650 or 650 Dual Sim

[Peterh56]

Hi
Looking at buying one of these.
Going to be used in the UK and Australia
Which is the best one to buy that will work on all networks?
Thnaks in advance.
Peter

 

[Damon76]

As long as you buy the phone unlocked it should be able to use any network sim. Usually if you get a phone on contract from a carrier it will be locked to that network. If you are getting a contact in the uk try car phone warehouse as their handsets are normally unlocked. Hope this helps.

 

[Damon76]

Forget to mention they are basically the same phone, only difference would the the dual sim option.

 

[RumoredNow]

What market (country) are you buying it from?

Microsoft Store? Other?

 

[earthman007]

If you can get the dual sim 650 then you'll be able, for example, to keep a SIM from a country such as Australia active, at the same time as the UK one. The dual sim phones aren't as widely sold in the UK as other countries, such as the USA. Often the UK handsets are dearer for a single sim version than a non-UK dual sim. The UK only uses GSM, so the 650 works well.
There are tons of UK networks, when you include the virtual networks and there are short contract options, such as monthly renewables or pay as you go. Getting sim cards is really easy and they're usually free, so you can experiment with networks, in case any of them are particularly slow for data in the area you'll most use it.
If you arrive in the UK with your handset then you'll be able to pick and choose the network very easily - dealers, such as carpone warehouse - well recommended as a supplier of unlocked handsets and positioned in most towns' high streets, will only sell a selection of the networks. The virtual networks include GiffGaff, Tesco (a major supermarket chain) and Virgin - it pays to shop around to get the right package that suits your needs.

If I was in the USA then I'd buy the dual sim 650 - approx same price as UK single sim 650 - and then use it in the UK and Australia, where GSM networks are active and payg sims are easy to get hold of, such as Optus.

 

[RumoredNow]

Looking at buying one of these.

Looks like you are in the UK, yes?

There are differences in the radio frequencies enabled for cellular depending on which market you buy in or which RM-# you purchase. http://forums.windowscentral.com/mi...oft-lumia-650-specs-features.html#post3455625

2G or GSM is the same Quad Band Standard the world over. But you don't want to be stuck on 2G/EDGE.


In the UK they are using mostly:
3G - Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)
LTE - Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz), Band 20 (800MHz) and limited Band 1 (2100 MHz)

In Australia they are mostly using:
3G - Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)
LTE - Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 5 (850MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 28 (700 MHz) and limited Band 40 (2300)

So if we look at UK compatible 3G and LTE alongside Australia 3G and LTE we see...

A Factory Unlocked UK (not carrier branded) such as the one at Microsoft Store UK will have:
3G - Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)
LTE - Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz), Band 20 (800MHz)

Your best bet when visiting Oz would be to go with Vodaphone for a SIM... A Factory Unlocked UK Lumia 650 would have all that you need down under on Voda:
3G - Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)
LTE - Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_network_operators_of_the_Asia_Pacific_region#Australia

 

[Peterh56]

Thanks for all the answers
Yes I am in the UK but buying for Brother in law in Australia.
After having a good look I am going to buy the dual sim version through Ballicom also the one of the cheapest.
He travels a lot do the dual sim will be good. But roaming charges are really high so will have to be carefull that he uses the correct sim.
Thanks Peter