# Is there a good way to get a cheap, perhaps used, GSM mobile phone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-get-a-cheap-perhaps-used-gsm-mobile-phone/180473>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 8, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-get-a-cheap-perhaps-used-gsm-mobile-phone/180473 "2003-06-08T16:15:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-get-a-cheap-perhaps-used-gsm-mobile-phone/180473/1 "2003-06-08T16:15:59Z")

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I tried eBay, but wasn’t thrilled with what I found.

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**Author:** ![Geoduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c37758/32.png) [@Geoduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geoduck)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-get-a-cheap-perhaps-used-gsm-mobile-phone/180473/2 "2003-06-09T03:47:10Z")

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T-Mobile (formerly Voicestream) and Cingular are the major GSM carriers in the US. ATT recently converted to the GSM protocol. I would ask friends and family about former Voicestream/Cingular customers–probably one of them has an unused phone sitting around.

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**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-get-a-cheap-perhaps-used-gsm-mobile-phone/180473/3 "2003-06-09T04:03:47Z")

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Locally, you can find new (slightly outdated models) mobiles cheaply. A Nokia 3310 can be had for ~USD60. The downside is you have to pay a lot for the airfare 😃

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**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-get-a-cheap-perhaps-used-gsm-mobile-phone/180473/4 "2003-06-09T04:41:33Z")

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Make sure the phone is either for your carrier or unlocked for all carriers. If you buy a phone that’s locked for, say, Cingular, and you have ATT, you’re going to have to go through the trouble of unlocking it, which usually involves paying someone to do it for you.

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**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-good-way-to-get-a-cheap-perhaps-used-gsm-mobile-phone/180473/5 "2003-06-09T12:28:13Z")

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I got my Cingular serviced Motorola C331g phone from the Cingular website for only $29. I called to make sure it wasn’t a typo because Best Buy had the old model for $70 after rebates. You do have to sign a contract with Cingular but it’s a great phone.