Cheap tri-band Nokia that is easily unlocked

zaphod

Hi

I will be travelling in S.America in a few months. Is there such a thing as a cheap tri-band I can buy in the UK (that I can unlock online)? -- Or does anyone have any experience of buying a phone in (say) Mexico?

I have just realised that except in Brazil (which uses European gsm) that I wont be able to keep my UK phones active anyway?; so I don't really need a tri-band phone do I?

Any tips & hard won knowledge will be most welcome.

TIA

thefirs

Look for a Nokia 3100 - go for £20-25 on eBay, triband and easily unlocked.

zaphod

Great! -- Many thxs 2U :-) --- apologies for the delay

turbodiesel

all nokias (except the very latest models) are as easy to unlock as each other.
Other model I would consider is 6100.
Can be bought also for around £25, but much sexier looking fone
A Tri-band fone is a necessity for South America, as with the exception of Brazil (as you mentioned) and Venezuela, a dual band (900/1800) handset would be useless.
There also i believe 900 mhz networks in El Salvador and Guyana but the vast majority of central and south America uses 1900Mhz, so triband is essential.
Incidentally i used my UK (triband) Nokia handset in Mexico last year with no problems whatsoever, although it was expensive