Expert: DebiN - 8/10/2009

Question
I am a previous SunCom customer who is now with T-Mobile. I still have SunCom SIM cards. I don't want to extend my contract (it expires in March 2010), so I am considering purchasing an unlocked GSM phone. I realize that at some point I will either have to sign a new contract with T-Mobile or jump ship to a new carrier. I want to know a few things. (1) About how long do you think I will be able to continue with the SunCom SIM cards.
(2) What type of unlocked cell will work for my situation? (3)I understand that T-Mobile is 2G with the promise of 3G in the future, will that upgrade be the deciding factor with my current SunCom SIM card? (4 & 5) Unless it's stated in the description, is there another way to tell if the advertised phone is a US version or an international version and what is the real difference?

Answer
Your current SIM is a 2G SIM which means that even when T-Mobile brings 3G into your area (if they do), you will not be able to take advantage of it because your SIM won't be capable of utilizing the 3G network. It will continue to work at 2G speeds, so you won't have to worry about not having service. The SIM will work until either the network no longer utilizes the bands for 2G or it breaks, whichever comes first. In otherwords, you are fine if you want to stay the way you are. You can buy any quad band GSM SIM unlocked device and it will work for voice services and texts with your SIM. You would need SunCom programming info to make it work for data. Please do not buy any Chinese phone. It doesn't matter if a phone is US or foreign, so long as it works on the 850 and 1900 GSM bands. If you find a phone that you like, let me know and I can give you info about it. It's always best to get a US phone if you can. Thanks. DebiN