Quick question - if I buy a motorola phone (MAXX) in the US without a carrier plan (i.e. without being tied to Verizon etc..). Will it work in Thailand with a regualr SIM card.

Thanks for your response and help

it must be at least a dual band handset. however a lot of phones in the US are tri band. however if it is sim locked, you need to get it unlocked before you leave. most shops offer this service.

if you are unable to get it unlocked in the US, then i would advise getting a nokia or samsung handset as there can be easily unloced for you here in Thailand at any phone shop.

just googled it. its a 4g phone so you wont be able to use all the features here in Thailand as they scarcely have 3g except in Bangkok. it will be locked so you need to get it unlocked there in the US. also get insurance for it there in the US. a little bit more but worth it.

you can buy a brand new one that is unlocked on EBAY.

With that specific phone, I'm pretty sure the answer is "no" - it's a dual mode CDMA/LTE handset and the only providers I know of offering CDMA service in Thailand are CAT and Hutch - and they use an R-UIM (like a CDMA SIM card) which I don't think that phone supports.

The other issue is that US cellular providers tend to supply you with a locked phone even if you get it off-contract - so although they will unlock it, you have to ask them to do so.

A definite "No".

There is a similar (not MAXX) GSM version which may be a better choice for Thailand: http://www.thaimobilecenter.com/spec/Motorola_RAZR.asp

Thanks for the replies.

lomatopo - why a 'definite no' ?

I get mixed reports asking around. Some people say yes, some no. The Maxx is definitely the phone I want. I'm binning a brand new iphone 4s gift so I can have the Razr Maxx (regular Razr in Thailand does not have the huge battery which is the primary feature I want).

I'll wait if necessary for it to come to Thailand, but I'm getting the impression that if unlocked it will work fine.

I appreciate that the LTE features won't be available in Thailand. At least until Thaksin returns and straightens things out.

http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_razr_maxx-4417.php

For Verizon

This is not a GSM device, it will not work on any GSM network worldwide.

GENERAL 2G Network CDMA 800 / 1900

3G Network CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

4G Network LTE 700 MHz Class 13