Well, I got my Ericsson R520m phone! It looks great. The only problem is that the owner's manual was completely in Portugese (or Italian), but Expansys sending an English manual tomorrow.

I'm concerned about the SIM card for the UK that I now have, however. After charging the phone (the SIM card was inserted before I charged it, like the directions on the CD said), the phone said "no service."

I'm in the US in a moderately rural area, and of course the card is for use in the UK. I was hoping to make a quick call to the phone just to make sure everything worked. But the phone said, "searching for service" and never did "find" service. Even though it would be roaming, shouldn't the phone work in the US?

One thing comes to mind. The SIM card little square cardboard package had a clear plastic covering around it; however, the inside thin cardboard flap that had a seal on it looked like it had been cut, and the words on the seal said, "Do not accept if this seal is damaged or reads 'void.'"

Is it possible that my UK card simply cannot be used in the area in the US where I am now? Or do I possibly have a SIM card that is damaged?

I am confused. I was under the impression that I would be able to use the card in the US (I only wanted to do so to check it out before a trip to the UK -- it is imperative that the phone is in good working order when I arrive).

Thanks.