Motorola V197 Unlocked Cell Phone with Bluetooth--International Version +$20 free SIM card, $44.99 shipped at Amazon

Get a free international GSM SIM card from Mobal, ($20 bonus airtime included), with the purchase of any unlocked phone from Amazon.com, and talk on your cell phone in more than 170 countries. Just add both items to your Shopping Cart and use this promotional code at checkout: FREESIM3.

4.5 out of 5 stars (27 reviews)

* This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Not all carrier features may be supported. It will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint.
* Quad-band GSM cell phone compatible with 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies and GPRS capabilities
* Dual LCD screens; integrated speakerphone; supports polyphonic ringtones
* Bluetooth for handsfree devices; SMS text and MMS picture messaging; 10 MB memory (no expansion); organizer
* Up to 8 hours of talk time, up to 400 hours (16+ days) of standby time

LINK

Don't know either way if this is a hot deal or not but this special offer from the page is worth adding:
starFree Offer: Get a free international GSM SIM card from Mobal, ($20 bonus airtime included), with the purchase of any unlocked phone from Amazon.com, and talk on your cell phone in more than 170 countries. Just add both items to your Shopping Cart and use this promotional code at checkout: FREESIM3.

Did you look at the Mobal rates? They're insanely expensive. T-Mobile and AT&T are way cheaper in almost all cases

GoodDoggy said: Did you look at the Mobal rates? They're insanely expensive. T-Mobile and AT&T are way cheaper in almost all cases

What is Mobal for?

Bought one of this for about $10 long ago, this is the best basic phone out there, i have been using it for about a year, used to use the 1st generation iphone and other expensive phones, but this is the best so far, very easy & simple to use, the sound is very good, good reception signal, very reliable phone.

yuyi64 said:
The V197 will smoke the 3555 when it comes to RF performance and battery life. It is also easier to mod with the right software and you don't have to worry about waiting 90 days for an unlock code. For a few dollars more it's a no-brainer if you need a cheap unlocked quad-band GSM phone.

Note that I did not compare the two phones. However, the price difference is not small enough to make this a "no-brainer". We are talking about $47 vs $26 (Bing CB is instant), or $47 vs -$4 if you have use for T-Mobile airtime. I would certainly expect the V197 to be better at such price diff.

Edit: Also note that I did not add the $20 mobal into the calculation because it is basically a scam. You get, depending the country you are in, less than 15 minutes for the $20. For example within the US, incoming is $1.75/min, outgoing is $1.5/min. It is much cheaper to get a SIM of a local carrier wherever you go (hence the unlocking requirement).

Mixed reviews on the Nokia 3555:

http://www.amazon.com/Nokia-3555-Phone-T-Mobile/product-reviews/...

Nevermind! I added the same model (Moto V197) from a different shipper into my Amzn cart.

"Important Message
We're sorry, but the promotional code you entered cannot be applied to this purchase. Please refer to your promotional coupon for information about item or store restrictions."

Got one of these a while ago on eBay, works great abroad.

Ecuadorgr said: yuyi64 said:
The V197 will smoke the 3555 when it comes to RF performance and battery life. It is also easier to mod with the right software and you don't have to worry about waiting 90 days for an unlock code. For a few dollars more it's a no-brainer if you need a cheap unlocked quad-band GSM phone.

Note that I did not compare the two phones. However, the price difference is not small enough to make this a "no-brainer". We are talking about $47 vs $26 (Bing CB is instant), or $47 vs -$4 if you have use for T-Mobile airtime. I would certainly expect the V197 to be better at such price diff.

How can you recommend the 3555 as a better deal if you "did not compare the two phones." The phone's performance is paramount in any purchasing decision so to say one deal is better than another without taking the respective phones into account is irresponsible. Besides, for most people this price difference IS small, so choosing the better phone is a no-brainer and you don't have to jump through hoops to obtain that price.

ranova said: thats one ugly phone... not to mention its a motorola - I hate moto's after owning a razr (more like 3 razr's, one after another broke).

Why not just get this:
http://www.T-Mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?class=prepaid&de...

3 out of 5 stars for t429. http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-T429-t429-Phone-T-Mobile/product-r...

I have the T-Mobile version of this phone - V195S. It is a piece of crap. It's slow; the covers for the screws are held on by adhesives which falls off easily under heat (i.e. left in car). It scares the shit out of me when I use the re-dial feature because it blares out right after a successful re-dial.

jefthomp said: wow thats pretty cheap for an unlocked phone

I recently bought two quadbanded phones for friends in the Philippines. They were locked but I was told I could buy an unlock code for just about any phone on fleabay for $3-5@. So I picked someone with 99+ history, and paid, can't remember, $2.99 or $3.99@. Got the data within 12 hours, followed the instuctions, voila, unlocked.
I've heard that after 90 days the manufacturer MUST unlock you phone... (if you request) but I'm not sure about this... Anyone know the rules?

If I buy this phone, and send it to the Philippines, seeing that it's a quad-band, it should work. Does anyone know a reason why this might NOT be the case?

I've had this phone for over 1 year. Old Nokia tri-band from the UK was dying. Can't have a camera phone at work. T-Mo didn't have any decent camera-less handsets, and didn't want to get another rope-a-dope 1 or 2 year deal. Got the pre-paid V195/V197, and slipped in my old SIM card. Never had problems, dropped the phone a few times, got it wet. Excellent for travel use.

yuyi64 said: Ecuadorgr said: There is also a cheaper alternative for those who need a quad band phone (especially if T-Mobile airtime is of use to you): From T-mobile prepaid get the Nokia 3555 for $39.99 - 35% Chandler (Bing) CashBack. It also comes with $30 of T-Mobile airtime ($10 immediately, $20 in two monthly installments). The phone does not come unlocked, however T-Mobile will send you an unlock code after 90 days of service with them.
The V197 will smoke the 3555 when it comes to RF performance and battery life. It is also easier to mod with the right software and you don't have to worry about waiting 90 days for an unlock code. For a few dollars more it's a no-brainer if you need a cheap unlocked quad-band GSM phone.
Actually, Nokia 3555 is 3G, so over its lifetime, it might become a little more useful than the GSM-only v195/v197.
If you can wait the 90 days (and if the Nokia was still in stock...), with little things like having a camera, etc. included, I'd be inclined to go Nokia.

I cannot speak of the V197.

But I can offer my opinion of the Nokia 3555 JUNK!! I've had many Nokia's since my first cell in 98. I have had a few problems, but usually it was something I did, or a lemon that I exchanged and my problems went away.

But I've had my 3555 for a year now and it continues to give me problems. It crashes and turns itself off, frequently. Sometimes, my morning alarm doesn't go off. I returned it for repair to Nokia, but it made no difference. Normally I am one to 'force' the issue with repairs and returns. But Sending my phone back to nokia each time just to get the same piece of junk back just doesn't seem to compute.

I have compared my signal strength with other phone on the same network my 3555 usually has 2 bars less. The battery is VERY hard to remove (to get to the sim or the flash card) and it doesn't last long. I must charge my phone nightly or I might not make it through the second day.

And finally, the speakerphone sucks. Well thats probably not fair. As most cell phone speaker phones suck The ONLY one I know of that worked well was an LG I had when I was with Verizon (I forgot the model number).

Bear

I have one unlocked Motorola V195s, one locked (to be unlocked soon) Nokia 3555, one old Nokia 6010 (this one has a backgammon game that the other 2 don't have)! I use them at alternate times for emergencies (I have gold member status on 2 numbers). All 3 work fine and I am happy with all 3.

I am also planning to buy a clone IPhone 3G. Is there a clone Iphone 3G that uses the same software as the original IPhone 3g?

Amen!!!! They are outlandish. A calling card makes more sense and is cot effective!!!!!!!!