I'll be headed to Osan at the end of the year and have a question about cell phone service.

Does anyone know any state side providers that offer coverage for Korea. (AT&T, SPRINT, ect...) I was looking at changing my contract and adding an international calling plan onto my contract, just want to know if;

1. Has anyone done this?
2. Problems with service
3. Any hidden charges that might have shown up

Thanks and look forward to seeing Korea...again.

I had talked to the Sprint rep at the BX with whom I was well aquanited (so I knew I wouldn't be getting jerked around), and he explained that the systems are differnt so the phone I was using was unable to be used here. I have a pre-paid I got here and it works well. The phone was $60 and then I spend about $30 a month on minutes ($20 for local and $10 for international).

I know the base has company that sells cell phone with plans and all that, but I don't konw much about it.

Korean cell phones are CDMA (Sprint, Verizon). There is no GSM service at all (AT&T, T-Mobile). However, US CDMA phones either won't work at all or will be EXTREMELY expensive, on the order of $2-3 per minute I believe. I recommend doing what most others do - take your orders into your US provider's office and cancel your contract with no obligation. Then buy a used pay-as-you-go cellphone when you get here - $10 gets you 30 minutes, unlimited text messages <80 Kb, and unused time rolls over. You can also subscribe to a contract-type service and maybe get a nicer phone.

Thanks. CDMA was what I was trying to think of earlier. Any other type phone should be sold before you come here. Using your orders to get out of a contract is excellent advice. Almost as good as cutting up your credit cards!
You don't need a cell phone, a car or credit cards in Korea. They are all a sure way to spend money uselessly. Think about it!
It is insane to spend $10 for 30 minutes on a cell phone when you can call the US with a Korean Calling Card and do so for 90 cents or up to 1.80 for the same amount of time. Insane. Text messaging and sending photos costs much more than it is worth. Take much better photos with a digital camera and send them free on the internet. Use Yahoo messenger or Skype and pay nothing. Send an email. SAVE MONEY.
If you simply can't live without a cell phone, convince your unit that you are required to keep in touch, and if so, they will issue you a cell phone! Incoming calls are free. Outgoing calls must be limited to official business. Riding the subway, buses and taxis all the time you are here will be cheaper than messing with a car. One accident in Korea can ruin your finances for months or more. The money you save listening to me will buy a nice plasma TV when you leave here!

Thanks...looks like VOIP and web cams for me then.

You would think with todays technology there would be worldwide cell service without having to buy a special phone.

I loved having a car last time I was stationed in Korea, I found driving fun. Nothing like wild west driving to sharpen ones skills.

AT& T/Cingular does have an international plan, but there are only 3 or 4 types of phones that will work since they must be quad band and also compatible with something else. (I'm not a techie.) Their going rate is like $2.99 a minute. EDIT: This is per their web site AND from speaking with a representative. END EDIT.

I'm about to have one of them shipped to my DH's aunt and forwarded to me so I can at least check my voice mail, but I'll still make all of my calls on my Korean phone using a card.

Basically, I just want my same phone number when I get back home and am willing to pay to do that.

Cell phones are pretty cheap over here. You can buy one used for about $30. And the minutes are cheap too. I spend $30 a month on mine and get a couple hours of call time. I have more minutes here for less money than I had when I lived in the US.

I realize this is for cell phone but maybe soemone can answer this. IS the use of landlines supported or non-existent on base?

It's supported here on Humphreys. The company even has a desk at the Community Activity Center to set up service and pay your bill.

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