I'll be in Thailand this fall I was wondering if anyone could recommend a temporary cell phone service. As of right now I have an iPhone in the United States but I don't think I'll be able to get 3g coverage in Bangkok Thailand, much less be able to afford fora few months. I'm looking for a cellphone that I can buy than activate as soon as I get off the plane; the thought of being alone in a foreign country where I don't speak the national language without means of communication scares me so it needs to be reliable coverage.

Can you share any details?

Is your iPhone unlocked/jailbroken (I confess I don't understand the iPhone intricacies.) such that it can accept a SIM? If so, you could just buy a SIM on arrival at the airport. SIMs are inexpensive: 50 baht, and in-country calls are 1.5 baht/min (or less). Calls back to the U.S. are 6 baht/min (lower prices available via calling cards).

How long will you be in Thailand?

What is your budget for a phone?

Do you need any mobile data: 2G/3G?

If you want to purchase a phone in the U.S. before you depart choose any unlocked GSM 900/1800-capable handset which can accommodate a SIM.