How do I know which cellphone network I use? Can I buy this Japanese cellphone?

Question

I was in Japan last week and saw a lot of ads for this cellphone (the Pantine Slide):

http://www.itechnews.net/2008/07/31/sharpsoftbank-825sh-pantone-slide/

... and I really want one. That website says it works in "GSM and 3G WCDMA networks" - I don't even know what that means? I know that my current phone would not work in Japan, but can I somehow get this one to work here? Also, how / where do I buy it?

Answer 1

Who do you send the bill to every month???? That should give you a clue as to who your carrier is!!!!!

Answer 2

I highly suggest reading this site first:

http://euc.jp/misc/cellphones.en.html

and then this:

http://forums.mobileburn.com/archive/ind...

Some Japanese phones don't use SIM cards -- those without SIM cards are perpetually locked to their provider (in this case, Softbank). You can't use them in the US. This phone may not have a SIM card slot.

For those which do, phones which belong to Softbank

use the proprietary W-CDMA "Softbank" 3G network. Furthermore, their GSM network is not very widespread and is only meant for use by tourists. Their GSM band works in around the 1900 hz range -- which means that this quad band phone is limited to a few telcos in the US.

so in a nutshell, the chances of getting a GSM phone to work in the US is extremely slim. I have yet to see a phone that works anywhere outside of Japan, or a foreign phone that works in Japan.