Another cell phone question........

[J.Honkanen]

Yeah, yeah........ I know........ everyone asks about the cell phones......... but.......

I couldn't find the answer to this particular question with the search function. So, please forgive me.

As most of you know I'm going to Finland in January. I know all about the pre-paid sim card stuff. My question is this: Since the phone I currently use in the states doesn't have a sim card, where can I find a phone that uses a sim card? I know, Nokia right? But...... should I buy one here in the states or over there in Finland? If I buy in the states, what qualities do I need to look for to make sure it works in Finland? If I buy in Finland, how much can I expect to spend and where (what stores) would I find one?

[umit]

You need an UNLOCKED GSM phone (GSM phones have sim card). The phones bought with a contract are usually locked, so that they cannot be used with any other company.

You'd better buy it in the States, cos even Nokia models are much cheaper there...

there are lots of options in ebay...

[Keravalainen]

Hi!
If you bring along an US cell phone, remember, besides that it needs to be unlocked, it has to be
a "triband" phone to work in Finland (or elsewhere in Europe) in the first place.
Our GSM networks use 900 and 1800 MHz frequency while in North America the frequency is either 850 or 1900 MHz.

I would wait and buy a simple phone over here to make sure everything works fine with it. Then get a prepaid card from R-kioski (see other threads) and off you go...

Here are some examples of local mobile phone prices:
http://www.gigantti.fi/catalog/puhelime ... me%3DNOKIA

For a description of various Nokia models in English, see their pages:
http://www.nokia.co.uk/find-products/all-phones

[J.Honkanen]

Thanks for the replies!

I heard Stockmann's has cell phones. I can't find anything on their website about them though. Does anyone know if they are expensive at Stockmanns? Can I buy phones at the same R-Kioski that I buy the pre-paid card from?

[Keravalainen]

Hi!
Yes, Stockmann's has mobile phones - and you'll get very good service there - most of the attendants can serve you also in English. Prices tend to be slightly higher than at Gigantti. - Their shops are located in the suburbs in Itäkeskus and in Vantaa and Espoo.

In central Helsinki, another place to check near Stockmann's is the Elisa shop at Forum shopping center - It's on the opposite side of Mannerheimintie. Here's the Elisa shop website: http://www.elisashopit.fi/ryhma/1
Besides that there are numerous other shops in central Helsinki that sell mobile phones.

[raamv]

Yeah, yeah........ I know........ everyone asks about the cell phones......... but.......

I couldn't find the answer to this particular question with the search function. So, please forgive me.

As most of you know I'm going to Finland in January. I know all about the pre-paid sim card stuff. My question is this: Since the phone I currently use in the states doesn't have a sim card, where can I find a phone that uses a sim card? I know, Nokia right? But...... should I buy one here in the states or over there in Finland? If I buy in the states, what qualities do I need to look for to make sure it works in Finland? If I buy in Finland, how much can I expect to spend and where (what stores) would I find one?

If there is NO sim card in the phone, then its probably not a GSM phone..( AMPS or CDMA phones )
Even phones which are SIM locked have SIM cards in them..
You need a GSM phone with a slot for a SIM card..
Its way cheaper at Fry's than here...