# Where to buy a Nokia tri-band cell phone ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 7, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506 "2005-09-07T13:43:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506/1 "2005-09-07T13:43:28Z")
I live in the Philippines, and I am returning to America this October. I would like to buy a Nokia cell phone that is also compatible with the Philippines (GSM900) while I am in Atlanta. I am assuming I need to look for a tri-band or quad band phone that uses a sim card. Nokia is the most popular brand in the Philippines, and so I would prefer to buy Nokia since I can have it easily repaired in the Philippines if need be. Most electronics are about half the price in America as they are in the Philippines, so I would prefer to buy it while in America to save money. A phone that uses SIM cards would be what I need so I can switch the SIM cards and use it in both America and the Philippines. Labor and parts are ridiculously cheap in the Philippines, so I am not worried about the warranty. I can have it switched into an open-line phone for only $2, so I am not worried about that either. Hope this all makes sense 🙂 Where can I buy a Nokia phone in Atlanta ? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506/2 "2005-09-07T14:16:05Z")
> [@simple homer](#): > > Where can I buy a Nokia phone in Atlanta ? > > Thanks I’m guessing pretty much any cell phone store should stock tri-band Nokias. I got the cheapest cell phone available at T-Mobile, and it was a Samsung tri-band. They also offered Nokias at around the same price. You shouldn’t have much of a problem finding them. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506/3 "2005-09-07T14:20:48Z")
Cingular sells SIM Card based phones. Just know that they are locked phones - if you ever put a non-Cingular SIM card it, it won’t work unless you enter the subsidy code. I thinnk there are ways around that, but I don’t know them. ---
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506/4 "2005-09-07T17:54:02Z")
Thanks for the info about Cingular, I tried searching retailers like Wal-mart and could not find anything. I did not know that Cingular uses Sim card phones. Is it possible to buy a phone from Cingular, or will they require me to sign up for a plan ? Thanks again ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506/5 "2005-09-07T18:17:20Z")
It is possible to buy a phone directly from them, but they are very expensive if you’re not signing up for a plan. But because they do the prepaid deal (which is actually a rather good deal, better than a lot of prepaid plans out there) it is possible to buy pretty much any phone they have outright. Just be prepared for the price. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506/6 "2005-09-07T18:32:56Z")
Oh, I’m an idiot. I didn’t realize not all carriers use SIM cards. Anyhow, T-Mobile phones use SIM cards. I’ve taken my phone to Europe, gotten it unlocked, and used it with other carriers SIM cards. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506/7 "2005-09-07T19:11:58Z")
I got mine on Ebay. Maybe you can get one sent to Atlanta before you go there. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-a-nokia-tri-band-cell-phone/320506/8 "2005-09-07T19:18:29Z")
How about buying online? Btw, how cheap is cheap? [40](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009J94YA/qid=1126121034/sr=8-12/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i12_xgl236/103-6485620-7585468?v=glance&n=507846)? [210](http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=1553315)?