| If you want to travel internationally then you will | | | | frequency bands of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz In the |
| need an sim free cell phone. And, you will need to | | | | US the frequencies are a combo of the frequency |
| know what services are available to you and how | | | | bands 850 MHz and 1900 MHz. |
| your phone will work internationally versus in the | | | | This might not make much sense to you, but it really |
| United States. Keep in mind, however, that your | | | | is important. This can easily be explained using an |
| regular US cell phone will not work internationally | | | | example of an FM radio. If your favorite radio |
| unless you purchased one of the unlocked cell phones | | | | stations are 900 MHz and 1800 MHz but your radio is |
| available on the market. | | | | preset to two stations, either 850 MHz or 1900 MHz, |
| There are different types of services available to | | | | then you are out of luck. This makes it easier to |
| contract free phones depending where you are in | | | | understand about the frequencies and why they |
| the world. Generally, the US uses a cell phone | | | | matter. |
| services called DMA, TDMA, iDEN, or AMPS. And, like | | | | It would make sense if all cell phones supported all |
| many things, the majority of other countries use a | | | | frequency bands. But, this is not the case and the |
| different type of service. There are hundreds of | | | | ones that do are quite expensive. The majority do |
| other countries that use GSM cellular service. So, if | | | | support two or three bands. So, this leaves you |
| you plan on traveling internationally and want to take | | | | wondering what frequency bands you need to make |
| your cell phone with you then you need to buy a | | | | sure your cell phone has. It is a good idea to have a |
| GSM cell phone. US phones that are not GSM phones | | | | cell phone that supports 900 MHz and 1800 MHz if |
| won't work with this system so there is no need | | | | you are traveling internationally. If you plan on using |
| trying to figure out how to make them. It is much | | | | the cell phone in the United States as well then it |
| easier to simply buy a GSM cell phone. | | | | must support 850 MHz and 1900 MHz as well. The |
| Remember, too, that all GSM phones are not the | | | | easiest thing to do is simply buy a cell phone for |
| same either. In fact, there are up to four different | | | | international use and one for home use and take the |
| frequencies that GSM phones use currently. The vast | | | | easy way out! |
| majority of countries using the GSM service use | | | | |