Buy a USA TracFone - use in Asia?

[JimmyJ]

There is some work I am interested in but it is required to have Facebook Messenger.

 

I'm not willing to activate that on my android.

 

Currently in Vietnam - the cheapest burner smartphone I was shown is 2 million VND = $86.68 USD.

I don't want the job that badly.

 

Just checked Walmart's USA site and they have TracFone smartphones for $30.

 

TracFones I'm sure are locked, and no calling service outside the USA or North America.

 

Suppose I purchased one from Walmart USA and it uses at least 1 band common in Vietnam.

 

I don't care about phone calls or SMS in/out.

 

I want to use Wifi, download FB Messenger, be able to receive and perhaps send messages on FB Messenger via Wifi.

That's all.

 

Would I be able to do that for wifi usage only, or would that not be possible (the phone not be functional) without the phone having an  "activated" SIM?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Morty T]

Tracfones are locked to a specific carrier. You can use Wi-Fi on any smartphone

[Jack Hna]

You can't be serious.

 

You are umming and arring over $50 difference between some whackphone and a local one. The idea being you only need it as you want to perform some form of digital work but you appear to have zero confidence on your suitability for this role that $50 is too deep for you.

 

You can't see the value of having multiple phones beyond this one opportunity. 

 

 

 

[timendres]

Second hand Android phones fall from the trees here.

I have seen many for 1,000 to 1,500 THB (~ $33-$50).

[JimmyJ]

17 hours ago, Morty T said:

Tracfones are locked to a specific carrier. You can use Wi-Fi on any smartphone

To confirm - A phone without an activated SIM, never activated by the specific carrier/company who it is intended for, can be turned on and used via wifi for downloading FB Messenger, receiving messages on FB Messenger via wifi, etc.?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 .

[JimmyJ]

17 hours ago, timendres said:

Second hand Android phones fall from the trees here.

I have seen many for 1,000 to 1,500 THB (~ $33-$50).

Good idea.

 

I've never bought used and didn't consider it.

 

Today I'll look into the used phone market here.

 

 

[JimmyJ]

17 hours ago, Jack Hna said:

You can't be serious.

 

You are umming and arring over $50 difference between some whackphone and a local one. The idea being you only need it as you want to perform some form of digital work but you appear to have zero confidence on your suitability for this role that $50 is too deep for you.

 

You can't see the value of having multiple phones beyond this one opportunity. 

 

 

 

There is value in a backup phone - I already have one.

Don't want FB spyware on that either.

 

I'm willing to spend a little for a burner and use it for this and similar situations in the future.

[Andy from Kent]

10 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

Don't want FB spyware on that either.

 

FaceBook will find a way to slither into your phone no matter what you do.