If you buy a PAYG phone with a 'carrier' in the US, will it work in the UK?

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

I've come across this amazing apparently bomb-proof Android phone which doesn't appear to be sold here - carrier is AT&T - does that mean it's locked to them?

It's \link{http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=171078222193\this one} - NEC Terrain

(DS2 is hopeless with phones, is always dropping them this sounds perfect for him)

[prh47bridge]

It may well be locked to AT&T. You also need to be aware that it has a small screen due to the inclusion of a small keyboard, the camera is poor and it uses an obsolete version of Android. NEC is pulling out of the smartphone business.

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

Thanks, prh

He prefers the actual keyboard & isn't that bothered about the camera, I don't think - obsolete Android would probably be an issue though

Do you know of any similar phones which would be a better buy? (& could something locked to an American network be unlocked over here?)

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

The actual phone won't work, will it? they use a different type of network over there or something .

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

Oh, I see in the listing it has GSM1800, think that's the uk one. Ignore me, then.

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

Thanks for that though, BrokenSleep (I would not have known any of that!)

I have found a UK samsung that might do

\link{http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/121283983970\this one} - Galaxy XCover 2

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

Thank you, amicissimma

It's me that's wanting the indestructibility

His phones are just jinxed. Having broken his Galaxy S3 - several times - he's been using an iphone3 which was dd2's & then mine (& someone else's before dd2 had it) & until now was problem-free.

He's had it less than 2 weeks & has already had a 'white screen of death' - though it is still working intermittently...

He's got 7-8 months left on an O2 contract so whatever we get has to be O2 or unlocked.

I will have a look at carphone warehouse, thanks!

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

(The first time his s3 broke we got him a £30 Nokia, with keyboard, from Tesco - on Tesco mobile but it was only going to be temporary & then an emergency back-up. It disappeared - it was in the house, but on silent, & could not be found. Still here somewhere...)

[NetworkGuy]

What age is he? I suspect the Nokia went missing 'cos it simply isn't 'cool' and his friends would take the mick.

What network is he on? I have an Alcatel OT-606 (has QWERTY keyboard, but no internet) - it'd work on all networks but Three...

[NetworkGuy]

*> GSM Arena

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

Thanks, NetworkGuy

He's old enough not to care about coolness - in fact he was gutted when he lost it.

The iphone3 is taking incoming calls but the screen doesn't work so he can't do anything else - he is going to take it to the apple store next week to see if there might be an inexpensive fix, but he bought a dead basic £15 Nokia today from the O2 shop - phone, text, alarms etc, nothing clever but at least he's in contact again!