Altering UK mobile phones

[oxo1947]

I could not see this covered ---so if it is apologies.

I am in the UK at the moment, I do have the opportunity of purchasing a few (2--new any model) mobile phones at well below cost. How easy is it to have someone change the software on these --swipe, glass front type--phones, So that they have Thai keypads for text, internet, line etc.?

And is there any models I (that are more difficult to alter) that I should steer clear of?

Is Apple (still) a problem.?

If do able---where is the best place in BKK-or Pattaya to take the phone to have it altered.?

& lastly - what do you think the model mobile phone Thai's would mostly buy if money wasn't a factor?

Thanks

.

PS

Mods, can you not alter the fact that the Facebook, internet connections appear at the left side on the Tec pages ?

it does make the article so much more difficult to read, then just being at the bottom of the page like most Tec sites are.

[sanuk711]

Edit button gone-----re the internet connections-----it is altered to the bottom of the page------thanks

[casualbiker]

iPhone have the best resell.. followed by high end Samsung then probably LG.

Just ensure that the phones are network unlocked.

Edited March 14, 2015 by casualbiker

[Chicog]

I do have the opportunity of purchasing a few (2--new any model) mobile phones at well below cost.

Just checking - they're not stolen or falling off a carousel are they?

If so the IMEI's might well end up locked.

Edited March 14, 2015 by Chicog

[oxo1947]

Gosh guys thanks for the replies but----no one has answered the question---

Can the software be altered to Thai--without to much of a problem ....?

PS Sorry chicog can you explain what an IMEI's...........in words that a comp dummie can understand.....

[BKKdreaming]

many phones are locked to the carrier you buy them from ,

you can check by putting a sim card from another company in the phone , if it asks for an unlock code then you need to get on ebay and see who sells them.

the IMEI is the phones internal number and does not change when you change sim cards , if the phone is stolen the IMEI can be blocked

you can change the language on all expensive phones, that is not a problem

that should get you started......

[IMHO]

what do you think the model mobile phone Thai's would mostly buy if money wasn't a factor?

That's simple - iPhone6 or iPhone6+ - the hard question is, what color?

Can the software be altered to Thai--without to much of a problem ....?

If you mean can the OS language be switched to Thai, and can there be a Thai keyboard on-screen, the answer is, you *should* be able to just set this in the phone settings - unless you buy something that's been provider locked and has some sort of special limitations.

can you explain what an IMEI's...........in words that a comp dummie can understand.....

The IMEI is a unique serial number that is shared electronically with telcos along with your SIM card phone number everytime the phone is in service. It cannot be altered legally, and your personal details are added to a database each time you buy a phone, linking you to the device (regardless of what SIM you use). If a phone is reported lost, stolen, or say, has been purchased on a contract and been fraudulently re-sold, it can easily be blocked globally based on it's IMEI.

More info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mobile_Station_Equipment_Identity

And a story on how effective it is here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/11/smartphone-theft_n_6658196.html

Edited March 14, 2015 by IMHO

[astral]

Usually phones sold like this are under a contract and you will still be liable to pay the fees.

Also there is probably a clause to say that changes will be breach of that contract

[leo202]

You can purchase factory unlocking on eBay, you just have to send your IMEI no as for changing language just go to settings-general-international and change to what language you want.

[oxo1947]

Thanks---- all of you esp....leo202 -- IMHO & BKKDreaming,

.

I am obviously the sort of guy that shouldn't have any communication more technical than a blackboard & Chalk (but nearing 70...I am still trying to catch up)

I looked up the e-bay site leo202, & yes its $6 to change your IMEI on an Apple. I guess if its that easy (for a Teco ) to do I will be able to get it done in Thailand.

Thanks again

[leo202]

Not sure about that, I did both mine and the wife's in the uk. I can't see why not though they send you an email after about 3 days then you just plug it into a computer and connect to iTunes. I think it should work.

[leo202]

Mate do you know what network the phones are locked to? And are you buying them in Thailand?

[IMHO]

Thanks---- all of you esp....leo202 -- IMHO & BKKDreaming,

.

I am obviously the sort of guy that shouldn't have any communication more technical than a blackboard & Chalk (but nearing 70...I am still trying to catch up)

I looked up the e-bay site leo202, & yes its $6 to change your IMEI on an Apple. I guess if its that easy (for a Teco ) to do I will be able to get it done in Thailand.

Thanks again

Bear in mind that in most countries, it's illegal to change the IMEI without valid reason.

[casualbiker]

Thanks---- all of you esp....leo202 -- IMHO & BKKDreaming,

.

I am obviously the sort of guy that shouldn't have any communication more technical than a blackboard & Chalk (but nearing 70...I am still trying to catch up)

I looked up the e-bay site leo202, & yes its $6 to change your IMEI on an Apple. I guess if its that easy (for a Teco ) to do I will be able to get it done in Thailand.

Thanks again

Bear in mind that in most countries, it's illegal to change the IMEI without valid reason.

I think he means unlock

[leo202]

Yes IMHO I think changing the IMEI no is illegal, I was talking about a factory unlock. I'd say that if he's buying iPhones in Thailand locked to a uk network there is a high chance that the phones are stolen.

[BKKdreaming]

Thanks---- all of you esp....leo202 -- IMHO & BKKDreaming,

.

I am obviously the sort of guy that shouldn't have any communication more technical than a blackboard & Chalk (but nearing 70...I am still trying to catch up)

I looked up the e-bay site leo202, & yes its $6 to change your IMEI on an Apple. I guess if its that easy (for a Teco ) to do I will be able to get it done in Thailand.

Thanks again

you want to unlock it , not change the IMEI

the only reason to change the IMEI is its stolen or you did not pay it off and the carrier you signed up to buy it puts a lock on the IMEI

a Sim unlock just lets you use it on other carriers around the world

[leo202]

There's a German guy just had 2 iPhones nicked in pataya, are they his.

[dddave]

If you are considering buying these phones with the idea of selling them for a profit in Thailand, I think you will be in for a rude shock. Unless they are super premium phones that you get for under 50% of their normal selling price (which would be very suspicious in itself) you will find it difficult to unload them here.

Dealers at places like MBK might buy them if they think they are genuine but they will never pay more than 1/2 value as they need to have room for enough profit to make it worthwhile. Thailand is now flooded with mid-level phones selling for B10,000 or less.

Language in Android is controlled thru the Android settings which are the same for all Android phones regardless of the Manufacturer. Thai language and keyboard are in Android settings and any 10 year old can change it.

[oxo1947]

Language in Android is controlled thru the Android settings which are the same for all Android phones regardless of the Manufacturer. Thai language and keyboard are in Android settings and any 10 year old can change it.----dddave

Thanks dddave I will see if I can find a 10 year old to assist me when I get back to Thailand---

no leo202 have not stolen anyone's phones from Pattaya, I am still in the UK at the moment, but that German guy is obviously having a real bad day. .(I haven't even made my mind up what model/make phone to get yet, hence the post)...--why was he carrying 2 phones on him ? ..

No dddave I am not looking to resell them, it was as a gift.....(wife / daughter) ..but fast coming to the conclusion that it would be to much of a headache even to do that.

[GinBoy2]

Im not sure the language is that much of an issue. I don't know what UK carriers do when they network lock phones, but US carriers, AT&T, Verizon etc tend to load their own customized version of Android/Windows on the phone along with the network lock.

Removing the lock generally isn't a problem, but getting rid (completely) of their bloatware, and in some cases their hobbling of features, can only be achieved by a complete re-flash to a generic version.

Maybe some of the UK members can comment on the practice of UK providers.

Sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth.

[dddave]

For language settings, just tap the Gear shaped icon on the homescreen. When the settings menu comes on, just scroll down to "Language & Imput" and tap that.

Tap the top item on the list, that is the language the phone is currently set on.

A long menu of dozens of languages will appear, Thai is way down close to the bottom..if you cant recognize the word THAI in Thai script, have your wife or daughter handy. Tap it and the phone will be in Thai.

Honestly; not difficult.

[oxo1947]

Thanks guys...I actually gave up the idea of buying those as gifts..... but out of curiosity I did look up the changing of the IMEI...& yer its quite doable, both for Iphone & Android --one site even shows you how to do it yourself without any help ----all you need is a "Rooted Android Device"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_%28Android_OS%29

[casualbiker]

Thanks guys...I actually gave up the idea of buying those as gifts..... but out of curiosity I did look up the changing of the IMEI...& yer its quite doable, both for Iphone & Android --one site even shows you how to do it yourself without any help ----all you need is a "Rooted Android Device"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_%28Android_OS%29

You don't CHANGE the IMEI. you just unlock the phone from the original carrier network. Some phones are easy, they just require a code purchased from eBay. Others require connecting to a computer and specialist software to find and reset the code within the phone.

[build6]

(1) modern smart phones now generally include "all" languages. Its just a matter of switching between them. This is the case for iPhone, and all the new Android phones I have seen.

(2) Without knowing your exact source and model of phones, its hard to tell if they will work properly in Thailand. Other posters have commented on the phone locking issue - many phones are sold "locked" to a particular carrier/telco, and I will say that resolving that issue will be troublesome at least. Further, the world isn't quite standardized in terms of the frequencies phones use. For voice calls pretty much every modern phone will work everywhere, but for smart phones, the real draw is internet access, and for that there can be problems. In Thailand alone,for best coverage, you'll need 850MHz if you're using True or DTAC, but AIS wants 900. If you don't have those and 2100, you can't get 3G at all (that said, I've not seen a phone without 2100). If you need 4G/LTE it gets even more complicated.

(3) are you paying VAT? That's the primary issue with buying anything in the UK, for me. It basically makes everything uncompetitive. I find almost everything i want to buy outright cheaper in Thailand, esp since I can claim the Thai GST rebate. Depending on how substantially below cost your phones are, the VAT may or may not make it worthwhile.

(3) what about warranty support if you buy it in the UK? Things do break, sometimes through no fault of the user. There's something to be said for buying stuff locally....