Unlocking mobile phones

[celtic]

Sorry if this is a dumb question but, is it possible to get a U.S. mobile (cell) phone unlocked in Thailand? I have an old Motorola Razr that I'd like to use with a Thai sim card while I'm in country. I seem to recall hearing somewhere that Thais are good at it, and you can get it done at most of the little phone shops. Can anyone confirm?

Kop khun krap,

celtic

[pickel]

What you say is true. If you have a phone with a sim card, it can be unlocked here. Upon your arrival you should be able to see the shops everywhere in the tourist zones.

[celtic]

Kop khun krap pickel,
I've been having a bitch of a time getting it done here in the land of the free and the home of the mindless. I knew it would probably be a snap for those sneaky little Thais!

celtic

[mordred]

Phones in Thailand run on GSM network and in the states CDMA so you may have trouble unless you have a tri or quad band phone. In Thailand the phones work on 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz bands and in the US 850 and 1900. My Nokia wouldn't work in Thailand because of this so I ended up buying a phone at MBK center. Third floor I believe it was. If you're going to travel quite a bit I would invest in a quad band phone because you'll be able to use it most any place you go in the world just by changing the sim card.

[tuktukdriver]

I have brought two phones to Thailand and they were able to unlock one but the other they were unable to. 4th floor of the MBK is where I went. Like someone said before you will need tri band or better.

[tuktukdriver]

You should start by calling your service provider. If you have fulfilled your contract they are obligated to unlock the phone for you. It's your property at that time.

[terry57]

M.B.K. is the go. They done mine for 300 bht.

Wankers in Perth wanted $50 to do the same thing.

[DaffyDuck]

Sorry if this is a dumb question but, is it possible to get a U.S. mobile (cell) phone unlocked in Thailand? I have an old Motorola Razr that I'd like to use with a Thai sim card while I'm in country. I seem to recall hearing somewhere that Thais are good at it, and you can get it done at most of the little phone shops. Can anyone confirm?

100 Baht, and a trip through MBK should do it.

Since you're a newbie, and a tourist, it'll probably be 500 Baht. :-)

[danno5]

yup, MBK, B300 or less should do it. If your plan was with Verizon, you may be out of luck, but ATT/Cingular is OK.....

[celtic]

Kop khun krap all for your response. I knew it was probably possible. AT&T, my provider claimed to not have the unlock code because of the merger with Cingular.
And Daffy, I may not be a grizzled, old( well maybe old), expat or vet, but excuse my presumption that I don't think I qualify as a newbie either.
This is my 9th trip to Thailand, gop phom poot passa Thai dai nid noi krap, and will probably be with my regular Bangkok lady, whose personal mission is to make sure I don't get cheated. So I doubt they will be able to get an extra $6 out of me.


But thanks again everyone for the info! I'll be there late Tuesday night.

celtic

[jizzybloke]

I'll be there late Tuesday night.

Enjoy!

[DaffyDuck]

And Daffy, I may not be a grizzled, old( well maybe old), expat or vet, but excuse my presumption that I don't think I qualify as a newbie either.
This is my 9th trip to Thailand, gop phom poot passa Thai dai nid noi krap, and will probably be with my regular Bangkok lady, whose personal mission is to make sure I don't get cheated. So I doubt they will be able to get an extra $6 out of me.

Apologies - you must not have seen the obvious smiley face following my remark. I was making a cynical reference to double-pricing in general, less directed at you (hence the smiley face).

[DrAndy]

Maybe you should unlock it yourself

just cruise the forums for your phone and find the key

[zubber]

the thing with the MBK unlockers is to find the actual bloke who unlocks them. usually they claim to be able to unlock any phone ,but then they sneak off to the master unlocker who has the software and get him to do it ,then they add on their fee on top of his fee after getting it unlocked somewhere else .

[The Fresh Prince]

I've found one dude in MBK who is an absolute savior. He always answers his phone if I have any problems and he always takes the phone back and gives me a replacement if it stops working, he has even found one phone for me that I left in a taxi and didn't charge me for it. (I still gave him a couple of grand). He's a Blackberry dude and is straight up. He's not the best at the technical shit but always knows someone who can unlock or crack a phone. If you need introducing then pm me.

[dirtydog]

The cracks and software is all on the internet.

[jim1176]

but excuse my presumption that I don't think I qualify as a newbie either.

First sign of a newbie

This is my 9th trip to Thailand, gop phom poot passa Thai dai nid noi krap

Second sign ....

will probably be with my regular Bangkok lady, whose personal mission is to make sure I don't get cheated. So I doubt they will be able to get an extra $6 out of me.

And the clincher

Chookdee Celtic

[The Fresh Prince]

^cock

[Loombucket]

I got stung in Samui the first time. 500Bht cash only. Next time, I rang virgin and they texted the numbers to me for free.

[kingwilly]

the thing with the MBK unlockers is to find the actual bloke who unlocks them. usually they claim to be able to unlock any phone ,but then they sneak off to the master unlocker who has the software and get him to do it ,then they add on their fee on top of his fee after getting it unlocked somewhere else .

Which is still only 100 baht!