Broken RAZR

Shaun @ Tru6 · 09-18-2007, 04:38 AM

First, this phone bites, but it was free with Cingular.

The round directional navigation button broke, so the phone is basically useless.

Going to take to Cingular store today to see if it can be fixed.

But RAZRs on Craig's List are $25 to $150, but there's a mish mash of Cingular, Verizon, Sprint, unlocked GSM, etc.

I know nothing about this, so what should I be looking at? Cingular and unlocked?

If unlocked, do I then have to take it somewhere to be locked in Cingular? Cost of that?

masraum · 09-18-2007, 04:50 AM

cingular or unlocked.

normally when you get a phone from ______, it's locked to only work on their network. If you get a phone that's unlocked, then that phone can be used on any network that uses the same frequencies/communications. So unlocked may be more expensive than just cingular, but fortunately for you either will work just fine.

VINMAN · 09-18-2007, 04:50 AM

I dont know one person that is happy with thier RAZR. The phone sucks. The battery life is terrible. Built pretty flimsy.

Im tough on phones. I go through them like water. Either breaking, or losing them. Dropping them in water is a common occurance. I recently picked up the G'Zone. its and awesome phone. water proof shock resistant. very good battery life.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I will never buy a flip phone - way too easy to break. I currently have the SLVR - basically the same setup as the RAZR, but better and has Apple iTunes built in. AND it's not a flip phone. Had it I think 2 years now without any problems.

Joeaksa · 09-18-2007, 05:02 AM

Sorry to go against the grain but I bought one of the first Razr's and its still going strong almost two years later. Batteries last about a year, I just bought 3 spares on Ebay and cycle through them as needed but to tell the truth a charge still last 2-3 days for me with one battery.

I had a guy in San Diego who unlocks them and mine works on any SIMM in the world, so will never buy a "branded phone" again.

My heartburn with taking the phone back to the store is for almost anything they want you to sign a new contract, something which I refuse to do. Been with ATT for almost 10 years on the same 1 year contract I signed years ago.

Mule · 09-18-2007, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VINMAN

I dont know one person that is happy with thier RAZR. The phone sucks. The battery life is terrible. Built pretty flimsy.

Im tough on phones. I go through them like water. Either breaking, or losing them. Dropping them in water is a common occurance. I recently picked up the G'Zone. its and awesome phone. water proof shock resistant. very good battery life.

+100 THE BEST PHONE. Get's dirty (like phones do from skin contact), a little soap & water is all you need. I dropped min down stairs 1/2 open. Picked it up & made the call. My friend is in the chemical business. On my recommendation he got one. One day he tells me one of his guys dropped it in some liquid caustic. He took it out, rinsed it in a bucket of water. No effect. Go GZone.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Can that guy unlock my SIM? I hate looking at their stupid "HelloMoto" logo when the thing starts up, not to mention I'd like to be able to dump Cingular at some point.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 09-18-2007, 05:59 AM

OK, thanks for all the good advice. I've got another few months before getting out of Cingular and will buy a new phone then. I wonder if my chip will work with a SLVR?

Vinny, Joe, sorry I missed you guys yesterday. Crazy, hectic day and very long, but very good. Will let you know when I'm down again, hopefully late next week or following en route to Chennai again.

Big Ed · 09-18-2007, 06:22 AM

Shaun,

Your chip will work with a SLVR or any other Cingular phone for that matter.

Ed

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I like my RAZR a lot and it works like a champ with the $5 extended battery I got on eBay. Shaun, Cingular phones are usually GSM and when I had Congular, my RAZR was GSM with the SIM card in the back. That is excellent for overseas use. Verizon only offers GSM in one model and it's crazy expensive. I kept my old Cingular RAZR just for overseas travel, though I cancelled my service long ago. You just have to buy a SIM card in whatever country you visit, program it and you're live.

stomachmonkey · 09-18-2007, 06:26 AM

For you Moto guys, motomodders.net, the Pelican of the Moto world.

Any unlock, mod, hack that you want to do is listed there.

Site is a bit slow but a TON of info.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 09-18-2007, 06:34 AM

I can get this for $75 and she lives down the street from work.

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ele/420674893.html

For some reason, I have this uneasy feeling that I'm going to give someone $75 and get a phone I can't use.

Big Ed · 09-18-2007, 06:39 AM

If you intend to buy from her, pop your SIM card in and make a call before you finalize the transaction. It's that easy.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 09-18-2007, 06:42 AM

Excellent, thanks Ed! That's exactly what I needed to hear!

Mule · 09-18-2007, 07:01 AM

Why are you guys buying phones? I haven't paid for a phone in over 10 yrs.

Joeaksa · 09-18-2007, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Ed

If you intend to buy from her, pop your SIM card in and make a call before you finalize the transaction. It's that easy.

Shaun,

If you put your SIMM in ANY phone and it works, you are set to go. If you put your SIMM in a phone and it pops up with a menu asking for a code, then you are screwed unless you want to get it unlocked.

Jeff,

The guy I know can unlock phones, but not SIMM chips. I should say that he may be able to unlock the chips but due to legal issues will not. I just want to buy a phone from a store or Ebay and pop my SIMM chip into it and work, and any totally unlocked phone will do this.

BTW guys, I unlocked my Blackberry recently. They are supposed to be difficult to do but its now been hacked. Got the code off of a site on the internet and after figuring out the way into the system I unlocked it. It was a T-mobile setup and now works with ANY phone/data chip in it. Do not toss your old Blackberries as now you can hack them!

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Cool, thx. I'll check that motomodders site and if I still need anything else I'll let you know. I've been wanting to unlock the phone (and sim, ideally) for a while. .

Rot 911 · 09-18-2007, 07:56 AM

I understand unlocking the codes, but don't you still need a provider like ATT, verizon, etc. to actually use the phone and have a working phone number?

island911 · 09-18-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

I can get this for $75 and she lives down the street from work...

For some reason, I have this uneasy feeling that I'm going to give someone $75 and get a phone I can't use.

Meet her at the phone store. The will run a check and move your service over.

stomachmonkey · 09-18-2007, 08:34 AM

You can request unlock codes from any carrier. After a certain contract period, 6 months IIRC they are legally obligated to give it to you.

Just tell them that you are heading to Europe and want your phone unlocked. No further explanation or conversation is needed or should be tolerated by you.