Expert: DebiN - 8/21/2009

Question
Hi,
I need to buy a replacement for a waterlogged AT&T LG CU515. I am still under contract and can't just upgrade. I was looking at an unlocked Razr V3 on Ebay that runs on GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900. This appears to be a phone from another country (China I think). As far as I understand it, I can put the 3G SIM card from the CU515 into this phone and should be able to make calls but maybe not full internet functionality (which I don't use anyway).  Is that right? My other question relates to call quality. To decrease the # of dropped calls in my area I forced the LG CU515 to run on Edge (and not 3G for which there were many more dropped calls).  Apparently the Razr V3 doesn't support Edge but would run on an older standard (not sure that's the right wording). Will the Razr V3 work as well as the LG CU515 as far as dropped calls or could it be much worse on this "older standard"?

Thanks!

Answer
Yes, your SIM card will work in the Razr V3. The V3 Razr is a 2G device, so you don't have to worry about the 3G network and the issues you had with the other phone. EDGE is the data network (3G is both voice and data). Even though when you forced the Razr from 3G to EDGE, it showed this, the voice was actually going from 3G to GSM (not EDGE). Only the data ran on EDGE when you made the change. In a nutshell, you should have a better experience with a non3G device. However, if possible, I would recommend getting an AT&T branded device versus a foreign device because dropped calls could still be an issue with a non-certified on the AT&T network device. If it is branded by AT&T, then they certified that it will work on their network and if you get one that is not 3G, then you may have a better experience. AT&T sold made models of Razr, so I might try to find an AT&T branded Razr (not unlocked and then you can use the WAP and MMS). That would be your best bet. Thanks. DebiN