Motorola International 3200 GSM brick phone

[@chrislumsden1940]

Hi. I just recently got given one of these 3200 phones. Still works fine, I have re-packed the battery pack for it. Great that this was the very first handheld GSM mobile to hit the market in 1992. And yes, it definitely has no SMS function at all.

[@BrickCellphones]

Chris Lumsden The latest software versions of the 3200 can receive text messages. The earlier ones couldn't.

[@splashbrook6164]

BrickCellphones, can you help? I have a Bosch Cartel ( 3200 clone / rebage) powers on fine without a sim, but powers on and straight off with a sim installed. Currently tried an EE modern triple sim. any thoughts? thanks.

[@matthewmillard688]

How did you repack the battery? What type of cells did you use?

[@Raptor-7]

Would i be able to buy one for my car and use it to call out? 😃

[@TransitAndTeslas]

Never heard of SIM voltages before. Though the first SIM cards in the U.S. we're the pop outs, we never had the credit card sized one, and if we did, I wasn't alive yet. The Apple SIM cards seem to work fine in my other phones however.

[@jaimiebrown8140]

You mention in the film there is a workaround for the SIM card causing the 3200 to shut down. I just got one of these for my brother as a gift for his 50th (he was a big fan of these in the 80s/90s) as it's something he can still use. The UK 'giffgaff' SIM works great with it and I'm able to send a receive calls. However, it has just shut down a few times - can you help solve that? I was wondering if there was any programming or firmware update ability using the contacts on the back near the antenna connection but haven't been able to find anything on that either - have you any ideas? Thanks.

[@matthewmillard688]

I have a 3200 and it works ok here in New Zealand on Vodafone GSM 900. What is the significance of the flashing green LED on the front?

[@rdjohnson7447]

Hey. Im new to brick phones but id really like to have a working gsm brick phone. I live in the US so do you have any recommendations for a first brick phone to swap a modern android sim card into? Thank you!

[@glennkiller3195]

I have 3300 International, it was a Great Phone. I used to take that Four Wheel Driving in the Late 1990s-2000s instead of using the Nokia I had.

[@arthurwong1738]

I love big phones. I have an LG Stylo6 phablet phone.

[@arPangi]

hello I just bought a motorola 3200, but when I put the lycamobile sim card the circle with a fixed bar on the screen appears and does not move so it does not read my sim card, what should I do?

[@kalcine]

My battery is almost dead, do you know any good method to condition it somehow ? with a different charger maybe ? What charging voltage and current do you recommend to charge the original Nikkel Cadmium 7.5V 700mAh battery?

[@juanbaclavab]

you can take the battery out of the plastic housing and place inside a stack of smartphone Li-ion batteries connected in parallel

[@LeoLeonard1]

HELP! I've restored my Motorola International 3200 and it seems to reset every time it's acquiring a GSM signal. Does anyone know if that means the logic board inside is toast or is there some remedy for this problem? Maybe you might know @brickcellphones?

[@rheography]

Not sure if you still reply to this but where can i buy that battery adapter phone charger?

[@leonkuenzler9508]

Hey, I have one of these, but for some reason I can’t recieve any calls, I can call others tho... also how did you do the bettery?

[@splashbrook6164]

just picked up a Bosch Cartel (3200 clone) I'm having the power on and immediate power off issue you described ref sim compatability. Can you help with a fix?

[@lewiswinter1679]

I’ve currently bought a Motorola 3200 international and I was wondering if anyone knows how to store contacts on the phone as the instructions are quite misleading. Please help 👍

[@quirksandfeatures3215]

Just got my 3200 got it on charge how long? Stuck a Vodafone sim in and it rings and sends out calls. However that dam menu option is hard to work out

[@BrickCellphones]

+devin weston Oh well done. At least you got a 2nd gen one! Yeah the menu isn't very intuitive on these. Generally the shop set it up for you and then you would just dial numbers and thats it. You really need a manual to change the settings if you don't know the menu structrure.

[@quirksandfeatures3215]

Vintage Cellular Mobile Phones second 3200 doesn't power up even with the battery from the other one? The fun how did we manage back in the day bro

[@BrickCellphones]

yeah you should be able to get it working.

[@bbz149]

Hi, I know this is an old Video, but could you confirm that the 3200 uses a 24v AC for the Charging Cradle? I bought a new reproduction Battery from Germany some years ago but can not seem to find the Charger anywhere :-( Thanks

[@bartj9378]

Hi, Have you ever tried to connect two handsets to Motorola international 2200 or 2700?

[@matthewmillard688]

Also you said the 3200 can receive sms, I tried sending one from my modern phone and it dose not receive them here.

[@michaelsphones984]

I would really like to have a Motorola 3300,too bad they are not easy to find in my region.Are they expensive?

[@BrickCellphones]

Motorola 3300 are rarer than 3200. I don't know what region you are in but you should expect to pay about 200 euros for one if it's in good condition plus you'll need a new battery. For a boxed one probably double that.

[@michaelsphones984]

Then I guess they are impossible to find in my country,in my country you can barely find a microtac!Most people bought in the late '90s Nokia phones.Even a Motorola Microtac International 8900 would be nice to have, but since I can't find one...

[@BrickCellphones]

Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE. You just have to spend more money!!! I have super rare french phones that were only ever sold in france....but I found a seller in America of all places....and I paid huge shipping and then on top of that huge customs fees. Thats life!!! If you want the phone you pay the money....especially rare ones or ones that still work....it's big boys toys. But I still don't know what country you're in!!!

[@michaelsphones984]

BrickCellphones Well I live in Eastern Europe,in Romania to be more specific.We first had GSM networks in 1997.The first ones were Dialog(Orange operated under that name until 2002) and CONNEX(Acquired in 2005 by Vodafone and renamed).

[@BrickCellphones]

You guys started late with GSM....wow. 1997. If that is the case then you will definitely have some GSM microtacs...it's just that because they launched the cellular network so late and it was probably expensive in romania there are not many romanian branded microtacs....or any phones from 1997 or 98 from romania. By 1997 alot of european countries already had widely established GSM network and phones were cheaply availble.....not in romania if they launched late. There will be some.....I guarantee it....but it will be super super super rare and you probably have to pay ALOT of money.....easier to get GSM microtac from other country and unlock it and use in romania. if you had vodafone in romania in 2005 then 100% you had motorola phones and nokia phones because vodafone buys huge quantitiy of phones direct from manufacturer.

[@lebugsy1210]

Hi, i got one of the Int. 3200 (SLF1770B Rev. S/H: 1.4/1.1), works fine but it only shows for a few seconds the provider name and than no signal (Europe - Lux.). Do i need a 5V Sim or is there an issue ? Thx for your Help ;)

[@BrickCellphones]

Le Bug Sy no I'm pretty sure that revision is ok with 3volt sims. If the phone only accepts 5volt sims then it would power off about 1 second after you power it on if it has a sim in it. it would stay on if there is no sim in it. It sounds like your phone might be blocked for some reason. I know some networks in europe started doing this. I was in belgium a month ago and couldn't use 2 of my phones! really irritating!

[@TransitAndTeslas]

Will these take US SIM cards? I want to see if I could use one here.

[@BrickCellphones]

RedLight GreenArrow NO!!! This phone (the motorola international 3200) will ONLY work on GSM 900 cellular networks. It will not work on GSM 1800 or GSM 1900 (nineteen hundred) which is what the Americas use. It will obviously accept the sim and you might be able to run through the menu but you'll never get service in the USA with one of these because the frequencies don't match.

[@BrickCellphones]

If it's mid 90's then it's highly likely it's for the AMPS cellular standart which is analog and long gone (no longer in use). There's only about a handful of bag phone models that you can still use on today's cellular networks. Let me have the model number and I might be able to tell you for definite.

[@phil-Leotardo.171]

+Vintage Cellular Mobile Phones Hi Mate, my other motorola 3200 still isn't powering up even after I've cleaned the terminals and put another battery on it. the phone itself is super clean can't see any damage or hear any movement inside to believe it was dropped. no signs of water damage too. just isn't powering up, order a brand new battery and charge from that Guy in Germany. if you have any ideas what the problem is that would be great. I do believe both these 3200 are second gen, both have that shorter standard antenna.

[@BrickCellphones]

the antenna means nothing. It will say on the sticker on the back if you remove the battery. without looking at the phone I couldn't advise why it's not powering up. Might be something simple like pin corrosion at the top near the antenna base on the inside or something more sinister. The 3200 is pretty rock solid....I've only seen a few which don't power up so I guess your unlucky. how much was it?

[@phil-Leotardo.171]

Found it at a car boot sale gave £6.00 for it.

[@AlexB26492004]

Hello, where did u get the battery eleminator from? ☺☻

[@BrickCellphones]

Alex B It's one that I've had for many years. Don't remember where I bought it from sorry. They are still occasionally available from a US supplier but are expensive to buy on their own. Were you after one?

[@BBC600]

Hi wondering if you have a Motorola Timeport if so could you do a review on it? Also wondering if there is a brick phone that you could recommend that would work in Canada. Thanks

[@BrickCellphones]

BBC600 Which timeport are you talking about? the motorola "timeport" is actually a range of phones. Are you refering to the L7089 which is the triple band one?

[@BBC600]

Vintage Cellular Mobile Phones Yes

[@BrickCellphones]

Sure I am actually looking into doing a "what brick would you have AMERICA" in the next few weeks or so as I've had several requests now. I just need to dig out all my compatible phones from the storage unit. Were you looking to use it telus or rodgers or another provider in canada?

[@BBC600]

Vintage Cellular Mobile Phones I was thinking of Rogers. My mum had a bad experience with Telus.

[@BrickCellphones]

Oh I've got Telus and thought they were ok when I used them. I will have to check what type of cellular technology Rogers use but I think it's GSM1900 and LTE. Will also need to get the binatone brick out for you when I do the video.

[@theapplechronicles9863]

Hi I found a nice International 3200 for sale that still works. I would have bought a 3300 but, as you know, these are much rarer. Anyway, can you please tell me how to tell apart the early versions and the later ones? I plan on using this phone on a regular basis, and I want one that'll work with 5V SIM cards and that won’t crash when the caller ID is displayed. Should I look for a firmware version in particular? I could also ask the seller what the serial number is... Figured this might help some other folks out there in the comments. Cheers!

[@theapplechronicles9863]

So I contacted the seller and now he says the phone won't do anything and it displays "check SIM". There's no SIM card inside. Is that normal? Shouldn't it let you "use" it even without a SIM?

[@theapplechronicles9863]

So I just checked the user manual and it's normal.

[@BrickCellphones]

Yeah you want a newer software/firmware version. As to which exactly you want....I'm not sure. I would have to pull out all of my 3200's and try different sim cards to test them to see which works with 5v and which works with modern SIM. Generally the older phones like the 3200 all work with 5v SIM cards but not all work with the newer 3volt or 1.6volt SIM (uSIM).....You also need to remember that if you have a high capacity SIM some of the older phones wont read it because they can't address all the memory on it. worth bearing in mind. Have you had alook at some forums about which firmware works? What SIM do you have ? from what network in which country?

[@theapplechronicles9863]

Thanks for the prompt answer! I'll go with a 5V card then. Can you recommend me a forum? I know quite a bit about old Apple Macs but I'm new to this and I might want to get a little more involved. I have yet another question about the SIM... In France, you can't find any credit card SIMs anymore (the ones with the 8 pin chip) but I think I can get hold of a 5V card that stores 20 phone numbers (don't know exactly how much memory that translates to, but that should be good) but its chip only has 6 pins, not 8. You tested the Tesco SIM a couple of weeks ago, do you think a SIM with only 6 pins works in the 3200? Thanks again, This is my last question, I promise!

[@BrickCellphones]

The 5 volt SIM are the oldest and they wont work in modern phones because modern phones only provide 1.6volts. 5v sims were 8k or 4k and later 16k in size although some 16k were 3.3v. it doesn't matter how many contacts the SIM has. ALL gsm phones only use 6 pins....I have old school SIMs for GSM with like 15 contacts on them....the phone still only uses the main 6 ones. You can make yourself a credit card size adapter yourself. watch my other video on how to do this. and yes 6 and 8 pin SIM works in the 3200 if the SIM is correct voltage for that phone.

[@modelmode8]

Where and how did you acquire this? I've been looking for 5 years now for one as these are still compatible with certain US GSM carriers. I really don't like modern phones.

[@BrickCellphones]

You can stop looking!!! who ever told you that the international 3200, international 3300 or international 3500 (super rare) are compatible with US GSM carries is talking trash! The 3200, 3300 and 3500 ONLY operate on GSM900 ninehundred (NOT US gsm1900 nineteen hundred). Maybe there is a clever person out there who has converted one but originally they ONLY operated on GSM 900 and were only available in europe but then later in africa and the middle east. If you're wanting a phone that size then I'd recommend something like a binatone brick - there are different versions of them so make sure you get the US compatible one - 90 % of the ones i've seen are european ones. and to answer your question.....i've been collecting for over 21 years (not a typo - twentyone years!) You pick up some rare phones in that time!! I could possibly source you a 3200 as I know someone who had one for sale last week.

[@modelmode8]

Yeh I know that. 1800 don't work no more, last time I used it was about 5 years ago. Technically 900 MHz is still around. Not all of the frequencies are outsourced yet. I've connected to a signal in parts of Michigan and California with a T-mobile card. It's a hit or miss with getting a signal now though.

[@BrickCellphones]

Jeb, I think you have your frequencies confused!!!! Everywhere outside America/Canada both GSM 900 (ninehundred) and GSM 1800 (eighteen hundred) still exists. Both of these NEVER existed in the americas because those frequencies were in use for other things. T-Mobile in the USA uses GSM 1900 (nineteen hundred)...which is incompatible and different to GSM 1800 (eighteen hundred). Most of the USA has GSM 1900 service nowadays. In fact CDMA and GSM1900 are the two main technologies used for cellular systems in the USA.

[@StrefaBiznesu-tt7zr]

Hello, I have one such Motorola and with a SIM card it turns off immediately, but without it it turns on why

[@marcelldavis2066]

Can you call with this phone anymore ?

[@Chonksta]

not sure about this specific phone, but i do have one on the Same sort of network, it can make calls

[@samdamico7234]

Hi Guys I have a motorola international 2200 gsm,which i would like to unlock, the phone is actually locked not the sim. im wondering if anyone knows the factory unlock code to put in or the pins to short out to enter programming. hope to get this going as i would like to install it in a 1974 toyota. Any help would be appreciated thanks

[@BrickCellphones]

+Sam D'amico YOu don't need to put it into programming mode. You just need one of my unlock SIM's. That will allow you to enter the test menu and display both the lock code and 6 digit security code (which you'll need if you want to change the lock code). The default on the motorola international range of phones is that the lock code is 123 (for 5200 with early software versions) and 1234 for all the other models. The security code default is 000000 (6 zero's). I'll be selling test SIM cards soon if you can wait a while.

[@samdamico7234]

+Vintage Cellular Mobile Phones how long until you will have the test sims and how much $. I'm in Australia

[@BrickCellphones]

Probably another week or two. It's just one you want? shipping to australia is expensive though. The SIM that displays the security code and Lock code on Motorolas ONLY is about 75 bucks so add shipping to that.

[@samdamico7234]

+Vintage Cellular Mobile Phones Send me an email with all the details please and also your Paypal account [e-mail] Thanks

[@9w6majmic49]

hi..need help.... what that mean?"SIMkarte prufen " when I insert my sim card..GSM 1800mhz on my motorola international 1000.any solution? thanks..

[@BrickCellphones]

+Michael Lojikip It means "CHECK SIM CARD". It means you probably are trying to use an iphone SIM card. Check your motorola 1000 type. if it is a CCUFFxxxA then you need a 5v SIM with no more than 16k capacity - 8K ideally. if the 1000 you are using is a CCUFxxxB then it's a B version which will accept 3.3v SIM with any size capacity up to 32k. 64K might work but I don't recommend it for extensive use. What provider is the SIM from? what are the numbers on the SIM. I presume you checked before buying the motorola 1000. Maybe I need to do a video about this. It's not so straight forward.

[@BrickCellphones]

+Michael Lojikip Also....the motorola 1000 is GSM 900 (nine hundred) ONLY. so putting a SIM from a provider that only has a GSM 1800 network will not work. what is the cellular provider of the SIM...I can check my list.

[@camerondavis4939]

Right - I remember he went by the name West Coast or something. He said he was too busy to try.

[@BrickCellphones]

Last I remember is he was going to try. Haven't heard from him since. maybe he took my advice and stopped trying. it's really not easy to convert a phone from AMPS/TDMA to GSM. It's probably easier to have the inner electronics designed from scratch to fit the housing.....in my opinion.

[@mohammedsahid24]

Where r u frm

[@sdwyz74]

i have 900 in Seattle Washington on T-Mobile and im trying to get a 3200 like yours and a MOTOROLA INTERNATIONAL 1000 BOXED GSM they should work if i have 900 Band Right! thanks and Please Advise

[@BrickCellphones]

+sdwyz74 I don't think you have GSM900 (nine hundred) in Seattle washington because GSM900 (nine hundred) does NOT exist in Continental America (inc Canada). You are probably refering to GSM1900 (nineteen hundred) which exists everywhere in America. The motorola 3200 operates ONLY on GSM900 (nine hundred) so you would not be able to use it with ANY cellular operator in America. GSM 900 and GSM 1900 are not the same thing and are not compatible. the 3200, 3300 and 3500 (super rare) only work on GSM900 (nine hundred). The same goes for a motorola 1000. That will only pick up service outside of America because it only operates on GSM900 not GSM 1900. hope that clears up confusion.

[@gerardlowe7681]

would it work here in the Bahamas??

[@gerardlowe7681]

Is that also a brick phone?

[@BrickCellphones]

+Gerard Lowe No sorry this phone only operates on GSM 900 (nine hundred). In the bahamas there are two different kind of networks. One operates on GSM1900 (nineteen hundred) and the other operates on UMTS850. Both of these are incompatible with a GSM900 cellular phone as both GSM1900 and UMTS850 are newer technologies than GSM900. sorry.

[@TheTom2x]

Hello, Vintage Cellular Mobile Phones, do you have Motorola International 3200/3300 phones for sale?

[@BrickCellphones]

No sorry not at the moment.

[@BrickCellphones]

these look like they might not work !! they are beaten up.

[@sdwyz74]

sorry your right i have 1900 band 2g what phone could i get thats a BRICK PHONE LIKE THIS

[@mohammedsahid24]

Where are from???

[@BrickCellphones]

Mohammed Sahid I'm a mix of 4 nationalities, none of which are british. Why do you ask? I consider myself to be "international" :-)

[@putsokkim8343]

how much?

[@ogorekkiszony7236]

Hello, I’m looking to buy one of these as a main phone. What would one have to do to make this work today? It seems to be the oldest still working phone I can find.

[@konwix.a8556]

Made in 1992

[@camerondavis4939]

Anyone on here been successful converting a Motorola DynaTac or 3200 to CDMA or GSM while keeping all original exterior housing of the phone intact? I'm interested in doing a project with this and willing to put up $$ if it's possible. Let me know.

[@BrickCellphones]

***** No takers then? I'd back that project if there was enough interest. You do know that you can get Binatone bricks which will work on GSM1900 and in areas where there is CDMA. (the binatone doesn't actually operate on CDMA though!).

[@camerondavis4939]

Vintage Cellular Mobile Phones I'm aware of the Binatone which I checked out a while back when looking at brick phones...but I'm much more intrigued on the concept of taking a true phone from the old school (late 80s/early 90s) and reviving it from the dead!

[@BrickCellphones]

Well the origianl mototorla dynatacs do look alot nicer than the binatone but you will struggle to get a dynatac to work nowadays as all of them operated on the AMPS or TDMA cellular standard (with the exception of course of the motorola internationl 3200, 3300 and 3500 which are GSM900 and can still be used today....but they are not true dynatacs in essence they are just the same shape - kind of)

[@510bronson]

Hi great video can u help I'm going back to using 3200 but I can't find the language setting its stuck on German lol can you help Again great videos I'm a very small collector love 1980s-90s tech Again thanks

[@camerondavis4939]

Reopening this question - anyone been successful at re-working only the inside of a real 80s brick phone to work on the GSM/CDMA standard instead of AMPS/TDMA?

[@BrickCellphones]

I haven't heard of anyone being successful at that. There was a guy on here over a year ago that was gonna try it but I've not heard from him since.

[@giuseppecatha]

please review Ericsson GA368, greetings from East Java 😆

[@jamesbuckley5346]

Great as always.

[@BrickCellphones]

thanks.

[@9w6majmic49]

model CCUF2170A.

[@BrickCellphones]

+Michael Lojikip Yeah you need a 5volt 16k SIM for that one. Ask your provider if they have any. It depends on who the manufacturer is....usually gemplus or similar.

[@TheRodwatkins]

can i have one of your brick phones

[@xylfox]

All fair and good. But show me only ONE of your early 90ies-cellphones REALLY working! Means : Making a call somehow

[@retrocollecting4147]

I Want one but they're not cheap haha

[@Chonksta]

ikr, im looking to snag one up im viewing an ebay auction on one, ends in 4 hours

[@ayshorjomahmudarian583]

This belongs to MR. V!

[@joeycarrod612]

so no one can clone it

[@ChristianCaseGaming]

Damn antique LMAO LOL

[@АлександрЗагумённов-д3ж]

Бозарь по русски