Travel Technology - Unlocked cell phones at JFK

Anyone know where they may be purchased at or near the airport? Thanks

Anyone know where they may be purchased at or near the airport? Thanks

Depends on your definition of "near."

There is a Best Buy located in Lawrence, Long Island, approximately 10 minutes from the airport. Best Buy sells several brands of unlocked phones.

Lawrence NY (Store 1069)
345 Rockaway Tpke
Lawrence, NY 11559-1030
Phone: 516-239-5358
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am-9:00pm
Sun 11:00am-7:00pm

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12091&type=page&allstores=no&mode=fromResult&storeId=1069

Best Buy sells several brands of unlocked phones.

They do? I've never seen any unlocked phones at Bestbuy; only carrier locked phones...

They do? I've never seen any unlocked phones at Bestbuy; only carrier locked phones...

Best Buy, Brooklyn, New York had multiple unlocked phones selling last weekend.

Just at the Best Buy on Lexington and 86th. They had unlocked phones, too.

Best Buy, Brooklyn, New York had multiple unlocked phones selling last weekend.

Sweet.

Must be something for the tourists spending their EUR's here...

I wish mine sold some decent unlocked phones :(

seem to do unlocked phones on a regular basis... prices start at near USD 100 upwards

They also have specials on one breed or other of unlocked phones what feels like every other weekend

I've got a Motorola V3 and L6 from them over the past six months

seem to do unlocked phones on a regular basis... prices start at near USD 100 upwards

They also have specials on one breed or other of unlocked phones what feels like every other weekend

I've got a Motorola V3 and L6 from them over the past six months

This is certainly well known by anyone who sees their ads in the Times. But do you consider J&R to be "near" JFK? :)

Sweet.

Must be something for the tourists spending their EUR's here...

I wish mine sold some decent unlocked phones :(The Best Buy stores I happened into recently here in NJ all had unlocked phones on sale.

But do you consider J&R to be "near" JFK? :)

I don't consider J&R to near JFK physically, but not so bad if you were doing the Airtrain/A train thing anyway. You could do JFK/J&R/JFK for $14 total if you had a long layover.

FWIW, most of the smaller, independent cell phone shops have a selection of unlocked phones if you quietly ask. If they don't have it in the shop they can often have it sent from somewhere else in a few minutes. You might pay a premium, but if you have your heart set on a model that's not generally available here it's one way to go.

Looking at the Best Buy site it's Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and one model of Motorola, many available online only. I've seen the Treo in ads for J&R.

Do you really want to go outside of JFK? The neighborhood around JFK is not the best place.

Do you really want to go outside of JFK? The neighborhood around JFK is not the best place.

Lawrence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence%2C_Nassau_County%2C_New_York)is a bad neighborhood? Where are you coming from?!?:confused: Are they likely to be beaten by one of the Orthodox Jewish community that predominates there. Sheesh. You make 5 Towns sound like East LA. <Left coasters, enter rebuttal now :)>

Lawrence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence%2C_Nassau_County%2C_New_York)is a bad neighborhood? Where are you coming from?!?:confused: Are they likely to be beaten by one of the Orthodox Jewish community that predominates there. Sheesh. You make 5 Towns sound like East LA. <Left coasters, enter rebuttal now :)>

I was not referring to Lawrence but I was referring to Jamaica Queens. Which is the immediate neighborhood in which JFK is at. I grew up in NYC and went to Jamaica High School for summer school. I recently stayed at the DoubleTree JFK and I asked the shuttle driver about a place to eat. He said "It is best you stay in the hotel. The neighborhood is pretty bad."

I was not referring to Lawrence but I was referring to Jamaica Queens. Which is the immediate neighborhood in which JFK is at. I grew up in NYC and went to Jamaica High School for summer school. I recently stayed at the DoubleTree JFK and I asked the shuttle driver about a place to eat. He said "It is best you stay in the hotel. The neighborhood is pretty bad."

I don't know JFK enough to comment on the neighborhood, but hotel staff are notoriously cautious when it comes to commenting on surrounding neighborhoods.

Plasticman, I think iwebslinger is used to approaching JFK from the other direction by car.

slinger, if you ever land on the runway that makes the plane point toward Manhattan (westward maybe?), take a look out the window before landing and notice the homes. Big homes on big lots, tree lined streets, definitely not poor.

Plasticman, I think iwebslinger is used to approaching JFK from the other direction by car.....

Good point. I don't trust the look of those kite flyers on the Belt either. :p

I just think its easy to see that the statement ("don't leave the airport") was a bit over-reaching.

Plasticman, I think iwebslinger is used to approaching JFK from the other direction by car.

slinger, if you ever land on the runway that makes the plane point toward Manhattan (westward maybe?), take a look out the window before landing and notice the homes. Big homes on big lots, tree lined streets, definitely not poor.

If you want the nose of the plane to be pointed towards Manhattan on landing, you should be on Runway 31L or 31R as shown on this zoomable map. (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Jfk+International+Airport+Jamaica+NY+11430/)

In that case, you could see Lawrence out the window while you are landing.

FWIW, most of the smaller, independent cell phone shops have a selection of unlocked phones if you quietly ask. If they don't have it in the shop they can often have it sent from somewhere else in a few minutes. A local mega supermarket (Meijer, far western Chicago suburbs) has some shops in the front, including a nail place, a bank, and cell phone store. It is nominally a Tmobile reseller, but they have three or four different unlocked phones for around $100 in their display case. So, it's getting more common to find that in the states.

Anyone know where they may be purchased at or near the airport? Thanks

Go to Airport Wireless in Terminal 8. They sell unlocked phones...Nokia and they may have Treo 680 in. I don't think Best Buy carries unlocked phones either.

I don't think Best Buy carries unlocked phones either.

This is just amazing. I post a recommendation of a store not too far from where I live and this suggestion is questioned based on what? :confused:

I just called this Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12092&type=page&_requestid=139140). I spoke to the department that answered "Mobile." The salesman confirmed to me that they indeed sell unlocked cellular phones, specifically Nokia and Sony.

The store's number and information has been previously posted. Call them if you still don't think they carry unlocked phones.

I don't think Best Buy carries unlocked phones either.You're barking up the wrong tree. :)

BTW, Best Buy sells unlocked phones on its website, too.

I don't think Best Buy carries unlocked phones either.

Back in my post #10 I had looked at the BB site and said the unlocked phones I saw. Maybe I wasn't clear. 3 brands, mostly Nokia and Sony Ericsson, but some models available only online. Oddly, they classify the Sony Mylo and the Nokia Internet Tablet as phones. I'd call them Skype-capable WiFi devices. I'm starting to realize I need to get a life. :p

If you want the nose of the plane to be pointed towards Manhattan on landing, you should be on Runway 31L or 31R as shown on this zoomable map. (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Jfk+International+Airport+Jamaica+NY+11430/)

In that case, you could see Lawrence out the window while you are landing.

This is why I love AND fear FT. I knew when I was writing my post that there had to be a better description of the runway than mine, but I had absolutely no idea how to find out what it was. I already knew Lawrence from having been there. Thank you LG!

This is why I love AND fear FT. I knew when I was writing my post that there had to be a better description of the runway than mine, but I had absolutely no idea how to find out what it was. I already knew Lawrence from having been there. Thank you LG!

My pleasure.