I’m planning a short trip to the UK this summer. I’m wondering if my Taiwan-bought mobile phone will work over there.
Can some tech-minded British expatriate kindly tell me what kind of mobile system(s) are supported in the UK? And how can I tell if my mobile will work over there?
Thanks!
If it’s a tri-band phone then it’ll work on the European frequencies. If you don’t know, take it to one of the mobile phone markets and ask or check out the spec on the web somewhere . If it is a tri-band then it’s capable of working on the European network.
However be warned, your Taiwanese provider may have locked your phone so it will only work on their service and, if so, you’ll need to get it unlocked. Definalty do this in Taiwan as it’ll cost a lot more in England. Again go to one of the phone markets to do this.
When I went back to the UK last December my cell phone worked. I didn’t really expect it to and I didn’t enquire about it before I left. However it picked up whatever UK network was strongest. I have my cell phone through Chung Hua …
One thing though, my bill was sky-high 
My wife’s does but mine doesn’t. Both Nokia but hers is a fancy one and mine’s ancient.
GSM900/GSM1800 are common there, so unless you have a PHS or 3G phone it shouldn’t be a problem.
Just contact your operator/service provider that roaming is activated for your SIM and that there is an agreement with the country you are going to visit.
This may only apply if you want to use another SIM in your locally purchased phone, for roaming this is not required (see above).
Or do it yourself for free if you have a suitable phone: uniquephones.com/unlock/index.php
Assuming you haven’t got a PHS phone (which doesn’t work in the UK), are you sure your account allows you to make phone calls from overseas (‘roaming’)? I suspect it’s nothing to do with the phone you’re using - but (probably because you’re a furriner) your contract with the telecom company doesn’t allow it. It’s easy for them to change - you just need to convince them you’re not going to flee the country leaving a huge phone bill.
As said the ability to roam depends on the following:
- Your operator allowing you to do so (the function must be activated for your account)
- The two countries must have a roaming agreement (and a connection between the two networks)
Of course certain operators may choose to restrict roaming, i.e. not allow you to roam to certain countries.
Usually this is done out of fear for missuse.
Even the oldest phones should allow for roaming (even my Nokia 2110 did).
GSM 1800 phones will work for sure, I am not so sure about GSM900. I seem to recall way back, maybe about '97 or '98 my wife having a phone that wouldn’t work, then again it might have been that she wasn’t switched properly for roaming. With FarEastTone I recall you DO have to ask them for overseas roaming facilities and they switch you on somehow. Takes an hour from when you ask, so its pretty easy. Anyway, at least for the last four or five years, which probably means between us eight different phones at the rate we lose them, we have never had any trouble making or receiving calls in the UK.