Most likely the old phone had support for analog service but the new Samsung doesn't because it's digital only, no analog capability.

I don't know if this is the right forum for this, if not please let me know or move/delete this thread.

My girlfriend recently bought a T-Mobile phone that had been unlocked for Cingular/ATT/etc. The phone was a Samsung e315. This was to take the place of her existing phone, a Nokia 3120. The new phone works fine in the city she lives in where there is a Cingular tower. But when she goes to her hometown, where there are no Cingular towers, the phone doesn't work.

I was hoping someone could tell me what this problem is, any possible solutions, or if she's just out of luck.

Also, I have learned since she bought this that the new samsung phone is ony a dual-band while the old nokia is a tri-band phone. I don't know if this has anything to do w/ her problem.