Policy on using Japanese phones(keitai)??

[keitai1fan]

I have a plan with at&t, but my contract expired a few months ago. My phone is in pretty ugly condition but it still functions. I want a new one--but i want a really cool one this time around. So naturally, I look to Japan. I've found a design that i like (http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHARP-SH01A-SH-01A-Unlock-8MP-GSM-Japanese-Cell-Phone-/270540669474#ht_13228...) scroll down for information on the phone's signal, etc.

I've been assured that it will work with GSM, with the frequencies(? not sure on the technical terms) that AT&T functions on. I know that i need a hypersim card in order for the phone to be "unlocked" and work with AT&T, and i'm planning to buy an itex hypersim, which are rumored to be the best.

My question is, in order to NOT DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL but still have this phone work for At&T, what do I need to do? Will I have to get a new contract (i don't want to if i don't have to)? It isn't a smartphone, but will be there an extra charge? Will I have to check at an at&t store with an employee that it's okay to use a phone that ISN'T AN AT&T PRODUCT with their service? 

Or is it okay if i just buy the phone, switch my current AT&T sim card into it along with the hypersim, and just have a dandy time with my new phone and not even have to contact AT&T? I just want to make sure i'm not doing anything illegal at all, or violating policy.

Thank you! I hope to get a reply soon :/

[kdfederer ACE - Wizard]

If you buy any phone that is not subsidized by AT&T, you will not extend your contract and there is nothing illegal about it.
As long as it is not a smartphone, you are OK.

[FredW]

Be careful when buying asian phones.  They use different frequencies there, so most will not work here (most of our phones don't work there).  Something in the auction says it should work, but you never really know until you try it.

But there is not anything legal or opposed to the terms of your at&t contract on this.  At&t will allow any compatible phone on it's network (with the exception, I think, of pay as you go phones).

[kdfederer ACE - Wizard]

You CAN use pay as you go phones on their pre pay plans. I had my phone break 3 months before I could upgrade and bought a $50 go phone to used until I could upgrade.

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

Phones for the US market must be FCC certified.

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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keitai1fan wrote:

I have a plan with at&t, but my contract expired a few months ago. My phone is in pretty ugly condition but it still functions. I want a new one--but i want a really cool one this time around. So naturally, I look to Japan. I've found a design that i like (http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHARP-SH01A-SH-01A-Unlock-8MP-GSM-Japanese-Cell-Phone-/270540669474#ht_13228...) scroll down for information on the phone's signal, etc.

I've been assured that it will work with GSM, with the frequencies(? not sure on the technical terms) that AT&T functions on. I know that i need a hypersim card in order for the phone to be "unlocked" and work with AT&T, and i'm planning to buy an itex hypersim, which are rumored to be the best.

My question is, in order to NOT DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL but still have this phone work for At&T, what do I need to do? Will I have to get a new contract (i don't want to if i don't have to)? It isn't a smartphone, but will be there an extra charge? Will I have to check at an at&t store with an employee that it's okay to use a phone that ISN'T AN AT&T PRODUCT with their service? 

Or is it okay if i just buy the phone, switch my current AT&T sim card into it along with the hypersim, and just have a dandy time with my new phone and not even have to contact AT&T? I just want to make sure i'm not doing anything illegal at all, or violating policy.

Thank you! I hope to get a reply soon :/

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There is absolutely nothing about using a phone that you've obtained from a third party provider that is illegal or violates at&t's terms and conditions of service - whether you want to use it for a prepaid or a post paid plan. 

However, I'm not sure you'll be satisfied with the coverage that you'd receive from this phone - the specs indicate that the only frequency that is compatible with at&t's GSM service is the 1900 mhz band, and at&t also utilizes the 850 mhz frequency - so depending on what at&t is using for GSM service in the area you reside, your coverage may be adequate or it may not.  Added to that, you won't receive 3G service at all as from the spec information that is given it sounds like it only has the 2100 mhz WCDMA that is used in Japan. {Based on the way the specs are presented, this appears to me to be a tri-band GSM phone made for the European market with the Japanese WCDMA frequency included (which they've always used rather than GSM, to my understanding)}.

You do have to be careful with eBay providers, etc. - so long as the device has the hardware for even one of the at&t frequencies (850/1900 GSM and WCDMA), they certainly aren't being dishonest in making the statement that it will function with at&t's service.  But unfortunately it may also be only a marginally accurate statement.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

hme83 - all very good points, one thing that seems to be missed on that link - if the phone does not meet the end users expectations they are out 498.99 US - specificly states "No Returns" on the link

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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wingrider01 wrote:

hme83 - all very good points, one thing that seems to be missed on that link - if the phone does not meet the end users expectations they are out 498.99 US - specificly states "No Returns" on the link

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Also a very good point.  I would be uncomfortable buying an expensive item from an eBay merchant who offered no return option.  If you use PayPal for payment, you may be able to make a claim through them that the merchant misrepresented the product; but at least in my opinion you would have a hard argument to make.  A phone that has the 1900 GSM frequency will work with at&t's service - it just may not work well in very many locations. 

There really is no substitute for "buyer beware" plus front end research along with independent verification re: whether the necessary specs are present in a device.

[ilikewireless ACE - Czar]

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hme83 wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

hme83 - all very good points, one thing that seems to be missed on that link - if the phone does not meet the end users expectations they are out 498.99 US - specificly states "No Returns" on the link

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Also a very good point.  I would be uncomfortable buying an expensive item from an eBay merchant who offered no return option.  If you use PayPal for payment, you may be able to make a claim through them that the merchant misrepresented the product; but at least in my opinion you would have a hard argument to make.  A phone that has the 1900 GSM frequency will work with at&t's service - it just may not work well in very many locations. 

There really is no substitute for "buyer beware" plus front end research along with independent verification re: whether the necessary specs are present in a device.

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Amen to independent verification. I'd never ever take any seller's word at face value. The other day I found that a sales person added a big fudge factor to the frequency specs. It's a good thing that I did a lot of independent verification before I approached a sales guy, so I never fell into a trap. But I asked the guy what I already knew anyway, just to test his integrity. It is sad to say that most only want to sell you something to get a commission.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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hme83 wrote:

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wingrider01 wrote:

hme83 - all very good points, one thing that seems to be missed on that link - if the phone does not meet the end users expectations they are out 498.99 US - specificly states "No Returns" on the link

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Also a very good point.  I would be uncomfortable buying an expensive item from an eBay merchant who offered no return option.  If you use PayPal for payment, you may be able to make a claim through them that the merchant misrepresented the product; but at least in my opinion you would have a hard argument to make.  A phone that has the 1900 GSM frequency will work with at&t's service - it just may not work well in very many locations. 

There really is no substitute for "buyer beware" plus front end research along with independent verification re: whether the necessary specs are present in a device.

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Not even sure if paypal would help - if you notice the shipping terms are international, so it is coming from out of country, country of origin is either China or Japan.

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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wingrider01 wrote:

Not even sure if paypal would help - if you notice the shipping terms are international, so it is coming from out of country, country of origin is either China or Japan.

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Sorry - I referred to the wrong program.  Actually I was thinking of the eBay Buyer Protection, which as long as you purchase something from the US eBay site (which I believe this is), if you don't receive an item or it's not as described in the listing and you cannot resolve it with the seller, supposedly eBay will cover the transaction charges if they agree with your position and cannot resolve it with the seller either.

But as said earlier - I certainly wouldn't want to try to rely on that kind of protection to help me out in a situation where I purchased a phone that didn't have all of the appropriate operating frequencies for the US and it's apparent from the specs in the listing - regardless of what the seller may have "told" me.

[ptfuno]

I've used a similar phone in the U.S. already no problems. Your signal will be limited though because it only uses 1900mhz One thing I would recommend you do is research everything before actually buying it. I recommend Howard Forums. One problem is that I'm pretty sure Japanese phones use Symbian OS (MOAP) I don't know if this considers it a smartphone or not though...

[hme83 ACE - Professor]

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ptfuno wrote:
I've used a similar phone in the U.S. already no problems. Your signal will be limited though because it only uses 1900mhz One thing I would recommend you do is research everything before actually buying it. I recommend Howard Forums. One problem is that I'm pretty sure Japanese phones use Symbian OS (MOAP) I don't know if this considers it a smartphone or not though...

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It's unlikely at&t would designate it as being a smartphone if it uses Symbian.

[allysonueki]

what would you have to do if it is a smartphone (non-at&t)?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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allysonueki wrote:

what would you have to do if it is a smartphone (non-at&t)?

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you either voluntarily add the require data plan or when att detects it as a smartphone they will add it for you

[Taylarie]

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to post your comments and opinions related to this topic. This topic has been thoroughly discussed and will now be closed.