On Call runs every two weeks, alternating between answering reader questions and discussing hot topics in the cell phone world.
Q: I was an Alltel customer, but I'm now with Verizon Wireless following the merger. I want to add a fourth line to my family plan, but Verizon informed me that my Alltel phones were not compatible and that I'd need to replace them. Replacing all four phones would cost me about $600. What can I do?
- Sarah
A: Since Alltel and Verizon both use CDMA technology, I was surprised to hear that your Alltel phones aren't compatible with Verizon's network. I checked with Verizon and got a quick response. While most Alltel customers won't have to buy new phones, there are exceptions (there always are). ... Read more
Two SIMs on the same phone? Yes, indeed.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)We promised it to you last month, and here is CNET's first review of a dual SIM card cell phone. We know the Duet D888 from Beyond E-Tech is not the first dual SIM phone ever, but it is the first one we've reviewed. Even better, it is the first dual SIM card phone widely available in the United States. You can get it for $199 from National Geographic and Cellular Abroad.
With the D888, you can make calls and send texts from two numbers on the same handset. Outside of a few usability quirks, the arrangement works quite well. Believe us when we say that Duet is a pretty average phone otherwise. Call quality is decent, but the D888 feels a little cheap in the hand and it doesn't offer any outstanding features. Yet even with those caveats, the two SIM card slots are enough to warrant a look.
Get the full scoop in our Duet D888 review.
The Duet D888 takes two SIM cards.
(Credit: Beyond E-Tech)Though dual SIM card cell phones have been around for a while, I've only seen them while traveling abroad and at trade show booths. The premise is simple and very attractive: with slots for two SIM cards, a single phone can have two phone numbers. You can receive and make calls on both lines and the SIM cards can even be from separate carriers.
It's a great option for anyone who wants to combine their work and personal phone and it's perfect for frequent international travelers who want a local number while retaining their U.S. number.
With such advantages, it's no surprise that a lot of CNET readers have asked how they can get such a phone. But outside of a handful of unlocked models, and a few crude adapters for regular handsets, dual SIM card phones remain relatively scarce in the United States. No U.S. carrier sells them and you can bet that no carrier would give up that kind of control.
But leave it to National Geographic to come up with another option. The organization has partnered with Cellular Abroad to offer the Duet D888. Made by Beyond E-Tech, the unlocked Duet accommodates two SIM cards: one for the Cellular Abroad intentional SIM card and one for another card of your choice. You could use your own SIM card for a GSM carrier like AT&T or T-Mobile or you could buy a prepaid card during your travels.
... Read more
SIM card in Palm Pre?
(Credit: PreCommunity)We were really hoping that Palm would announce the HSDPA/GSM version of the Pre during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but that didn't happen. The folks at PreCommmunity managed to get some time with the device, and in a quick shot that showed the back battery cover off, a Vodafone SIM (subscriber identity module) card was spotted.
The fact that it has a Vodafone SIM card indicates that this is a GSM version of the Pre. So even without an official statement we know that Palm doesn't only have the CDMA version ready. Just why the Sunnyvale, Calif., company is holding back on an announcement isn't clear. But these manufacturer-operator relations can be tricky, so we just have to be patient. Check out PreCommunity's video for a quick look at the Palm Pre's SIM card slot.
Via PreCommunity
(Via CNET Asia)
Pick your C905 carefully.
(Credit: Sony Ericsson)
Q: I currently have an iPhone 3G but I'm considering purchasing the Sony Ericsson C905. This would be my first time using an unlocked phone and I'm a bit skeptical that it will work. What steps do I need to take in order to make the switch go as smoothly as possible? And will I be able to use AT&T's 3G network?
- Nacor
A: Buying an unlocked phone needn't be complicated as long as you consider a couple of points. Most importantly, the phone will need to support the GSM bands used in the United States. Since the C905 is a quad-band GSM phone, you'll be able to make calls here without any problem. Just pop in your AT&T SIM card and you can start dialing. Yet, the 3G compatibility is another story. Sony Ericsson makes two versions of the C905, each with support for different 3G bands. The C905i will support only European 3G bands, while the C905a will work with AT&T's 3G network. So when buying your phone, you'll need to make sure you have the correct model.
Once you get the phone, you'll also need to program it with the correct multimedia settings to send picture messages and browse the Internet. The settings are unique to every phone and carrier but you should be able to download them from the support section on Sony Ericsson's Web site.
Q: I'm new here in the United States, and I would like to know if I can use a prepaid SIM from Verizon Wireless. Is that possible?
- Chaya
A: Verizon Wireless is a CDMA carrier, which means that its phones don't use SIM cards. Verizon does offer prepaid phones, but you'll need to purchase a phone from the carrier if you want to use the service. And in any case, Verizon does its best to downplay its prepaid service.
... Read more
Samsung Soul
(Credit: Samsung)
Q: I'm thinking of buying the Samsung Soul and I'm concerned with its radiation level. But when I looked at the user manual there were multiple SARs listed. Is this typical and how do I know which listing is right?
- Rich
A: It's not a matter of which listing is right since it is very common for a single handset to have multiple SARs. For both GSM and CDMA phones, the radiation level will vary by transmission band, the testing position (at ear vs. at body), and the testing body that reported the results. In CNET's radiation charts we always list the highest at-ear SAR as tested by the FCC. I know that's a lot of qualifications, but the distinctions are important to understand.
I'm glad you mentioned the Soul since that phone is a great example of just how results can vary. First off, the Soul uses three GSM bands (900, 1,800, and 1,900) so it's likely that you're seeing a different reported SAR for each band. As I said before, all of the listings are correct, but for your situation one SAR will be more correct than the others. Of the three GSM bands the Soul uses, only the 1,900 band is used in the United States, so I would concentrate on that listing. Also, you'll want to make sure that the results are from the FCC, which conducts tests specifically for the U.S. market. If the results are form another body, such as the European Union's testing agency or Industry Canada, then you could see a different result. ... Read more
Thought you could get rid of those incriminating text messages with a simple Delete? Not so fast, Tex. Gadget blogs are all abuzz over a little device that purports to enable users to recover and view deleted data stored on almost any cell phone SIM card.
(Credit:
BrickHouse Security)
"Have you ever wished you can spy on your wife, husband, teens, or colleague's phone to see what they are up to? Are they being suspicious when on their cell phone?" asks New York-based BrickHouse Security, which also sells marijuana identification kits and all manner of spy cameras. It says it has the answer to your worst fears in the form of the $149 Cell Phone Sim Card Spy.
Simply place a SIM card into the tiny USB reader, and instantly save the data, including last numbers dialed and deleted SMS messages, to your PC. Sure, the device is also good for more benign applications like backing up cell phone contacts. But really, why use it for such boring pursuits when you can hack into your unsuspecting loved ones' secrets?
Now that has thrown open its doors, and grabbed a lot of attention in the process, it appears that AT&T is still trying to convince consumers that it plays nice, too. First, it took pains early last month to remind us it had an open network ("You can use any handset on our network you want. We don't prohibit it, or even police it," an exec said) and now it is selling SIM cards for use with any compatible phone.
The 3G, 64K SIMs are just $10, but you get a whopping $5 discount if you sign a two-year contract (hint: sometimes it's best to pay full price). Alternatively, if you don't fancy contracts, you also can use the cards with the carrier's GoPhone prepaid service. Though the rumor mill is saying that the phone-free SIM cards don't entitle you to multimedia messaging, I'd be surprised if that was the case, and AT&T doesn't list any such restrictions on its Web site. The carrier only says you must use the SIM card with an unlocked or locked AT&T cell phone that operates on the 800 to 900 GSM bands. Also, the handset should not have been previously reported as lost or stolen. So go ahead, free your phone!
- prev
- 1
- next
