In mobile phone lingo, what does TRI-BAND mean?
Cell phones use radio waves to transmit your conversations. These radio waves can be at different frequencies, just the same as regular radio stations are at different frequencies. GSM cell phones (ex. AT&T or t-mobile) can use four different radio frequencies, or bands. Either, 850 megahertz, 900, 1800 or 1900. In the US the 1900 and 850 are the frequencies used for carriers. In most other countries they use either 900 or 1800. A tri-band phone will definitely have 1900 and 850 for the US and either 900 or 1800 for international travel. If you have a tri band phone you may be missing the band used to cover the area you are in. If you can find one, the best phone to have would be a quad band phone which will allow you to pick up any of the four frequencies used.
