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Post by Arkansas5 on Mar 22, 2012 11:49:31 GMT
We are wondering if we will be able to use our current cell phones in Dhahran or if we will have to change our service providers or phones? Our service provider is sprint and we were considering new phones. Should we buy new phones now or wait and buy phones there? :?
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Post by vpainter on Mar 23, 2012 12:36:03 GMT
If you purchase a new phone where you are, you'll need to be sure it is unlocked. You would want to buy a new local sim card when you get here. Using a cell provider from somewhere else while living here would be expensive. Many people have an unlocked phone and use their local sim card here and their sim card from their home (ex: in the U.S.) when they go home or travel.
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Post by Hadia on Mar 23, 2012 13:26:53 GMT
No guarantee your unlocked phone will work here, though.
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Post by soverydeb on Mar 23, 2012 15:33:30 GMT
I would buy the phone here---the prices are comparable. Then, as the others said, get a sim card and use that.
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Post by Overland on Mar 24, 2012 3:15:18 GMT
Arkansas:
Some phone's prices are comparable to the states, some aren't. If you want an I-Phone or other smart phone, they are a LOT cheaper in the states. An I-Phone 4S was running about 1000USD when I was in KSA in January.
A regular cell phone might be cheaper in KSA. I picked up a Nokia basic phone for 88SAR (about 23USD) from a mall kiosk in Dhahran. My STC prepaid SIM was essentially free with my prepaid minutes that I purchased for around 25SAR (about 7USD).
I know others that have brought along unlocked I-Phones from the US and are using them with STC plans in KSA currently. That will be my plan if/when I get the final offer and process completed to relocate.
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Post by maujkar on Mar 24, 2012 16:38:17 GMT
Hi Arkansas, Sprint works on CDMA (?), while the Middle East is strictly on GSM. So yes, your sprint CDMA phones will not work here. However any GSM (unlocked) mobile from States will work perfectly fine here. As suggested by Overland, better to buy unlocked iPhone4x from states (if you are into smart phones), otherwise Nokias here are reasonably priced. A brief intro here.... gizmodo.com/5637136/giz-explains-gsm-vs-cdmaCheers Mjkr |
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Post by azraeil on Mar 25, 2012 5:25:19 GMT
I answered this question before in one of the thread Unlocked Phones - Depends on what kind of frequency your phone has. I know that the US (even though it's running on GSM) has a different GSM frequency (1900 MHz) and it may not be compatible with the GSM frequency here (900/1800 MHz) so check the specs of your unlocked phone and see if it will be compatible here. Update: This is the site to check the frequency www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.htmlIf your phone does not have any of the frequency (900/1800 MHz for GSM and 2100 for 3G) then your phone will not work in Saudi. So basically, you need to check what frequency your phone is running. As for the iPhone, the prices of an unlocked iPhone here is comparable to the USA (around 10% higher than what would have cost you in the US after sales tax). You cannot compare prices of an iPhone on a contract in the US with an unlocked iPhone here. |
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Post by vpainter on Mar 25, 2012 12:46:58 GMT
You must have a tri-band or quad-band phone to work in KSA and the USA.
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Post by Overland on Mar 25, 2012 15:28:40 GMT
Azraeil's information is completely correct regarding GSM. That was the reason I bought the cheap Nokia the last time I visited the Kingdom. I used it in Germany on the return leg home and will probably use it in China in a couple of months. All operate on the same frequency as KSA.
The caution about comparing contract linked Iphones is also valid. However, if you currently have an Iphone that is out of contract, there is no reason to leave it at home. These phones can be unlocked cheaply and easily. I checked internet prices for an unlocked Iphone 4g 16gb unlocked (noncontract) phone. $640 with shipping and tax. Unlocked used phones are going for around $400. If somebody has a more up-to-date price in KSA, it might help others to make a decision. The last price I saw was 3700SAR (1000USD) at HyperPand in late January 2012.
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Post by azraeil on Mar 27, 2012 7:38:05 GMT
As for iPhone, I would suggest not buying from HyperPanda or Jariri bookstroe as their prices are exorbitant and warranty issues are not as clear as buying from the official carriers such as STC or Mobily. The unlocked prices from STC (Pre-Paid/Pay As You Go) are quite similar to unlocked iPhone prices from the US Apple Store iPhone 4s prices from STC www.stc.com.sa/cws/portal/en/ind ... ne-bundels 16GB - SAR2699 - USD 719 32GB - SAR3129 - USD 835 64GB - SAR3629 - USD 967 The prices in AppleStore is around USD849 for the top end 64GB model and with an avee 8% sales tax, you're looking at USD917 As I said, the prices of unlocked iPhones in Saudi Arabia is comparable. Bear in mind though that iPhones bought from STC/Mobily will not have FaceTime. |
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Post by teebee on Mar 27, 2012 10:13:58 GMT
FYI - the Jarir Mar/Apr catalogue are advertising iPhones at the following prices: 16GB - SAR2699 32GB - SAR3129 64GB - SAR3559 The catalogue can be found at the following link. www.jarirbookstore.com/html/weeklyads.asp |
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Post by luisarey on Jun 23, 2021 13:27:49 GMT
You can Unlock your iPhone 4s for other networks in Saudi. Check this, it will save your money to buy a new phone. |
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