verizon smartphone, US based.

[BostonSteve]

Curious if anyone has been able to buy a Thai sim card and use it in their Smart phone. I have inquired and I am getting different answers from my company. I think they just want me to buy their plan.

 

Anyone.

[Crash]

Buying the Thai SIM card is easy. They are at BKK airport and every convenience store in Thailand. The key detail is if your Verizon phone is unlocked. Unlocked means that it will accept a SIM card from another network. Tell us more.

[BostonSteve]

Crash, I know buying one is easy, I have a cheap thai phone. Part of the reason I ask is a friend had a different smart phone last year. Was told it was unlocked, etc. Could not get it to work and turned out when he got back it was not compatible.

[LoveGun]

I have verizon, Use a blackberry, couple years ago I just called them and told them I wanted my phone unlocked as I was going to be in Asia wasn't a problem . Don't know what their policy is now, but you could always bring it to Tuk Com and have it unlocked.

[Luv2Phuket]

I paid extra for a Verizon international plan and was assured last November that my Blackberry would work in Thailand. My business partner was told that their plan would allow his phone to work while he was in Taiwan. Not surprisingly, neither phone worked while we were there.

 

Slightly off topic, but my point being, the Verizon tech specialists usually have no clue. Of course, I'll probably be calling them in a couple of weeks to ask if my iPhone will work in Thailand!

 

My concern is having something done in Thailand so it works there for a few days, but that voids my warranty here (which may be dead anyway).

[XOL123]

Crash, I know buying one is easy, I have a cheap thai phone. Part of the reason I ask is a friend had a different smart phone last year. Was told it was unlocked, etc. Could not get it to work and turned out when he got back it was not compatible.

 

make sure your phone has the frequency that Thai Networks uses, I bought a cheap Nokia because my smartphone wasn't working, after I bought it I found out that I needed a new sim and not a new phone,

I brought the Nokia back to the States and I just found out that it doesn't support the frequencies that are used in America, so next time I'll return to Thailand I'll have a spare one.

[Crash]

Just to clarify, it is about more than the frequency.

 

Verizon is a CDMA and LTE carrier. I understand that their CDMA phones will roam in Thailand but of course at the Verizon international rates. Most CDMA networks do no allow you to register a phone purchased from a different network so you will not be able to get a local number and local rates. Besides, CDMA phones do not use a SIM card (although some use R-UIM which is similar).

 

The Verizon iPhone is capable of CDMA, GSM and LTE. Early Verizon iPhone 4S's came unlocked and the iPhone 5 is unlocked as well. You can buy a local SIM and use it in Thailand because it covers all the GSM bands in use.

 

Old two-band GSM phones were generally designed to be used in either Europe/Asia or North America, but not both. In the last few years almost all GSM phones have been made for quad (or more) bands so if they are unlocked they will work anywhere with a local SIM.

 

Thailand uses 900 and 1800 MHz for voice and 850, 900 or 2100 MHz for data, depending on the network.

[BostonSteve]

Thank you. My Thai phone has been used many times, I just love my smart phone and like using a key pad, not punching numbers. I will be bringing this as a back up.

 

Turned out I was on a job today by a verizon store. I figured, what the hell. I went in and simply asked the question, will my phone work overseas if I purchase a sim card in country. I really think I started something that could not be finished.

 

I was in the store for about 45 minutes and I still could not get an answer. I finally asked the manager (no ill or hostile intent). If I follow your advice can you put it in writing with your store #. Simply stating that my phone will work overseas when unlocked and if it does not I will credit my account for any costs associated with it. His response, I cannot authorize that, you will have to call corporate.

 

For a company that dominates the US market they are pretty unsure about themselves. It sucks really because I got the approval to take the time off so now this little detail is being an arse.

[LTGTR]

Dominates what market?

 

 

Turned out I was on a job today by a verizon store. I figured, what the hell. I went in and simply asked the question, will my phone work overseas if I purchase a sim card in country. I really think I started something that could not be finished.

 

 

For a company that dominates the US market they are pretty unsure about themselves. It sucks really because I got the approval to take the time off so now this little detail is being an arse.

[BostonSteve]

Dominates what market?

 

US Market. #1 carrier in the whole country. Didn't you get the memo.

[Joe985]

My carrier is Tmobile. All of my GSM phones have worked in Thailand using a Thai sim or my Tmobile sim. I have used Motorola, Blackberry and HTC phones. They are unlocked. I always have my current phone unlocked by Tmobile before I upgrade to a different phone or before I travel overseas.

[yocky]

i have not had a problem with thai sim card, i have htc wildfire then when in bkk i use 1.2. call i pay 107b for 20hours net, works ok

[casinoclub]

Crash, I know buying one is easy, I have a cheap thai phone. Part of the reason I ask is a friend had a different smart phone last year. Was told it was unlocked, etc. Could not get it to work and turned out when he got back it was not compatible.

 

Was it GSM and Quadband?

[Tuna58]

Yes. No problem. I had my Verizon Blackberry 9930 unlocked for 700 baht. Then went to AIS picked up a SIM card. Paid 450 baht for

a no contract plan. The plan I used was for BBM and e-mail. I would add 50 baht a month in case I sent out a few text messages.

I was there for 5 months and it was no problem. Currently in Philippines for 3 weeks before heading back home. The unlocked

phone works great here as well using the Globe service plan.

[roadracer]

If you actually posted up your exact phone model, guys could chime in and help you out. Verizon markets several different smart phones makes and models.

 

Have you tried searching/posting on the actual Verizon forum online? I am willing to bet you that a quick Google search of your smartphone model+Verizon+GSM roaming will net your answer in a matter of seconds.

[stillakid]

Can someone answer some questions. Is the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 a CDMA phone and can it accept sim cards from Thailand? Can the phone be unlocked by Verizon in the USA or does it need to unlocked in Thailand for me to use a Thai sim card?

 

I am living the the USA now but will be moving to Thailand in one year. I want to buy a Galazy S3 to use now but understand I will have to buy out the 2 year contract in one year when I move. I do not want to buy the phone then find out that I cannot use it with a Thai sim card later

 

Sorry for my basic questions but I am not very techno savvy.

[Crash]

Can someone answer some questions. Is the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 a CDMA phone and can it accept sim cards from Thailand? Can the phone be unlocked by Verizon in the USA or does it need to unlocked in Thailand for me to use a Thai sim card?

 

I am living the the USA now but will be moving to Thailand in one year. I want to buy a Galazy S3 to use now but understand I will have to buy out the 2 year contract in one year when I move. I do not want to buy the phone then find out that I cannot use it with a Thai sim card later

 

Sorry for my basic questions but I am not very techno savvy.

It appears that the Verizon model is CDMA and LTE only. See the Wikipedia article.

[TomasDR]

Curious if anyone has been able to buy a Thai sim card and use it in their Smart phone. I have inquired and I am getting different answers from my company. I think they just want me to buy their plan.

 

Anyone.

 

Yes/No/Maybe

 

First you have to buy one of their Global Phones that has GSM capability built in to it. (Includes the S3 see my last response)

 

See the list here: http://businessporta...hone/index.html

Also check their FAQ here: http://support.veriz...obal_phone.html

 

Now of course if you have one and follow their directions to activate it, then it will work for roaming in Thailand at $1.99/minute and $25/100MB data. (NOTE: Thailand doesn't have any CDMA carriers so it must have a GSM radio!)

 

As for the sim card, the phone must actually be unlocked otherwise you are just roaming. As for getting it unlocked, as mentioned I'm quite sure Tukcom could do it but again it must be on that list, otherwise it won't have a GSM radio in it. But take into account the phone when unlocking it; iPhone = Jailbreak it, Android = Rooting it, Blackberry = not sure.

 

I paid extra for a Verizon international plan and was assured last November that my Blackberry would work in Thailand. My business partner was told that their plan would allow his phone to work while he was in Taiwan. Not surprisingly, neither phone worked while we were there.

 

Slightly off topic, but my point being, the Verizon tech specialists usually have no clue. Of course, I'll probably be calling them in a couple of weeks to ask if my iPhone will work in Thailand!

 

My concern is having something done in Thailand so it works there for a few days, but that voids my warranty here (which may be dead anyway).

 

Was your BB on the list? http://businessporta...hone/index.html

 

If so maybe Verizon didn't activate it, see the FAQ linked above.

 

Especially so for your partner since Taiwan actually has CDMA coverage so any of their phones would work there.

 

But if your BB wasn't a Global Phone it wouldn't connect since Thailand doesn't have any CDMA carriers.

 

Can someone answer some questions. Is the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 a CDMA phone and can it accept sim cards from Thailand? Can the phone be unlocked by Verizon in the USA or does it need to unlocked in Thailand for me to use a Thai sim card?

 

I am living the the USA now but will be moving to Thailand in one year. I want to buy a Galazy S3 to use now but understand I will have to buy out the 2 year contract in one year when I move. I do not want to buy the phone then find out that I cannot use it with a Thai sim card later

 

Sorry for my basic questions but I am not very techno savvy.

 

Contrary to the MakeitupPedia article (Yes I hate that site) the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 is GSM capable but Verizon has not unlocked it yet unlike the iPhone and some of the Droids. Verizon says an "over the air" update is in the future. But then again being an Android you can do what you want so of course it has already been unlocked and proven that you can put a GSM micro-sim in it.

 

Sources:

Verizon's Promise for the future update: http://www.phonescoo...cle.php?a=10553

Unlock your S3's GSM capability in 7 steps: http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1809314 (NOTE: Not for the technically challenged, but it clearly proves the Verizon S3 has a GSM radio)

 

PS. For the non techs, as mentioned in another post I am quite sure someone at Tukcom could unlock it and set you up with a local sim.

PPS. As for the contract I am sure Verizon will make you pay an early termination fee of $350 or you could buy the phone non contract for $400 extra, Up to You!

Edited October 19, 2012 by TomasDR