Smartphone for overseas use?

Messiah Khan · 5 Jul 2011 at 09:49

If I wanted a cheap, basic smartphone for overseas use, what would be my best options both in terms of the phone itself and the contract/sim etc? A

As of next year, I am likely to be in the US and Canada for 18-30 months, much of it backpacking in the wilderness, so could do with a phone to occasionally check emails and internet etc. The battery life of the phone needs to be good, although an external battery would be acceptable if not too heavy.

I really don't want to be forking out loads on a contract, so the cheaper and more basic the better, as long as it works both here an overseas and has a data allowance.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Chillimonster · 5 Jul 2011 at 10:10

Backpacking - I'd go for something that can take a bit of a beating, like the Moto Defy.

Myshra · 5 Jul 2011 at 10:16

Messiah Khan said:
I really don't want to be forking out loads on a contract, so the cheaper and more basic the better, as long as it works both here an overseas and has a data allowance.

Any ideas or suggestions?

maybe it's how you wrote it but the contract or plan you're on will determine the data allowance, not the handset... Realistically you're going to need to buy a phone SIM free here (will need to be Tri-band GSM really, 99% of phones currently are but check) then get a payg SIM for canada and america separately, roaming costs will be more than the phone otherwise.

There are 2 types of network in NA, GSM and CDMA. Without being technical, some networks run one or the other but never both. CDMA phones do NOT work in Europe, we use GSM. If you buy GSM you'll probably need to stick to Rogers in Canada and AT&T/T-Mobile for America but there are other MVMOs if another takes your fancy - these are just the big name GSM telcos.

CDMA phones don't allow SIM switching, they are destined to stay on their networks for life so honestly, I'd avoid considering you want to visit 2 countries otherwise you'll need a Verizon phone and a Bell phone.

Robbo · 5 Jul 2011 at 12:26

I'd take an N8, think of it as a Sat Nav with a 12MP camera.

Messiah Khan · 5 Jul 2011 at 14:19

Chillimonster said:
Backpacking - I'd go for something that can take a bit of a beating, like the Moto Defy.

To be honest I don't think it would take that much of a beating. It would either get kept safe in the rucksack, or I might even leave it in my resupply box that gets mailed ahead. It's mainly to just check emails and weather forecasts etc, so doesn't need to be with me all the time.

Myshra said:
maybe it's how you wrote it but the contract or plan you're on will determine the data allowance, not the handset... Realistically you're going to need to buy a phone SIM free here (will need to be Tri-band GSM really, 99% of phones currently are but check) then get a payg SIM for canada and america separately, roaming costs will be more than the phone otherwise.

There are 2 types of network in NA, GSM and CDMA. Without being technical, some networks run one or the other but never both. CDMA phones do NOT work in Europe, we use GSM. If you buy GSM you'll probably need to stick to Rogers in Canada and AT&T/T-Mobile for America but there are other MVMOs if another takes your fancy - these are just the big name GSM telcos.

CDMA phones don't allow SIM switching, they are destined to stay on their networks for life so honestly, I'd avoid considering you want to visit 2 countries otherwise you'll need a Verizon phone and a Bell phone.

Thanks for the reply. Aye, I know it is the contract that determines the data allowance, not the handset. So it would be easy enough to pick up a sim free (unlocked I presume) GSM handset here, then just pop in a PAYG sim when I get to the US? What's the data allowance like on PAYG sims? ie, does it expire after a while and does it cost loads per MB?

That certainly sounds like a easy enough solution.

Robbo said:
I'd take an N8, think of it as a Sat Nav with a 12MP camera.

Will consider. What does this have over say an iphone?

Robbo · 5 Jul 2011 at 14:22

It has a better camera and more features (not counting apps) at the expense of being a bit backward and ugly to use. It also costs about half of what an iPhone 4 will cost you.

You also said 'cheap, basic smartphone' so recommending things like the iPhone didn't seem appropriate, though it is basic

Messiah Khan · 5 Jul 2011 at 14:52

Robbo said:
It has a better camera and more features (not counting apps) at the expense of being a bit backward and ugly to use. It also costs about half of what an iPhone 4 will cost you.

You also said 'cheap, basic smartphone' so recommending things like the iPhone didn't seem appropriate, though it is basic

Fair comment. I was more thinking a second hand 3Gs rather than a new iPhone4 though. I quite like the idea of an iphone or android phone for the apps.

Robbo · 5 Jul 2011 at 14:56

I don't really rate the 3GS myself (the iPhone 4 is great though), I'd easily take the N8 over a 3GS for travelling abroad because of the free offline Sat Nav and hugely superior camera.

The Symbian app store isn't exactly empty, you would find most of the things you need on there I'd imagine. It's hard to say.

Android is a superb option, the Defy is a decent phone and can take a lot of punishment, there is a phone to suit every price range for Android but as I said for abroad travelling the N8 is a decent choice imo.

Myshra · 5 Jul 2011 at 16:25

I'd go for a defy in your position (second hand is always a good option for cheapness, especially for rugged phones) if you want an Android setup. Rugged as hell. The iPhone 4 would be good (albeit more expensive option) - you could pick one up after the iPhone 5 comes out? It will obviously be more fragile but if you take good care of handsets this isn't an issue.

As for PAYG deals over there, google will sort you out although they tend to call PAYG a whole bunch of stupid names and will do their BEST to hide SIM-O deals. America's wireless telcos are still in the stoneage and like to do hilarious lockins on PAYG as well as PAYM. If you ever thought we had it bad as consumers, you havn't seen anything until you have seen the USA mobile market

I think on average their bills are 3 times higher than ours currently.

Tunney · 5 Jul 2011 at 16:38

Myshra said:
I'd go for a defy in your position (second hand is always a good option for cheapness, especially for rugged phones) if you want an Android setup. Rugged as hell. The iPhone 4 would be good (albeit more expensive option) - you could pick one up after the iPhone 5 comes out? It will obviously be more fragile but if you take good care of handsets this isn't an issue.

I wouldn't go for the iPhone 4 for one reason - it uses microSIMs. You would either have to buy specific iPhone SIM cards (which tend to be more expensive) or carry around a SIM cutter with you.

As for SIM cards, in the US you can pick up an AT&T GoPhone pre-pay SIM card from any AT&T store. The charges aren't anything ridiculous - 10c/minute, 20c/text and $15 for 100 MB.

You could also choose a T-Mobile SIM card but their coverage isn't as good and the only smartphone mentioned here compatible with its 3G service is the Nokia N8.

Canada is certainly a lot more expensive. Fido, Chatr and Rogers both sell pre-pay SIMs but expect to be shafted. They're all owned by the same company but Chatr/Fido are generally cheaper.

Messiah Khan · 6 Jul 2011 at 20:10

Right, I have done a bit of reading and I really like the idea of the Motorola Defy. The Motoblur thing seems a bit rubbish, but other than that it seems to tick most of the boxes. Before I commit, are there any other phones to consider in the sub £250 price range?

Am I also right in believing I can just get a sim free, unlocked phone and drop my existing PAYG sim into it and it will work, including my existing phone number etc? Also does anyone know how much data costs on orange PAYG? I recon I would use less than 500MB a month.

sven256 · 6 Jul 2011 at 20:28

Data will cost an insane amount on a payg over in America and Canada, It's much better to pick a sim up over there for this. Then use that for you data then swap for ringing and texting on your current number.

quick edit

http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Sa...targ2=1122896677768&extarg3=montanna&x=20&y=6

About £8 per megabyte so good luck on your 500 MB

Wicksta · 6 Jul 2011 at 20:38

You could get an Xperia Arc for less than £250 on the bay. Good little handset and wonderful screen and camera. Don't buy a 'Three' one though as they seem impossible to unlock at the moment if you don't know the original owner on their records.

Messiah Khan · 6 Jul 2011 at 20:42

sven256 said:
Data will cost an insane amount on a payg over in America and Canada, It's much better to pick a sim up over there for this. Then use that for you data then swap for ringing and texting on your current number.

quick edit

http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Sa...targ2=1122896677768&extarg3=montanna&x=20&y=6

About £8 per megabyte so good luck on your 500 MB

Sorry, I meant use my current sim and number here in the UK. Then when I go to the US and Canada, pick up a local sim with a different number.

Myshra · 7 Jul 2011 at 08:51

You'll probably be better off with GiffGaff for a few months if you're willing to port the number but if you'd prefer to stay on orange then you'll probably be looking at Dolphin (note: it's 100mb/£10 which is why GiffGaff might be more up your street) http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-phones/plans/paygPlanList.jsp?selectedTariffName=Dolphin

Linkex · 7 Jul 2011 at 09:10

Have you considered a blackberry curve? I used to have one for my work phone, and the battery would last a few days of light usage. If you were only turning it on for 10 minutes per day, it would probably last a month or so. Web browsers a bit basic, but it would do the job for checking the weather and news.

Depending on when you expect to leave, have you thought about taking out a contract for 12 months? The bundle of minutes and data would probably be cheaper than what you spend on payg, and then you effectively get your phone for "free". Your gonna get charged if you want to use your own phone number to receive calls and texts abroad, whatever your on, but it should be a lot cheaper on contract.

Myshra · 7 Jul 2011 at 13:39

Does any network over there do BIS over PAYG?

Linkex · 7 Jul 2011 at 15:53

I wouldn't think so, but assuming the sim has data, can't you configure a curve for regular pop email? I just assumed you could, but I don't have the curve any more to check...

Messiah Khan · 7 Jul 2011 at 19:48

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. In the end I have gone with a Motorola Defy. Should hopefully arrive tomorrow, so can't wait to start playing with it. Will probably get an extended battery for it and try and maximise the battery life as much as possible. Does anyone know of an extended battery that has a water resistant back? Also are ther any decent 3500mah batteries? I presume the cheap ones from China are rubbish?

Myshra · 8 Jul 2011 at 08:47

Linkex said:
I wouldn't think so, but assuming the sim has data, can't you configure a curve for regular pop email? I just assumed you could, but I don't have the curve any more to check...

BB's require BIS to do anything, it's a lock in to stop people buying handsets and not the blackberry server (assuming a business environment). Batteries from China tend to be hit or miss, it might be easier to use a USB powerpack depending on how often you'll have access to mains power.