All About Alarms

Home Alarm Iphone

What’s the best way to stay in communication on a trip throughout China?

I’m going to Chengdu, China, for 1.5 weeks, and to save on phone expenses, I am considering leaving my iPhone at home, or at least turning it off except to act as an alarm and clock. Is it possible or advisable to travel through China without the use of a cell phone?

Sorry to say that because US government has not looked out for consumers when it comes to cell phone service in this country. (Unlike almost every other country), AT&T has “locked” your iPhone so that you cannot use it with a non-AT&T SIM card. If you contact AT&T ahead of time, they can fix your phone for international roaming, but as you say the charges will be phenomenal.

The first thing to understand is that in China, it is customary to purchase your cell phone separately, just as a piece of equipment, and then to purchase a separate SIM card to go into it. Most phones in the world are “unlocked” so that when you travel between countries you simply switch out the SIM card and keep on going. U.S. carriers have gotten by with highway robbery by “locking” their SIM chips into phones. When you arrive in China, you can liberate yourself from this system by purchasing a phone and then a SIM card to go into it. You can either purchase a really cheap phone (if you plan to only use it for a few weeks forever) or you could purchase a really great state of the art phone to bring back to the USA (including an unlocked iPhone). Then, you could use that phone in the future for travel almost anywhere else in the world. Yes, indeedy, other places in the world have iPhone service that is not “locked” to AT&T!

But assuming you just want a cheap phone to use for a few weeks, what I suggest is that as soon as you arrive, you go to a department store called Trust Mart (好有多 pronounced: “how!,yo!,dough!”）, which is a bit like Wal Mart (in fact now is owned by Wal Mart) and purchase a cheap cell phone there. You can buy a basic model for about 600 RMB. The advantage of this over a used phone from the cell phone market (also readily available for a few hundred RMB less) is that you don’t have to worry about fraud — an old beat up phone being sold inside a new-looking case. (I personally would go to the used cell phone market, but then I speak some Chinese and can bargain, and have Chinese friends who could go with me and help…. and I assume you don’t have that.)

At Trust Mart (or also at any China Mobile store inside one of the many malls you will be able to find in Chengdu), you would then also purchase a SIM card to place in your cell phone. In China, there are SIM cards that are only good for local use, and then there are SIM cards that are good for regional or national use. Since you are traveling, you definitely would want one that is good for “All China”. They cost about 100 RMB for the SIM card. Then, purchase prepaid minutes in increments of 50 or 100 RMB. You probably would pay about 3 RMB per minute (much less to SMS). For an international call, dial a code to get a cheap rate using your ordinary China Mobile phone card. The code used to be 17909 but it changes regularly so someone will need to tell it to you. Then, dial your country code and number. The cost per minute is a fraction of what US Carriers charge for similar (un) service.

If you can’t figure out that system (or don’t want to put out the 1,000 RMB or so it would cost to get up and running with a Chinese cell phone), you can always dial from your hotel room. If you do this, you need to purchase an international IP card from one of the many shops and 7-11 stores that carry them. (If you don’t know where to find one, ask your hotel concierge where to purchase a phone card.) Hotels charge an arm and a leg for both bottled water and for international calls, so be sure to purchase both while you are at the 7-11 (or C-Store).

The IP card will have a local number on the back and then you dial the code to get through to your home country. (Just like our prepaid calling cards in the USA.)

Another thing you can do is not only to use SKYPE (excellent suggestions by other people here), but learn about SKYPE-In and SKYPE-out numbers. I purchased a USA skype-in number and then set that to forward calls to wherever I am in the world. My USA friends can call me just by dialing domestic USA skype-in number no matter where in the world I happen to be.

I don’t know why someone told you that public pay phones are available in China. I don’t recall ever seeing one, except maybe in Beijing. Maybe they were installed in Bejing for the Olympics, or maybe they are in some city I never traveled to. However, don’t count on it.

In terms of your question “Is it advisable to travel through China without the use of a cell phone?” Well, that depends on you and how you want to use it. I always traveled with other people, and the cell phones keep you in touch with each other. Especially if you don’t speak Chinese, having a cell phone enables you to keep in touch with people who can act as translators or helpers. For instance, in each city you visit, you can get the phone number of someone who can help (e.g. hotel concierge) or who speak English. In a pinch, you can call one of these people and ask them to act as t

Anycool T828 Free view Mobile Phone

Introducing the Anycool T828 Digital TV Mobile Phone…

The Anycool T828 phone is unlike any normal phone in the UK. It features an in built Digital TV receiver to allow you to watch Freeview TV on your mobile, wherever you are! In our non-biased opinion, this phone beats the likes of the KA08 hands down with a 3 inch ultra sensitive touch screen, moddest 2 megapixel camera, Super 3D Stereo speaker, Dual Sim, Dual Bluetooth and much more fantastic features.

Some important information…

This mobile phone will work with all UK networks except Three, The phone will work with GSM Network 900/1800 mHz

If you are intending on using this phone for it’s freeview features, before buying please ensure that freeview is available in your area. By 2012 analogue signals will be switched off and all homes in the UK should be able to use freeview, until then

t828 tv cell phone Features:

Operating Frequency: GSM
Network Frequency: 900/1800MHz
Language: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Deutsch, Vietnamese, and Turkish.
LCD Size: 3.0inch, QVGA high vivid touch screen, 240*320 pixels
Vibration: yes
Supports Bluetooth2.0
Color: Silver
Shape: Bar phone
GPRS: yes
Standby Time: 200-400 hours

t828 tv mobile  Specification:

Camera: HD camera, supports video-shoot, the duration depends on storage
Rom: TF card slot
Standby Photo: jpg, gif
Ring tone: supports MP3 audio record as ring tone
Media format: MP3, MP4
3D loudspeaker
Messages and Multimedia Messaging Service
Games: built-in games
More information: Dual SIM dual standby, E-book reader, FM radio, MP3, Audio player, Video recorder, Sound recorder, Image viewer, Sound recorder, Alarm, Calculator, Calendar, etc
DVB-T / Freeview Receiver 

Included in Package:

T828 Freeview Mobile Phone
TWO Li-Ion Batteries
UK Plug / Charger
USB Data Cable
Ear phones
English Manual
Stylus Pen

About the Author

www.agoodseller.com is specializing in supplying high quality Consumer Electronics to customers,It is located in shenzhen,which is the Consumer Electronics manufacturing center of China.

KICKER IK150 iPod Home Dock and Alarm Clock that is LOUD!

Oregon Scientific AW129 Wireless BBQ Thermometer with Probe Thermometer and Remote $39.99 Oregon Scientific AW129 Wireless BBQ Thermometer LWB1091111413001 Temperature & Humidity Sensors…

iHome iP43LVC Dual Alarm Clock Radio for your iPod/iPhone with Pillow Shaker (Blue) $75.95 Sla 12v 18ahupg 85977/d5745 sealed lead acid batteries (12v; 18 ah; ub12180). Specs: used in ups backup systems, spotlights, flashlights, exit lighting & other equipment; 12v; 18 ah; ub12180. Refurb: n. Returnable: y. Warranty: one year…….