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South Korea

rb

Jan 31, 2007, 12:27 PM
Since Verizon can be used in South Korea, can someone please tell me which phones would work there.

Is it possible to and buy a pre-paid sim card over there to use with the phone?

I would appreciated if someone could help me out with this!

Thanks,
rb
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mikethaler

Feb 24, 2007, 6:28 PM
I think a 3G GSM phone will work. Verizon is CDMA - so it doesn't use SIM cards. I do think, tho, I read about their being a combo CDMA/GSM phone, but not sure.
Best bet is to call Vz CS and ask. They do have a method of allowing roaming on "regular" GSM systems w. a GSM phone.

...mike
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sangyup81

Feb 25, 2007, 2:42 PM
Korea uses CDMA800 so just about any of VZW's phones work there. If you want to use native service, you need a phone that supports UMTS2100 since that's their other network there.

Korea does NOT use GSM
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japhy

Feb 26, 2007, 12:30 PM
Korea uses 900/1800 CDMA bands. Verizon phones cannot be used there, nor is there any GSM service in South Korea. You would not be able to use any phone in South Korea other than one from a phone company over there.
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txsolitaire

Feb 26, 2007, 11:14 PM
o rly?
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japhy

Feb 27, 2007, 11:14 AM
Well, I'm not totally sure about that now - I just noticed on the VZW site that they have some sort of firmware update for the phones that allows them to be used in South Korea, but not for all phones.

Anyone know for sure?
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sangyup81

Mar 10, 2007, 1:43 AM
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sangyup81

Mar 10, 2007, 1:50 AM
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Rich Brome

Apr 28, 2007, 4:17 PM
Not true. Korea uses the same 850 and 1900 bands we use here.

The 1900 band is flipped though (their transmit is our receive, etc.) so that's incompatible.

850 (800) MHz phones can be compatible between the US and South Korea, though. It's not automatic, but it can work for basic voice service with the right firmware and programming.
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alejandro

Apr 30, 2007, 11:01 AM
way to necropost rich.
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sangyup81

May 29, 2007, 2:15 PM
I guess japhy's post was so ridiculous, Rich had to comment 😉
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raycarroll70

Mar 1, 2007, 11:30 PM
You may wish to consider the Samsung SCH-i830 since it utilizes the 900/1800 MHz GSM networks deployed outside North America while still working on the 850/1900 MHz CDMA ones here. For my customer who travel extensively abroad, I recommend the Samsung IP-830W which is Sprint's version. Here's the specifications pertaining to the Bluetooth enabled, Microsoft OS driven, quad band device.

https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=703 »
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japhy

Mar 2, 2007, 4:15 PM
But GSM 900/1800 won't do much good in a country without GSM . . . ☚ī¸
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raycarroll70

Mar 2, 2007, 11:42 PM
I can see someone isn't familiar with what GSM means. GSM = Global System for Mobile Communication. You may wish japhy to brush on your wireless technologues at
http://www.gsmworld.com/index.shtml »

GSM pretty much is a global standard and outside North America, the 900/1900 MHz GSM network is what you shall find. In the example of South Korea, SK Telcom has 850 MHz CDMA network so the both the SCH-i830 as well as the IP-830W would be able to work on SK Telcom's network.
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japhy

Mar 5, 2007, 7:10 PM
japhy said:
But GSM 900/1800 won't do much good in a country without GSM . . . ☚ī¸


How many GSM carriers does South Korea have, Ray?

raycarroll70 said:
In the example of South Korea, SK Telcom has 850 MHz CDMA network so the both the SCH-i830 as well as the IP-830W would be able to work on SK Telcom's network.


Did you read what you posted?

I can see somone isn't familiar with. . .

ah forget it. 🙄
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raycarroll70

Mar 5, 2007, 10:30 PM
I'm quite aware that South Korea uses CDMA and not GSM. I was just saying that the Samung SCH-i830/IP-830W can be used on SK Telecom's 850 MHz CDMA(2G/IS-95B/850)network so the fact that GSM is nonexistent in South Korea is immaterial to someone traveling there as long as they had a wireless device like the Samsung SCH-i830/IP-830W.
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japhy

Mar 6, 2007, 10:24 AM
raycarroll70 said:
I can see someone isn't familiar with what GSM means. GSM = Global System for Mobile Communication. You may wish japhy to brush on your wireless technologues at
http://www.gsmworld.com/index.shtml »

GSM pretty much is a global standard and outside North America, the 900/1900 MHz GSM network is what you shall find. In the example of South Korea, SK Telcom has 850 MHz CDMA network so the both the SCH-i830 as well as the IP-830W would be able to work on SK Telcom's network.


See, your point about the i830 makes sense, but what you wrote above is you saying that I don't know how GSM works. You're telling me I'm ignorant for not knowing what GSM is when we're talking about a country...
(continues)
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raycarroll70

Mar 6, 2007, 12:57 PM
Sorry about that. 😁
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japhy

Mar 6, 2007, 2:30 PM
All is forgiven - conflict over! 😁

And now back to drooling over bitchin' phones, and complaining about our carriers/employers. 🙂 😛
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jjgreene

Mar 17, 2007, 2:22 AM
They might not have GSM in South Korea, but they have WCDMA (UMTS) which is even better, so get yourself a 3rd generation phone and purchase whatever SIM card you want over there with the local carriers....

KT Freetel

or

SK telecom

The CDMA tech's over there are still only 2G, so for the GSM fan get a 3G GSM phone...
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sangyup81

May 29, 2007, 2:18 PM
You are correct about W-CDMA however, the coverage with W-CDMA is not as good as CDMA 850. Besides, the only carrier subsidized phones available with W-CDMA in the USA is the Treo 750 and the Cingular 8525.
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sangyup81

Mar 10, 2007, 1:45 AM
You don't need an SCH-i830 for Korea. You can use a regular phone like an LG VX8300 🙄
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garengsd

May 28, 2007, 2:37 PM
Can anyone tell me if the new Blackberry (Verizon) Quad-mode phone will work in S. Korea.
Also, will I be able to get my email?

Thanks,
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danielvogt

Jun 3, 2007, 5:22 PM
1. My Verizon V710 and e815 both work great for voice in S Korea. Cannot send text, OK to receive. V710 Required software flash at local Verizon store. http://mobileoptions.vzw.com/international/ro aming/rates/South%20Korea.html

2. Sprint is also offering CDMA roaming in Korea now.

3. Cingular has roaming contracts for S Korea and Japan using WCDMA 2100 capable phones. Note: WCDMA 2100 in S Korea is only available in Seoul metro area.

4. Search any of these carrier websites with keywords "international" and "international roaming" and you will eventually find facts, not rumor.
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sangyup81

Jul 10, 2007, 1:25 PM
According to gsmworld.com, WCDMA is also available in Daegu and Busan. That gets the top 3 cities covered.
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