Will An American Iphone 4S Work In Thailand If " Tweaked"?

[Alexpho]

Hello. I am not an Iphone owner here in the states. I am visiting Thailand soon and my Thai cousin wants me to get her an I-phone here from the states. My question is, will it work in Thailand? Here, it is programmed to work with only certain providers and I don't think it even has a sim card. Was is a used one going for in Thailand nowadays? Regardless, its still expensive here. I just want to make sure it can work over there.

Thanks

[lomatopo]

Better to buy new or used here as all models are factory unlocked.

Prices here are all in: http://store.apple.c...e/family/iphone

Not sure about the 2nd hand market here?

http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/qsearch/1/q/iphone/

If it is an older model - in the U.S. - , and/or perhaps 2nd hand, then AT&T should offer an unlock code if asked.

Edited August 21, 2012 by lomatopo

[mogandave]

You can now buy an unlocked version in the US direct from Apple, but the price is not much less than what is available in form the Apple-Thailand site.

That said, some people do get their regular “locked” US iPhones working here.

[Alexpho]

Boy, has the times changed. Thanks everyone. Looks like I am just gonna give her cash to buy it herself.

[mogandave]

Buy her a wifi iPad

[nikster]

Boy, has the times changed. Thanks everyone. Looks like I am just gonna give her cash to buy it herself.

Yup, best thing to do is to get it from the Thailand Apple online store, as mentioned above: http://store.apple.com/th/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone

Reason: Cheaper than buying from the carriers; safer than buying from some little shop in the mall where the iPhone might or might not be a factory unlocked one / hacked one / whatever and where you probably won't get a 1 year warranty.

Also: The iPhone 5 is coming out September, 12th - might want to wait for that...

[mogandave]

Boy, has the times changed. Thanks everyone. Looks like I am just gonna give her cash to buy it herself.

Yup, best thing to do is to get it from the Thailand Apple online store, as mentioned above: http://store.apple.c...e/family/iphone

Reason: Cheaper than buying from the carriers; safer than buying from some little shop in the mall where the iPhone might or might not be a factory unlocked one / hacked one / whatever and where you probably won't get a 1 year warranty.

Also: The iPhone 5 is coming out September, 12th - might want to wait for that...

Is that the Thailand release date?

[mania]

My wife brought her locked Iphone4 with her from the US to Thailand.

5 minutes at a shop & it worked fine here. Cost 700 Baht

Only mod was installing a small sim adapter that pops in & out should you

want to use it again in the US. They then use a sim cutter to cut a normal Thai sim

to the micro sim size of an Iphone

We have been back to the US & the phone still worked when we popped out the adapter & put

a AT&T sim back in. Once back in Thailand I put the adapter back in bought a new cut sim

(many places sell them & no charge for cutting) & all was well.

Brand name of Sim adapter is Gevey

http://www.totobay.c...501_p31940.html

Edited August 22, 2012 by mania

[lomatopo]

My wife brought her locked Iphone4 with her from the US to Thailand.

AT&T will give out unlock codes now. http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532&cv=820

Verizon (4S) will give unlock codes to customers in good standing for use during international travel.

But I'm not sure the OP wants to purchase a subsidized phone?

If the phone will be used primarily here in Thailand it may be best to purchase here, on-line from the Apple CO TH store?

For those traveling to the U.S. with unlocked iPhones there are now a lot more pre-paid options. Before you had to 'hack' an AT&T pre-paid SIM by activating in the U.S. in a non iPhone.

StraightTalk is an AT&T MVNO so maybe the best option.