Favourite 'roamer phone'?

[adam917]

Does anyone here like to carry multiple devices that has different capabilities just to have all the bases covered? Is there a such thing as a device that can do all in-use bands just yet? Here are what I usually carry around:

BlackBerry Bold 9700 (T-Mobile USA version): 3G on 900/AWS/2100, 2G on 850/900/1800/1900 + WiFi w/ UMA
Nokia N95-3: 3G on 850/1900, 2G same as above + WiFi
Sony Ericsson Z750a (debranded to Z750i): 3G on 850/1900/2100, 2G same as above
Aoke 09 watch phone: 2G only on 900/1800/1900 (I would like to replace this with at least something that is quadband for 2G but ideally the LG GD910, though that's extremely expensive for something I'd rarely actually use)

My primary device is the BlackBerry, on a post-paid T-Mobile USA account that has unlimited everything (loyalty plan). This can come in handy when abroad if I use UMA in a WiFi area. The N95-3 is mainly used for photos & video. The Z750a is I guess a backup. It's nice to at least have the ability to run multiple J2ME apps at once. I usually have eKit SIMs or my Celtrek SIM in the other phones besides the BlackBerry, unless I am somewhere that has better offers (read: anywhere outside North America, I would hope - correct me if I'm wrong) locally.

I wonder if LTE will wind up making the frequency band problem more complex or if we're going to eventually see a day when all bands are using LTE and a software radio will just be able to switch between all the bands till it finds a working band. I wonder if anyone here has thought of GSM sunset yet or if we will likely still see GSM in use around, say, 2020.

[RTuesday]

For the price (it was under $200 unlocked) my Nokia E51 has been "good enough" to cut down the need to carry extra phones.

It has wifi, 3G 850/2100 and 2G quadband, so all I'm really missing are 3G 1700/1900, and since those are just North America I usually have another alternative (such as 850, or more likely wi-fi).

I do normally carry a basic 2G phone on a trip as well, just for backup or for receiving texts on a second sim. But could do without.

[PhotoJim]

I've got an iPhone 3G (HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 and GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900), but it's still locked. It would be nearly perfect if it were unlocked (that's a project on my list).

I recently picked up a Nokia E93 (UMTS 850/1900, GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900) that can be my North American phone (I have prepaid on a local provider with a larger network, and this phone will ultimately have that account on it once the network fully deploys 3G GSM). I also have a Sony-Ericsson K610i I got in London that's UMTS 2100, GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 that I use when I go abroad.

I have a few other phones too, although I'm intending to send some of them along soon. One is a Treo 680 which is quad-band GPRS/EDGE and now with the E93, I don't have a lot of use for it anymore.

[adam917]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

I've got an iPhone 3G (HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 and GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900), but it's still locked. It would be nearly perfect if it were unlocked (that's a project on my list).

I recently picked up a Nokia E93 (UMTS 850/1900, GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900) that can be my North American phone (I have prepaid on a local provider with a larger network, and this phone will ultimately have that account on it once the network fully deploys 3G GSM). I also have a Sony-Ericsson K610i I got in London that's UMTS 2100, GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 that I use when I go abroad.

I have a few other phones too, although I'm intending to send some of them along soon. One is a Treo 680 which is quad-band GPRS/EDGE and now with the E93, I don't have a lot of use for it anymore.

Don't you mean the E63 (or N93)? I don't think there exists a Nokia E93. The highest in the Eseries is the E90 IIRC.

[PhotoJim]

Err, yes I do. E63 it is.

[Malkav]

Motorola u9 (the second pebl) quad band....small...don't tend to use data etc whilst abroad....just use text or calls......maybe the odd pic message