Where to get unlocked phone for Asia travel?
 

Where is the cheapest/easiest place to get an unlocked phone? I will be spending most of March in Shanghai, Singapore, and Thailand and want to get an unlocked phone for use with prepaid sims in those places.

Should I just get one off of ebay at home (USA) or wait until over in Asia?

Thoughts, experiences?

Thanks

Over the years I've bought 3 unlocked GSM phones from various vendors on eBay. They were always a model or two behind the current fad and so were a it cheaper. The thing to watch out for on eBay is that US GSM uses different frequencies. If you want to use it in the US get a quad band (850/900/1800/1900) phone. The bulk of the tri-band phone from US vendors on eBay are (IIRC) 850/1800/1900 -- what you want is a tri-band that is 900/1800/1900. These are there but you have to dig a little more. Avoid any with an "AT&T" logo on them -- they will most like be the wrong kind of tri-band.

I once looked for an unlocked phone in Germany and all the cellphone stores wanted €€€ for one. I'm sure there probably were places to get one cheaper, but I didn't have the time to research

Because of it being posted here several times, my last phone came from simoncells.com.

I would very easily buy from them again, same day shipping, easy to deal with, everything as promised, excellent pricing, etc.

Just be aware that Japan and Korea have different cell phone standards than the rest of the world, and while I've heard that SOME "world" phones work there, most of them do not.

When I go to Japan, I rent a phone at the airport.

If you use a gsm service in the US you can probably get your service provider to give you the unlock code for you phone. Or better yet, an old phone, if you've updgraded. In my case, I had an old T-mobile phone. I called T-mobile, they gave me an unlock code and viola, I had a second phone for international travel.

MBK in Bangkok has plenty of inexpensive unlocked used cell phones.

If you have/buy a Nokia tri or quad band phone, it is free and easy (online) to unlock most of them. I would prefer to buy the phone here, reducing time spent there looking for a phone.

Cingular hasn't been that helpful. But I scoured the net and found someone who unlocked my Nokia for $5. Has worked like a charm in many countries since then.

I'll second the eBay suggestion. I've gotten some pretty nice ones for well under $100. Just take all the usual precautions when buying from eBay.

Here is a service that can/will unlock certain phones for $25 and Nokia units for only $5. Check them out...http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roa...lockingfaq.htm

Why not wait until you get to Asia? There are phones and SIM cards for rent and sale at the airport in Shanghai.

First, the SIM cards sold in Chinese airports are way over-priced. Also, phones sold in China have Chinese menus.

I've been trolling these boards for a while and decided i should add some feedback for the first time here.

I used to sell phones for T-mobile and there are tons of ways to getting unlocked phones. If you have T-mobile, they will unlock 1 phone per year for you for international use. Otherwise Nokia has most unlock codes on their website for their phones and you could probably get a cheap Nokia phone for free if you bug cell phone stands in the malls. We used to have a bag of old phones and usually would sell them for cash for free lunch, or give them out for free.

There are also tons of places that will unlock your phone, or managers at cell phone stands can probably unlock your phone if you ask nicely or buy them lunch or something. I worked for a 3rd party vendor and with them, money could get any service.

Akusei has a good point here.

I agree....but we are talking cell phones, right?