cingular prepaid mobile to mobile question

[sweetneem]

I am researching different pre paid services for north jersey and ne pennsylvania. I have come up with the cingular mobile to mobile pay as you go plan but am having a problem deciding which phone to get. On cingulars website, there are only 3 choices of phones for this plan but I am interested in the motorola v220, which is not 1 of those choices. Does anyone know if I can buy the motorola v220 phone and then activate it somehow through the mobile to mobile plan or am I left with only those 3 choices of phones (Nokia 1100, LG C1300, or Ericsson T237)? Also, which phone is more bang for its buck, motorola v220, v180 and Nokia 3120? Different websites that I am searching have different information regarding the same phones such as the v220 being 800/1900 or a quad band and same with the other phones. Which website do I count on?
Thank You!

[Airb330]

I'd call a store and ask them about it. Otherwise, I'd get a T237 and sell it on EBay and get whatever you can for it, then buy a v220 on ebay. Something like that.

[EdwardP]

You should be able to purchase from Cingular (at full retail), any GSM phone you want to use with KIC Prepaid. I have a Nokia 3100 on KIC.

[sweetneem]

Thanks for the help. Out of the 3 choices of phones, Nokia 1100, Ericsson T237, and LG C1300, which is most recomended? I looked into it a little bit and have been hearing good things about the 1100 but the other 2 are fancier. Do they all have good reception in the NE Jersey area?
Also, if I buy a phone direct from Cingular or ATTW, is it going to be locked? If it is a quad phone, like the motorola v220, I could bring it out of the country and use it with another company.

[EdwardP]

If you're looking for a basic, simple phone, then check out the Nokia 1100. I have one with TracFone, it's very easy to use. A no-frills mobile phone.

One of the features I like about it, is the keypad is one-piece. No separate keycaps, no room for dust to get in between separate keys.

Nokia U.S.A. page for the 1100 -> http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/1100/

[sweetneem]

Just an update:
The first time I tried calling Cingular was on a weekday at 10 am and the recording said that it was closed and to call back on a weekday from I think, 7-7. The second time I called, after waiting on hold for 20 minutes, I spoke to a woman who said that she doesn't know if I can use any other phone for the KIC prepaid and I would probably have to go to a Cingular store to find out. That would be easy enough if I wasn't in another country!! I still would like to stick with Cingular though I am not getting very helpful service from their customer service line.
I'm begining to wonder if the v220 is worth the hassle. Does the nokia 1100 work in other countries? Is it tri-band?
This forum is really great!

[EdwardP]

The 1100 is dual-band, 850 and 1900 MHz.

The 1100 sold in Europe is also dual-band, but as the frequencies are different than those used in the U.S., I don't believe an 1100 designed for the U.S. market would work in Europe.

It would depend on what networks are in use in other countries. There are other countries that also use 850/1900 (Canada), in which case the U.S. phone would work if your carrier has a roaming agreeement in the other country.

But for prepaid service, I am not aware of any U.S.-based prepaid service that allows roaming outside of the U.S. AT&T Wireless' prepaid plan had offered roaming in Canada, but I've heard that due to the Cingular merger, that roaming portion had been discontinued.

You can use any GSM-based phone that Cingular sells, for KIC Prepaid. My Nokia 3100 is on KIC, but you would have to pay full retail price for a phone if you want to use it on KIC.

[Andy]

Just a quick reply:
An 850/1900 device will definitely not work in Europe as they use 900/1800 GSM.
~Andy