.com/itm/PANTECH-P9070-BURST-UNLOCKED-GREAT-CONDITION-4G-ANDROID-CAMERA-16GB-PHONE-BLACK-/370739476296?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D6551152702874375258%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D190816276176%26[/URL]#rwid.

Owner's manuel on pantech website.

[URL]http://www.pantechusa.com/files/Burst%28P9070%29_Manual_EN.pdf[/URL]

There are new unlocked ones on amazon.

[URL]http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00BJ2TJH8/ref=dp_olp_used_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=used[/URL]

I called pantech and they said that they have ungrades of the operating system to ics 4.01 that are unlocked and not at&t specific. On the amazon reviews people are using this in Venezuela for 3 g on the 1900 mgtz band. Personel uses 1900 in Argentina.

I should be able to buy a new one unlocked $150 to $200 or used unlocked international for around $100.

I am going to follow up on the BBM suggestion on a gsm nexus. I sold a fresh verizon reconditioned with some accessories for $225. I loved the nexus on verizon.

Unlocked at&t is Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16 GB (Unlocked) this should work on perosnel or movistar. Just turn off the 4 lite data as there is none in south america and it eats up battery.

2 G Network: GSM 850/900 / 1800/1900, 3 G Network: HSDPA 850/900 / 1700/1900 / 2100,4 G Network: LTE 700 (region specific),Phone 3 G Frequency: 850/900/ 1700/1900/ 2100 Mhz.

The nexus with the 4.7 inch screen is quad band on everything. Let's see what's on ebay.

Quad band from Hong Kong--the 4 g is on 700 mghtz so will not work in USA=everything else is quad band this baby should solve my problem. Us $172--fast and I owned one for about one year and know how to fully operate.

[URL]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Galaxy-Nexus-i9250-16GB-Unlocked-GSM-3G-4-65-S-AMOLED-WiFi-GPS-Phone-/281083311206?pt=Cell_Phones&hash=item4171def466[/URL]

I can likely get a nice used one from a safe seller for $175 to $200 with jelly bean--the latest operating system 4.2.2 like my note II.

Vs pantech for about $80 to $100.

Powerfull 1.2 GHz dual core processor for speedy data transfer.

Huge 16 GB storage space, Stunning 4.6 inch SUPER AMOLED Display.

I'm exhausted just watching this! Never seen so much work go into buying a phone!

[QUOTE=DavieW;432751]I'm exhausted just watching this! Never seen so much work go into buying a phone![/QUOTE]I second DW's comment. Why not get a phone that works on the USA service that you already use, and buy a simple, unlocked phone from Amazon for less than $30?? Most of the readers and posters on this board are not going to stay in Argentina very long, and do no need a phone down here except to call and text chicas or receive calls or texts from chicas. Do you really need the "instant" Internet that a phone provides? Other advantages of a cheap phone are that the do not make one a target for thieves, and make a great chica gift when you leave. Most BA apartments and hotels have WiFi that lets one surf the Internet from the comfort of one's room on a laptop and with a large screen. All the frustration and anger of crappy Argentine Internet over the phone service go away. One can enjoy one's vacation, and concentrate on fucking chicas. After all, isn't fucking chicas what you came here for? Besides, most chicas do not send email (they do not even own a computer), they send cheap text messages.

Tres3.

I have been using motorola v197's for many, many years as travel phones-quad bands--the ugly version of the original razor.

I use a super modern upper end phablet is the USA: note II-great phone just bought for $700 on craig's list for $550. My business life is on this phone. Not going to wander around a third world country with it. There are issues on whether or not it will work in buenos aires / Argentina. It is a verizon branded phone-cdmi and gms

I asked about 3 g in buenso aires-got responses that it works and is cheap for personel pre-paid phones. 1 pesos per day for 3 g.

There is an issue on the buying a phone that works around the world. The boys gave great suggestions. I assumed that there others in the same position as myself. I summarized 40 minutes of looking on-line:

The non-technical summary is: pantech burst used, $80 to new, $200 or samsung galaxy nexus with 4.65 inch screen used $175 to $225 v good condition.

If the phones are fully unlocked they should work on personel.

Iphone 4 is also a very good choice.

Sorry for wasting your time. I hope that a few people could make good use of my wanders on the net.

If anyone who I actually know wants a phone, I'll buy one and bring it into town the end of may.

Happy trails.

Since you're willing to spend about $200, you can always just arrive in buenos aires, walk into a Personal store, and buy a prepago phone + sim that fits all your requirements plus no worries about whether works or not.

A Samsung Galaxy Ace was right around 1700 pesos or close to $200, basically a budget iPhone but other options if you prefer something else.

Actually IMO buying an unlocked GSM smartphone for travel is a great and intelligent mongering tool.

Google maps with the location app is great. I have a whole tote bag of hard copy maps that I will never use again. Going to a privado for the first time just input the address and it will spit out the directions. We just had a monger who could not find Nuevo Estilo. I had a monger PM me and ask for directions to Scalibrini Ortiz and Cervino. I suggested that he become familiar with Google Maps. BA is not so hard to find things but try finding places in Zhu Hai or Shenzen without a map. Even with a map I walked unnecessary distances.

If you use chrome as your web browser on your laptop, the phone will keep the pictures of the girl so you can make a comparison. A chica stands you up while you are out of the apartment, I am already bookmarked to others I want to meet. I don't have to backtrack.

There is one security issue that I learned about the android phone. Miami Bob said he wanted to keep his business phone and travel phone separate. If you sign up with the same gmail all the information is kept in the cloud and downloaded to the new phone despite the carrier. In other words, all the chica phone numbers I collected were download to my US phone. This could have gotten me into some trouble with my US relationships. I would create two different gmails for my monger phone and my business phone for security. Maybe this obvious standard practice but I was not really thinking about it when I set it up.

I don't see me ever traveling again without an unlocked smartphone.

[QUOTE=BigBossMan;432774]There is one security issue that I learned about the android phone. Miami Bob said he wanted to keep his business phone and travel phone separate. If you sign up with the same gmail all the information is kept in the cloud and downloaded to the new phone despite the carrier. In other words, all the chica phone numbers I collected were download to my US phone. This could have gotten me into some trouble with my US relationships. I would create two different gmails for my monger phone and my business phone for security. Maybe this obvious standard practice but I was not really thinking about it when I set it up.

I don't see me ever traveling again without an unlocked smartphone.[/QUOTE]You should be able to "disable" the sync option. I use a Galaxy S II and only sync my phone / email / pics / contacts etc info when I want to. Info I have deleted from my phone, such as a chicas contact info, is still available to me on my pc or online, but is no longer on my phone.

The samsung galaxy ace that they sell in buenos aires: is it 100% unlocked so i can use it in other countries? is it quad bad on voice, edge[2g] and 3g for that i can get access to interest almost anywhere in the world? the pantech burst, galaxy nexus s and iphone 4 all are quad band and i can buy them 100% unlocked.

I will likely go with BBM's nexus suggestion
-it is made by samsung and 100% of the software and updates can come directly from samsung without any locale cell company bull shit
-upgradeable to android jelley bean 4.2.2 which i have on my note II--much better than ice cream sandwhich 4.0.1
- i owned a verizon nexus as my prior primary usa PHONE. it is a great phone and i know how to use it 100%. love texting where i can change from spanish to english on the fly with word completion. i can be lazy and use google translation directly on the phone if i get an email or text in standard spanish{fat chance of that}
+++ gps foto storage and a good useable camera
-one year ago, this was a state of the art android--fast, great big screen
-with the 4g turned off the battery will last a very long time
- i can watch the usa new and netflix on it and actually see everything

only one issue: it is a target thieves and chicas and sellable i had my mot razyr--that looks hot stolden right in front of a cop by alabasto mall....group of 6 teenagers. the nexus looks hot and any chica would swipe it.......something else to worry about. that's why i have been uing the butt ugly moto v197 so many year. it's us$25 and i throw it away when i have a problem. i own three now. quad band works everywhere around the world.

Seems new ability? I don't recall my Personal pre-pago phone still working in the USA and Europe back in early 2011 when I returned from an Argentina trip.

However, this trip after I reactivated phone after arriving bsas in Aug 2012, and returning to the states couple weeks ago, I notice I am connected via roaming, am able to get free txt messages, and send txts to chicas and friends in bsas for about 4 pesos per message.

I've personally gone 17 months dormant without phone number expiring so no real issue there, but seems like if you had enough credit balance you could keep your number indefinitely alive just by sending a text from abroad every now and then.

Anyway, interesting as this means next trip back I can just use my bsas phone to setup appointments even before leaving. Too bad Personal doesn't have as far as I can see an online recharging credits function.

Here is a question for the group. Does movie star or personnel offer micro SIM cards. The card I have used for years is the full size version. My new windows phone with Verizon is unlocked but requires the micro SIM card. I would prefer to use my new Nokia windows phone when in Argentina but will need the micro size. I have read that you can cut your old card down but it doesn't look possible when I compare my new Verizon micro SIM card to my old movie star full size SIM card. I base this on the observation that the metal part of the SIM cards do not look similar at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Toymann.

P.S. I know that in Canada you can just take your old full size SIM card to the provider and they will reprogram your historical number plus anything stored on your old SIM card to your new micro SIM card. Is this posible in Argentina?

I got my sim card re-issued by Personal before deciding on what phone to buy. When I got a Nokia Windows phone and realized it needed a micro-sim I went to the branch where I got the standard sim card and they said it would cost me another 30 pesos to have the sim re-issued, but then brought out a device to cut up the one I had and said they could turn it into a micro-sim without the need to re-issue. Five seconds later the trimmed sim was installed and working, no problem at all.