Edge Technology .. Im Confused

[BEDBANDIT]

hi

Are there different types of EDGE

i was looking at buying an EDGE phone , nothing fancy i have other phones , i just want a good phone for the internet use in thailand,

ill be connecting the phone to my laptop

so i have been looking at some old/used phones on ebay that have EDGE

then i came across a phone that said it had EDGE 2.0 , now im not that daft , i figure 2.0 is better than 1.0 , but is it better in thailand?

i know there are lots of phones with EDGE but the phone i was looking at buying ( because its cheap and theres lots for sale ) is a

NOKIA 5300 . here are its features for data

Data

GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps

HSCSD Yes

EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps

3G No

WLAN No

Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP

Infrared port Yes

Dose this phone have all i need in regards to the best / quickest EDGE and GPRS that are available in Thailand or should i be looking for something else

Ive read the post about which / what phones are best , but some of these phones are very expensive and have a lot of features i don't need . eg camera

i just want a phone with good EDGE and GPRS for thailand or are there other featurs i need or would be useful ?, taking into account i have a latop with

WIFI/ Bluetooth + i have Linksys Wireless-G PCI card

the phone will mains use will be for the internet use ,when going up north (Buriram) to visit and stay with the GF famliy

So any help or advice would be greatly apprenticed

remember my criteria is a cheap phone of ebay-UK for GOOD ( or the best Thailand has to offer ) Internet use

thanks

[GungaDin]

See http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Broadband-Bo...ks-t219000.html

[ballbreaker]

Yes it supports the fastest Edge speed in Thailand but why not wait till you arrive in Bangkok and pick up a second hand phone in a place like MBK. You can then test phone before you buy. Prices are cheap in Thailand.

[GungaDin]

Prices are cheap in Thailand

Only if you are a Yankeeee !

[monty]

I think the most popular phone for internet purposes is the Nokia 3110 Classic.

Around 3,500 Baht last time I looked and does the fastest Edge available in Thailand...

[BEDBANDIT]

Ive just read the whole of the "Broadband In The Boondocks" thread and it got wondering if i even need a phone ?

cant i use a 3G USB Dongle ?

i try not to buy phones in Thailand , they dont last long

[monty]

Ive just read the whole of the "Broadband In The Boondocks" thread and it got wondering if i even need a phone ?

cant i use a 3G USB Dongle ?

i try not to buy phones in Thailand , they dont last long

Yes you can.

It has to be capable of doing GPRS/EDGE on the 900 and 1800 MHz band, and it has to be unlocked so it'll accept Thai simcards.

Locally these USB dongle's (Edge only, no 3G yet in Thailand) are available for between 4000 and 6000 Baht.

[BEDBANDIT]

Ive just read the whole of the "Broadband In The Boondocks" thread and it got wondering if i even need a phone ?

cant i use a 3G USB Dongle ?

i try not to buy phones in Thailand , they dont last long

Yes you can.

It has to be capable of doing GPRS/EDGE on the 900 and 1800 MHz band, and it has to be unlocked so it'll accept Thai simcards.

Locally these USB dongle's (Edge only, no 3G yet in Thailand) are available for between 4000 and 6000 Baht.

thanks monty

i think i get it now .. i can get a dongle in the uk for about £35.00 and the phone is about the same

i think ill get a dongle thou .. stops the GF from using it all the time

thanks all for your help

[anotheruser]

Why are the dongles so expensive? The only advantage I can think of buying one at those prices is they don't require another device to run with a battery to get online. I am trying to decide which I will get next month when I go to Asia as the part of Laos I will be in only has power a few hours a day. If I had a constant source of power where I was going to be going online then using a phone via bluetooth seems like a no brainer. Maybe I am missing something here?

[opti_baby]

the old phone, like Nokia 6200 etc, support 3+1 for EDGE system, now the cheaper is Nokia 6230, support 4+1, also you can select Sony Ericsson K790i etc.