Will this Chinese phone work w/an AT&T SIM card?

[bluehead69]

I plan to purchase one of these phones from an online Chinese electronics dealer soon --

IPmart.com - Ying Xun F826 Dual SIM Card Phone with TV and Bluetooth Function
IPmart.com - Wang Zhe A88 Dual SIM Card Phone With Bluetooth Function

The first phone supports GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 Mhz, and the second GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHZ. Am I correct to assume that because both support 1900 MHZ that it will work if I insert an American AT&T SIM card into it?

Also -- what is the likelihood that certain features, such as text/picture/video messaging and going online will work? This is a Chinese-made phone with a reduced price due to the currency exchange rate...

Thank you so much!

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by bluehead69

I plan to purchase one of these phones from an online Chinese electronics dealer soon --

IPmart.com - Ying Xun F826 Dual SIM Card Phone with TV and Bluetooth Function
IPmart.com - Wang Zhe A88 Dual SIM Card Phone With Bluetooth Function

The first phone supports GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 Mhz, and the second GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHZ. Am I correct to assume that because both support 1900 MHZ that it will work if I insert an American AT&T SIM card into it?

Also -- what is the likelihood that certain features, such as text/picture/video messaging and going online will work? This is a Chinese-made phone with a reduced price due to the currency exchange rate...

Thank you so much!

What you want/need is a phone that supports both GSM 850 and GSM 1900 for it to work well on AT&T. You can buy a 1900 only phone, but some areas may leave you with reduced or no coverage if you cannot access the 850 band. Messaging should work provided you set it up properly. There is a sticky in the AT&T forum with the ATT/Cingular internet/text/mms settings.

-Jay

[RadioRaiders]

Originally Posted by bluehead69

This is a Chinese-made phone with a reduced price due to the currency exchange rate...

I think it's a reduced price because it's ripped-off Chinese crap Did you read their purchace conditions?

Warning:
Please purchase at your own risk, because all China Phones do not come with warranty, and once shipped can not be returned back to us or refunded. We will also not be held responsible if the mobile phone does not work with the network coverage for your mobile phone service provider.

ATTENTION: China phones do not come with the CE certification marking, so please purchase at your own risk. In this case if customs will not release your package due to this, we can not be held responsible and you will be held liable for the loss.

[Mobile Mike]

Site looks pretty shady. I'd avoid it like the plague.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by RadioRaiders

I think it's a reduced price because it's ripped-off Chinese crap Did you read their purchace conditions?

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

Site looks pretty shady. I'd avoid it like the plague.

Well, now that I've actually looked at the site, yeah, it does look like they are selling Chinese knockoffs of other popular models. I wouldn't buy from them.

-Jay

[Simon5282]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Well, now that I've actually looked at the site, yeah, it does look like they are selling Chinese knockoffs of other popular models. I wouldn't buy from them.

-Jay

That is exactly what they are selling. I would if the price was about a hundred bucks cheaper. I would buy an iClone (if it was cheap enough) before an iPhone anyday.

[efparri]

The links do not work anymore. I cannot even reach the domain.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by efparri

The links do not work anymore. I cannot even reach the domain.

It just worked for me, but it doesn't really mater. You should not be buying knockoff phones, because you never know what kind of quality you are buying.

-Jay

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

It just worked for me, but it doesn't really mater. You should not be buying knockoff phones, because you never know what kind of quality you are buying.

-Jay

Both links worked for me too, but I'd still avoid buying ANYTHING from them.

[Particular]

Yes,
but you may have to unlock it, i know that i am one of the latest posts and your question has most likey have been answered.

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

Both links worked for me too, but I'd still avoid buying ANYTHING from them.

i agree. consumers must start arming and protecting themselves online. there are far to many scammers working internationally now and through many different means.

my suggestion is to always deal state side as much as possible and to even deal locally as much as possible or through major providers (amazon, ebay, etc) if you are looking online.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Eric47

i agree. consumers must start arming and protecting themselves online. there are far to many scammers working internationally now and through many different means.

my suggestion is to always deal state side as much as possible and to even deal locally as much as possible or through major providers (amazon, ebay, etc) if you are looking online.

I have found that local dealers will often offer better deals than corporate... Especially if you build a relationship with the dealer. I was just in my favorite local dealer today to buy a new screen protector for my Tilt, and they gave me one for free. When I got phones for my folks on my plan 2 months ago not only did they mark the phones down so they were free after rebates, but they threw in a free holster & car charger for Dad, and a free clear shell for Mom so her new phone won't get scratched.

-Jay

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

I have found that local dealers will often offer better deals than corporate... Especially if you build a relationship with the dealer. I was just in my favorite local dealer today to buy a new screen protector for my Tilt, and they gave me one for free. When I got phones for my folks on my plan 2 months ago not only did they mark the phones down so they were free after rebates, but they threw in a free holster & car charger for Dad, and a free clear shell for Mom so her new phone won't get scratched.

-Jay

sweet deal jay!

[rvlifenow]

I bought two of the CECT China phones on ebay which is safer. They are both dual sim. They work perfectly here in Fl on AT&T. I just put the sim cards in them. You can even use prepaid cards in them. They are fantastic and were $130 each.

[goingcommando]

rvlifenow - Did you have any issues with getting the internet to work? I've been eyeing this phone as well but was unsure if it will work as well here in the pacific northwest, or if I can seamlessly carry the same options I have on my current AT&T phone over to this one (simple texting and internet)

Also, I'm somewhat new to this game, but my current Ericsson W810i supports Edge and GSM quad band. I think the CECT A008 only supports quad band. So any problem with calls for you? And do you know if edge technology is limited to certain phones or if it's simply a carrier decision?

Any info would be great.

Thanks,
gc

[rvlifenow]

Some of these phones look exactly alike but are different. Mine is a quad band, dual sim card. I do not use the internet.

[RadioRaiders]

Originally Posted by goingcommando

Also, I'm somewhat new to this game, but my current Ericsson W810i supports Edge and GSM quad band. I think the CECT A008 only supports quad band. So any problem with calls for you? And do you know if edge technology is limited to certain phones or if it's simply a carrier decision?

EDGE has to be supported by the network and your phone for it to work. But it's only used for data, not voice calls.

PS- I'd really advise to stay away from knock-off phones. It may look nice and work out-of-the-box (if you're lucky) but will most likely give you more problems in the long run (ie: dropped calls, software crashes, etc.)

[goingcommando]

Thanks for the clarification. So EDGE is only for data. I guess there's no way to tell exactly on my existing phone if that really makes a difference or not. I can select EDGE and GSM or GSM only, but web pages seem to load the same for me. Any way I can test it other than with simply page load time tests?

Also, I thought the CECT (or Ming Xing) A008 wasn't a clone of any phone, but actually it's own style. Am I wrong? If so, I couldn't find the AT&T equivalent.

I agree, I am hesitant about any knock-off's. I was just looking for something below the price of an iphone but above what I have now (small screen, limited functionality).

[Charlyee]

I don't believe CECT makes any originals even though there may not be an exact AT&T equal.

You can try dslreports for speed test, keep in mind the only real accurate measure would be by tethering with your computer.

http://www.dslreports.com/mspeed?jisok=1

Hope this helps
Palm850/v0100 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.11)

[rvlifenow]

My Chinese phone guy (with a very large shop) at the Flea Market says my phone will not work on the internet, even though it is WAP 2.0

[goingcommando]

Thanks for the help all. Think I'll steer clear of this one. If it was $20 maybe. But at $100 and coming from ebay or some website in China that I've never dealt with, seems like a big enough gamble to just push me towards a major manufacturer.

Really appreciate the help.

-gc