World Wide Mobile ?

[Gengi]

I have never had a mobile phone, never saw the point, but I travel a bit so one may come in handy. My question is this, whats the cheapest phone I could get that would work in mainland Europe, i.e. Paris and Amsterdam airports, the good old US of A and last but not least Nigeria ?
I asked a bloke in an Orange shop in Newcastle a while ago and he looked terribly blank when I said 'Nigeria'. I know there is a network here as a mobile phone is the latest fashion accessory
Thanks for any help.

Later

 

[Clown]

Dunno about cheapest, but the v600 is quad band. Are you looking to be on contract or pay as you go?

 

[Gengi]

Probably a contract Clown, I would forget to do the thing to get time on pay as you go, Direct Debits for the memory challenged

Later

 

[Tom]

Any tri-band phone will work in the countries you mention. There may be certain areas in the US that you can't use the phone in, and possibly Japan as well.

Nokia 6310i is a good phone to start with, and very good battery life.

 

[Gengi]

Thanks Tom,
Will look into above mentioned Nokia when I get back home

Later

 

[Tom]

Loads on Ebay right now, in fact I'm selling one as well

 

[Gengi]

More Mobile No0bie questions.
If I buy a phone off ebay or even Tom can I get a contract with it ?
I was under the impression you had to get the phone from the telecoms provider, both phones the wife has had have been with Orange and had their logo on the phone.
Is the roaming feature automatic or do I have to specifically state that when I get the contract ?
Once again thanks in advance for your help.

Later

 

[Clown]

If the telephone is unlocked then I think you can put any sim card in it.
You can buy sim only contracts, just look at the network sites and see what contract they can offer you.

 

[Tom]

Orange will give you a 6310i for free, on certain contracts. I suggest you go into your nearest carphone warehouse/link shop, and get some advice.

There are services for which you pay a small fee, if you provide them with the IMEI number on the back of the phone, they will issue a code that you can use to unlock it.

What you then do is get a contract with whoever you like, and just shove the phone they give you into a cupboard (if thats what you want). Or you could sell it on Ebay, but I'm not sure if the phone is legally yours until the end of the contract.

Roaming is something you have to phone them up and ask for, if you have a poor credit record you might have problems, unless you pay in advance, but I'm guessing as I've never had that problem.

PS, if you get a contract with www.three.co.uk, beware, as their sim cards do not always work in 2G phones. 3 tend to figure out what you're up to, and stop it from working