foreign GSM phones with domestic sims chips?

Hi, i have a question that hopefully someone can help me with, I'm kicking around two ideas, maybe people can give me advice -

I travel to asia often (China, HK), and I'm continually stymied by not having a cell phone when I'm on the road, so I've been considering getting a GSM phone that I can use while I'm there (plan #1) and then bring it back w/ me to use in the US.

I've noticed that for the most part GSM phones seem to be smaller, more advanced, and/or cheaper over there, and have no locking problems, etc.

Has anyone bought a phone in asia and then tried to use it here with a domestic chip? Right now i'm at the end of my rope with Sprint here in the Bay Area and am considering switching to something (anything) else.


Also I thought about switching to a GSM plan here and then taking the GSM phone to Asia and using foreign sims in it? (plan #2) Is it a hassle to get the cell phone unlocked here so i can put new chips in? (and has anyone ever tried this overseas?)

I have NO interest in getting reamed with 'international roaming fees' - [I'm not a business tychoon, i want to be able to call normal people, not people willing to make international calls just to find me], so it has to take the foreign sims chips.

thanks!

-Xiaoka

[SteveS]

I haven't done it but my understanding is that you can buy an unlocked GSM phone in Asia and it will work here once you put your sim in PROVIDED that it works on the band that your carrier here uses. Generally speaking, that means you should buy a tri-band phone like the V60G, the Samsung S100, etc. The other caveat is that you will get limited support from your carrier here since they are not familiar with the phone and have not tested it out on their network (so you might have some problems with the more esoteric features like WAP, etc.).

The reverse is equally true. If you buy a "world" phone form T-Mobile they are very good at giving you an unlock code right away via e-mail if you are going abroad. I don't know about Cingular and I believe that AT&T will not give you the unlock code. As long as the phone you buy here works on the frequency you want to use there, you can insert a local sim and it should work.

I hope this helps.

[CaliphoniaBoy]

As long as you get an unlocked tri-band (900/1800/1900 Mhz) phone you are fine.

Option #1 would most probably be the more expensive but easier one. If you buy an unlocked phone and want to use it in the US you have to be aware that Cingular does not want to give out their wap and data settings (you can find them on the internet...), T-mobile is very liberal about that, i don't know about ATT. From this point of view I would recommend TM at this point.

Option #2 would be cheaper because you would get a heavily subsidized phone from your provider. Again, T-mobile seems to be better about giving out the unlocking codes compared to other companies. However, way is definitly the more painfull one because you have to ask for the unlocking codes and you will never be able to unlock the wap/data side of the phone!

Another option would be to get a tri-band phone on ebay. Often good deals and you don;t have to go to Asia first.

C.