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Which cellphone is much better to use?

What is a SIM card exactly? How to use a cellphone?

  • I am a bit confused on what a SIM card is, and how to use it. I will be travelling to India, and I would like to use my cellphone there. Is a SIM card just used for getting a signal? Or is it like a calling card with minutes??? Where can I buy a SIM card? I live in The US. Also, can I use my own cellphone? Or do I have to purchase a cellphone in India? How much do cellphones generally cost in India? I really would like a cellphone with me when I arrive to the airport, just for safety purposes.

  • Answer:

    If your phone is GSM it has the account identified by the SIM card. In the U.S. major GSM carriers are AT&T and T-mobile. If it is CDMA there is no SIM card. CDMA carriers include Sprint, Verizon, Alltel, and PCS Metro. If you have a GSM phone and visit India, it MIGHT be possible to buy a SIM card for local prepaid service and use that in India in your present phone without having to buy a new phone. When you remove your present SIM protect it carefully. If it gets lost, notify your carrier immediately. Will this work? U.S. and Canada carriers use 1900MHz and 800MHz bands. In India they use 1800MHz and 900MHz. If your phone is quad band it can find and use the right band. If it is tri-band it will find the 1800MHz PCS band(which is mostly used) but it won't connect to 900 MHz cellular band (which isn't used as much anyway). If it's a dual band 800/1900 phone it can't connect to either 900 or 1800. However, your phone would also need to be unlocked. If you got your phone "free" on contract with your carrier, it is probably locked to that carrier's SIM. It would not work with another carrier's SIM unless you enter the right code to unlock it.

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Welcome to India.. yes u r right..only SIM card is required to get the signal u can use ur own cell phone from US and buy a local SIM from India and use it in ur own Cell phone... SIM and cell phones are very cheap in India ,u can us ur US SIM as roaming in India but it will be very costly for u so it will better to buy new Indian SIM as its call rate is very cheaper than US SIM Have a great FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

gurpreet s

You are welcome and nothing to worry about .you can use basic mobiles without any restriction,whether if you are using iphone crack s/w is to unlock it.And coming to sim card you can also use international roaming with ur US card and if need Indian card it is very cheaper call rates.

S.Annejesmedon

The SIM card is really the guts of a cell phone. It enables you to get a signal and conversely use the phone. Depending on what model you have, you may or may not be able to replace your SIM card with an Indian card. You can use your cell just as at home but most carriers charge an outrageous amount for basic calls, texts and any data usage. Check with your provider on International rates and programs. When you fire up your cell upon arrival, it will take longer than usual to initially find a cell signal so be patient. If you purchase an Indian SIM card, you will need to fill out a form and provide a copy of your passport, India Visa and two passport photos. Bring those with you prior to travel as it's easier to get all that together State side. You could buy a cell in India but it's not much of a savings. Your better off using your own. If you don' have any of this, look for an STD/ICO phone booth to make phone calls.

FullStopIndia

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