For A Historical Perspective . . .

You have questions, we have answers . . . .

Why would you want to make a cell phone that looks like a telephone booth?

So many possible answers. Pick one of the following, or go here for the whole story:

A. Why not?
B. Because we can.
C. Boredom.
D. Because we already have three Ferraris and we have to do something with all this lottery money.

What is GSM?

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile. It describes the standard that your mobile phone uses to talk to the network. Other standards include CDMA and IDEN. GSM is the dominant mobile phone technology worldwide, accounting for approximately 80% of the market. The London Calling mobile phone is a GSM phone.

Who operates GSM networks in the United States?

The major GSM networks in the U.S. are Cingular (formerly, and soon to be again, AT&T) and T Mobile, along with certain smaller regional carriers. In Canada, AT&T, Fido and Rogers are GSM carriers. Please check directly with your carrier if you are not sure about their technology.

What is a SIM card?

SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module. A SIM card is the little plastic card that is inserted in the back of the phone under the battery. The SIM card tells the wireless network who you are when you make a call. SIM cards are primarily used on GSM networks.

My current service is GSM. How do I set up the London Calling mobile phone to work on their system?

Simply take the SIM card out of your current phone and insert it into the SIM card slot on the London Calling phone. Your carrier will automatically recognize you and your new phone. And if your current phone has features, like high-speed data or bluetooth, that are not supported by London Calling, you can simply switch the card back when you want to use those features.

I don't currently have GSM service. Do I have to purchase this service from you with my phone?

No. The London Calling mobile phone is an unlocked phone. In the United States, we would be happy to provide you with service on the T Mobile network, but you are free to choose any compatible carrier on your own.

What does "unlocked" mean?

In the United States and some other parts of the world, wireless carriers will generally program (or "lock") mobile phones that they sell so that they only operate on their own systems. The primary reason for this is that the cost of the phone is heavily subsidized by the carrier (you didn't think those "free" phones were really free, did you?), and the carrier does not want to give away a phone only to see you take it with you to another carrier. An unlocked phone has not been programmed to operate on any specific carrier network, and will operate on any network that supports its transmission frequencies.

What is a tri-band phone?

Worldwide, wireless telephone networks operate on four frequencies - 850Mhz (sometimes referred to as 800), 900Mhz, 1800Mhz, and 1900Mhz. Mobile phones will generally operate on anywhere from two to all four of these frequencies, and are known as dual-band, tri-band, or quad-band phones, depending on the model. The London Calling mobile phone is a tri-band phone that operates on the 900Mhz, 1800Mhz, and 1900 Mhz frequencies.

Why is this important?

In the United States, GSM networks operate on the 1900Mhz (and to a lesser extent, 850Mhz) frequencies. In other parts of the world, 900Mhz and 1800Mhz are the primary frequencies. This means that if you have an 850/1900 phone from the U.S., it generally won't work in other countries, even if you have an unlocked GSM phone. Conversely, a 900/1800 dual-band phone from overseas will not work in the U.S. However, an unlocked tri-band phone like the London Calling model will in most cases operate world-wide without a problem. Yes, a quad-band phone would be the holy grail of compatibility, but we're not quite there yet with our phone.

I have Verizon as my service provider. Can I use the London Calling mobile phone on their network?

No. Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, and U.S. Cellular, along with certain regional carriers are CDMA networks. The London Calling phone will not operate on these networks.

How do I set the phone to work with SMS, MMS and WAP browsers?

The London Calling mobile phone comes with existing profiles for Cingular and T Mobile in the U.S. already set. If you are not covered by those carriers (or if their standards are modified), you will need to check with your carrier for the correct settings necessary to operate those features. In addition, a good resource for more information on these settings for your carrier can be found at www.howardforum.com. These settings are easily adjusted in the Settings menu of your phone.

Can I take the London Calling mobile phone with me when I travel overseas?

By all means, spread the word. The best thing about traveling with your phone outside the U.S. is that you will save enormously when calling home. As an unlocked GSM phone, you can easily purchase an inexpensive prepaid SIM card for your phone, usually with great rates (sometimes as low as $0.10 per minute) for international calls home. That sure beats paying $3 to $6 per minute for phones that have been locked to the U.S. networks.

Can I purchase a phone using Paypal?

Yes. Please visit our Ebay store at www.stores.ebay.com/C-D-Wireless and click on Buy It Now.

Do you accept checks or money orders?

Please contact us by phone for these payment options. However, we cannot ship any items until such payment has cleared the bank.

More questions? Please feel free to call us at the number below, or email us at info@cdwireless.net.