Best Mobile Phone Brands & Where To Buy Them

8790POSTS

16 years ago

LG is a good brand for appliances in the US, but I see here they also make cell phones.聽 Anybody have any experience with this?

I'm going to buy a new phone and I'm not really sure what I want and where to get it.聽 I saw a ton of mobile shops in Batha--is it really worth my while to go there or are the prices all basically the same?

Thanks for your guidance :-)

PS.聽 I was looking at them last night and it's like buying a car.聽 You walk in wanting something simple and cheap (a Hyundai) but after looking at everything, you now want a Lincoln Town Car with all the bells and whistles lol

I think I'd like a touch screen--any recommendations?

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aticus Guest

0POSTS

16 years ago

If you are just talking with it !听 Motorola..
If really utilize full functions, I-Phone ...
If the algorithm is important and you are already familiar with NOKIA ! go with it..

Where to purchase... Sure, from USA

Always ask for the SAR value if you are using it too much !

** SAR (specific absorption rate) is a measurement of how much electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by body tissue whilst using a mobile phone. The higher the SAR the more radiation is absorbed.

MisterStretch ViP

805POSTS

16 years ago

I have had several brands of phones, all over the world:
Nokia is a leader for a reason.聽 It's a solid product.
Samsung and LG are both good phones, but all the features seem a little to "Korean-ized" for me. (Maybe that's only in Korea.)
Motorola is a solid phone for talking, as noted in an earlier post.

What do I own?聽 I have two Nokias; one for work and one for personal use that I carry from country to country.

If you like the gadgets...and have the coin...go Iphone.聽 All my friends that have them LOVE them.

musicman ViP

3180POSTS

16 years ago

So far, NOKIA has been my fav

Fidgety Soul ViP

1950POSTS

16 years ago

Oh God,No Batha,they r thug..just go to Axiom ,almost in every mall or go to Jarir,they got聽 quite a few,if u want touch screen and dun wanna spend alot,go to these new range of samsung,it has good options plu beautiful colors.

shahab.ali ViP

1079POSTS

16 years ago

isn't it Axiom?

Stevie334 Member

21POSTS

15 years ago

I'd like a cheap second hand i-phone if anyone has one spare. The cheapest I can find in the shops is SAR 2,500.

gowiththeflowUK ViP

721POSTS

15 years ago

For too many years than I care to remember I have been Nokia through and through - can't sing their praises high enough.聽 However, I recently bought a Blackberry Curve and have not regretted any aspect of it yet.聽 So depending on what you need a phone for, how often you use it and whether diary and / or internet functions are key to you - will dictate which phone.聽 Nokia has everything and I am finding so does the Blackberry.聽 Only thing with the Curve model I have 8520 the camera function has no flash - which seems a little bizzare but then again, if I want to take pictures, I use my camera! As for the most cost effective for new or used phones - no idea but put it up on Expat Classified-Riyadh (Yahoo Group) and see what comes back to you.

FeeAcer ViP

6172POSTS

15 years ago

Hello,
You may also use Riyadh's classifieds > Buy and sell!

Northpole Member

19POSTS

15 years ago

#10

By the way, there are Chinese version of Blackberries and I-Phone in Mursalaat area, available very cheap. But there is risk if you visit a developed nation, and caught with pirated version of these smartphones then, they may fine you.

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

15 years ago

#11

By the way, there are Chinese version of Blackberries and I-Phone in Mursalaat area, available very cheap. But there is risk if you visit a developed nation, and caught with pirated version of these smartphones then, they may fine you.

Or if they break/just stop working, you're SOS, aren't ya?

mirfarali Contributor

140POSTS

15 years ago

#12

Alliecat wrote:
By the way, there are Chinese version of Blackberries and I-Phone in Mursalaat area, available very cheap. But there is risk if you visit a developed nation, and caught with pirated version of these smartphones then, they may fine you.

Or if they break/just stop working, you're SOS, aren't ya?

Then you use it as paperweight and impress visitors

Northpole Member

19POSTS

15 years ago

#13

There is no warranty of these Chinese version smartphones, once you step out of the shop and it does not work, then, it is just a paperweight.

My suggestion go for NOKIA from Axiom, as long as you want to use the phone in the Middle East. NOKIA has a local service center in Riyadh, and provides extremely efficient service.

Nelson17 Contributor

127POSTS

15 years ago

#14

Nokia has always made the most robust phones IMO, but robust is boring!!

I am now the proud ownwer of an iphone 3gs

love it

Alliecat ViP

8790POSTS

15 years ago

#15

I ended up buying a Samsung .聽 It had everything I wanted聽 (most notably a touch screen key pad!) at a reasonable price.

musicman ViP

3180POSTS

15 years ago

#16

The Ten Commandments of Cell Phones Usage

1. Thou shalt not subject defenseless bystanders to cell phone conversations.

2. Thou shalt not set thy ringer to play a repetitive musical clip piece every time thy cell phone rings.

3. Thou shalt turn thy cell phone off during public performances, in theaters, during speeches and meetings, family dinners, at weddings and funerals and on first dates.

4. Thou shalt not wear more than two wireless devices on thy belt.

5. Thou shalt not use thy cellphone while driving.

6. Thou shalt not wear thy earpiece in the presence of thy friends and coworkers.

7. Thou shalt not speak louder on thy cell phone than thou would on any other phone.

8. Thou shalt not love thy cell phone more than thy spouse.

9. Thou shalt not display thy cell phone on a restaurant table.

10. Thou shalt not attempt to impress others with the make and model of thy cell phone.

CAF Serial expat

831POSTS

15 years ago

#17

Speaking of cell phones - I need some help!听

Can anyone tell me how I get the browser turned on on my phone?聽 I just recently purchased a new BB phone with post-paid service through STC and have yet to get the browser to work, can't receive incoming SMSs from my daughter, nor can I download applications.聽 Not sure what the problem is?聽 Im sure its operator error!听

聽聽What can I say, Im Technology Challenged!听

When I purchased the phone, I requested that they make the phone international ready, which for me, means that it comes with all of these features!听 Obviously the phone guy and I were not on the same page of the play book that day!听 LOL

Should I go online and establish an account and manage my phone from there?聽 I know in the states, we can do this.聽

Your assistance is appreciated!听 Thanks!

musicman ViP

3180POSTS

15 years ago

#18

I would suggest that if you are using the BB service from STC to call over at one of their retail customer service outlets at one of the big malls in town and have it configured.

The CEO at my clients office has an iPod and wanted the same done for him to be able to access his office email through the company exchange server and we had to pay SR 1,500 to a private networking company to configure his mobile as well as the network server to be able to use this function.

Good things no cheap, as the old Chinese saying goes....

Salman Omrani VIP Member

1389POSTS

15 years ago

#19

has anyone tried HTC smart phones?

I want to get the HD2.

musicman ViP

3180POSTS

15 years ago

#20

The HTC is very much a clone of the iPhone at almost half the price, I believe.

We were discussing the Ten Commandments of Mobile Phones over dinner last evening and my grand daughter loves Commandment #8

shahab.ali ViP

1079POSTS

15 years ago

#21

nooo MM...HTC is way better than iPhone and quiet old too...
HTC had an agreement with imate to make phones just for them...after the agreement was over, they made phones for many different companies such as Treo, Acer, Google, Samsung, Toshiba, LG, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Dell, etc. and it has many models...

i personally like HTC as we can upgrade, modify, hack or anything with it unlike iPhone where u cannnot do much stuff.

so as HTC's first phone was introduced in 2002, it CANNOT be a clone of iPhone which was introduced in 2007

Sparrow Serial expat

435POSTS

15 years ago

#22

Ok, so is Blackberry going to be history here soon. My understanding is that emailing and texting to a Blackberry will be blocked and friends with Blackberrys will not be able to email or text in to KSA.

Is my understanding correct?

CAF Serial expat

831POSTS

15 years ago

#23

Sparrow - based on the news, it doesn't look too good for us BB users!听

Sparrow Serial expat

435POSTS

15 years ago

#24

I was thinking of buying one because they are so cheap here - luckily its off the christmas list.

Probably Facebook next!

musicman ViP

3180POSTS

15 years ago

#25

BB has been marched to chop square.
R I P

MaserMan Serial expat

377POSTS

15 years ago

#26

I am firmly in the HTC camp as I have a desire, blows away the iphone and blackberry, but then the saudi authorities have already done that to the BB:D

beezer Serial expat

213POSTS

15 years ago

#27

Hey, newbie forum user just chiming in here. Kind of a tech geek as well.
I'm on the Diamond 2 right now (HTC) and I like it (not love it, like it). It acts up sometimes, but this is mainly to me trying to customize the crap out of the system and over clocking it. My brother has one, and so does a friend at work. They work flawlessly, but when you install arabic on it (as a friend did), it just rapes the system speed.

Best bet if you want to buy a new phone (I already know the original poster bought one) is to wait on the new Windows Phone 7's coming out Christmas time. There should be a handful of them, and the videos right now show some really amazing applications, implementations, and a beautiful interface.

Oh, and as for location. My friend took me a place called "Moore-salat" (if I recall correctly). Just a huge plaza for phone shops. They sell both new and used, with really good prices (but you have to haggle, so it's best to bring a local with ya)

anil.soni Contributor

147POSTS

15 years ago

#28

I would Recommend Sony Ericsson Satio or iphone

deep ocean New member

7POSTS

15 years ago

#29

IPHONE
IPHONE
IPHONE

paying in any other phone for the time being is a waste of time and money!

sadikm23@hotmail.com New member

8POSTS

14 years ago

#30

I am Looking for SLR Nikon D3000 camera use or unused for a low cost. So please help me to find.

IT Guy Member

21POSTS

14 years ago

#31

Hmm ... Nokia is a thing of past...
You can opt for Blackberry which are said to be great mobiles however since you are looking for touchscreen go for IPhone.

My personal recommendation is to take a mobile with Android OS in it which is available in Samsung, LG, Motorola etc. Just check out Samsung Galaxy S2.

seeker of truth ViP

1129POSTS

14 years ago

#32

try Samsung GALAXY PRO, Not that much expensive but has almost same capability of SAMSUNG GALAXY SI. It includes Android market which is not available聽 in SAMSUNG GALAXY SII. So u have to download it from internet. Through android market, u can download a lot of stuff like the software that will u to open document,excel file,etc. It costs only 700sr. It is touch screen with keypad. CHECK IT OUT GUYS! GOOD LUCK!

dawm123 New member

9POSTS

13 years ago

#33

Looks like LG did not like HTC and Samsung brand is so hot, but it looks good.When I visited smalltao.com's seen the LG, you can go and see.

Arbab Contributor

147POSTS

13 years ago

#34

Masha'al Al-asima is the main whole sale distributor for all the cell phone brands in KSA. Their Head office is located on 2nd floor in Al-Rajhi Building batha.
No one can beat their prices, literally NO ONE!

This is the price list on their website:

and prices are even lower once you visit the store.

Freshlikesushi ViP

1455POSTS

13 years ago

#35

lack of english is lacking

RehabDoctor Serial expat

279POSTS

13 years ago

#36

iPhone is recommended due to free annual sofware update which brings lots of new features to iPhone. Android software update is dependent on manufacturer and network.