cell phone, sim card question
 

i use a motorola prepaid cell phone here in the US. the phone comes with a removable sim card in the back.

i might be travelling to Thailand this summer and was wondering if the phone will work over there.

could i just buy a sim card there, put it in, charge it up. will the phone work?

i don't know how sim cards work.

also, what is 'unlocking' a phone mean?

Jen, the sim card carries your account info and other personal data. Your cell phone is usually 'locked' by your carrier so it can't use other networks. It's a software lock, usually a code is required to 'release' the phone so that it can be used on another network. If the networks are compatible, the phone could be used on either network. If it is locked to your carrier's network, you'll need the code.

Not sure what transmission technology is used in Thailand...

Jen, i have been in SIMilar (:rolleyes:) situation.. Im from Ireland, and also use a prepay mobile, sorry, cellphone.
A couple of things to ponder - how long will you spend in Thailand, and will you be travelling around that wonderful country?
Most of Thailand is covered by mobile networks, even small villages which seem to have just a main street and little ese will have an internet cafe if you need to keep in touch.
Obviously you will switch your phone off before take off. When you land, and switch it on again, the network will be supplied by a local (ie Thai) telecoms provider. If you're just going for a couple of weeks vacation, buy plenty of phone credit in the US and top-up before you go. Check with your US network about 'roaming' ie this allows you to make/receive calls when abroad. be warned tho', that it will cost you at a higher rate to make calls, and also when people ring you (whilst you're in Thailand), that it could be your credit that is depleted. For this reason, keep your calls short, use the internet cafes, unless you really have to make/take a call.

Whereabouts are you going btw? Its an amazing country, i loved it

flying into bangkok and then chiang mai.

Thailand SIM Card (AIS) will require a SIM-unlocked GSM 900 / 1800 compatible international cell phone

http://www.telestial.com/gsm_phones.php?COMPATIBLE_WITH_PRODUCT_ID=LSIM-TH01

When we were in SE Asia a few yrs ago, we utilized internet cafes. Good enough for the occasional call.

Most likely the phone won't be useable in Thailand. The U.S. uses different radio frequency bands than the rest of the world. For your phone to work overseas it must be "quad-band" capable. Most phones sold in the U.S. are not. Check the specifications of your model on your service providers or Motorolas websites, the info should be there.

If the phone is locked it will only operate with a SIM card from the one service provider. It must be unlocked to use a SIM card from a different network operator.

If you get a local SIM in Thailand you will also have a local phone number. If you use your U.S. prepaid SIM, then people can reach you by dialing your U.S. phone number. Depending on why you are going to Thailand this can be good or bad...

So, does this trip have anything to do with the two million dollar question of a few weeks back. :D

If it has a SIM it is GSM (Global Stadard Mobile).

Make sure the phone is unlocked and it should work fine, check with your prepaid provider and get an international SIM from them.

Who is it?

Cool... Bangkok is an amazingly hectic, yet strangely calm (in places) city. Make sure you take a ride on a tuk-tuk (kinda 3wheeler taxis) - the drivers love to rev the **** out of those things :D
Chiang Mai is almost at the oppsite end of things on the hectic scale, you're talking elephant rides instead of crazy ass motorbikes..

Have a great time

FWIW, I think there are shops that unlock phones at a cost, so you can use your new Thai sim card while you're there. I'm sure there are also shops in Thailand where you can have your current phone unlocked at a fraction of the cost it will take to unlock it in the US.

I have two phones, one is a Manila-based simcard for when my wife contacts me (she's in Manila) via text, and I have that prepaid simcard on roaming so I just reload it once in a while to keep it active. The other is my US based phone with a US based simcard for replying back, making calls, etc.

When I fly back there I will just use my current Manila-based simcard or get a new one if the old one conks out, and then reload it so I can use it there. HTH