Are phones with Telecom branding locked?

[Hal65]

In the US it's popular for a Verizon or AT&T phone to be locked, meaning it cannot be used with another carrier. I'm currently in the market and looking for a cheaper phone on Lazada. Having AIS I see many phones from True and DTAC that I might be interested in. Should I avoid those models, or is it okay to use them with AIS?

[mtls2005]

AIS (LAVA), DTAC (Joey) and TrueMove H all offer a very small set of home-grown, lower-priced phones here. These are targeted at the low end of the market, and these can be carrier-locked, at least for some period of time.

 

http://www.ais.co.th/supervaluepack/

 

Most phones (~ 98.5%) soled here are standard EMEA variants which are unlocked.

 

Carriers here do offer incentives which typically involve a discounted (but un-locked) phone (iPhone, Samsung, etc.), but require pre-payment of some number of months of post-paid service, or at least a commitment with stiff penalties. Again, these versions are unlocked.

 

I would avoid buying those carrier branded, inexpensive models. You can usually find an unlocked model of similar make/model.

 

Just share a few Lazada links and we'll try to point you in the right direction.

[rapom]

I just bought two AIS Lava 2 phones with phone and internet service on a one-year service plan on each.  My wife put the DTAC sim from her old phone into the second sim slot and now has service on both numbers, so the phone is not locked to one carrier.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

There was a time in the past, when the major Thai carriers used to kind of lock their low-cost, self branded models -- not by phone locks as is the custom in the U.S., but instead by offering phones that had the particular frequency bands only used by their company.

 

In the past, for example, AIS's low-cost phones often would only offer the 900 (then used only by AIS) and 2100 Mhz 3G bands, but not 850 Mhz, whereas True and DTAC's comparable phones often had the 850 (only used by True and DTAC) and 2100 Mhz bands, but not 900. If you shopped for mobiles online, you'd often see descriptors like "Brand-Model (AIS)" or "Brand-Model (True/DTAC).

 

But more recently with the arrival of LTE, all the band assignments/uses by the various carriers have gotten shuffled around, and I'm not sure whether that past practice is still being used or not.

 

But I guess the lesson is, in Thailand, when it comes to buying a new phone, don't worry about phone locks, but DO pay attention to what frequency bands a particular model has, and how well do those bands match with the carrier you use or others you may want to use in the future. That's there the low-end telcom brands may have some limitation.

 

[mtls2005]

I did not mean to imply that every LAVA phone is locked, but some are, so obviously ask. My guess would be that some highly discounted pre-paid models are locked. While more expensive models, tied to post-paid plans are not?

[Farma]

mtls2005 I keep seeing you mention only lower cost phones are locked. I know the last 2 Galaxy Notes the wife bought full price which came with special call/internet rates post paid were locked.

[mtls2005]

10 hours ago, Farma said:

mtls2005 I keep seeing you mention only lower cost phones are locked. I know the last 2 Galaxy Notes the wife bought full price which came with special call/internet rates post paid were locked.

 

Well that would be a first. Can you share any details? I've honestly never, ever heard of a Thai service provider locking a Galaxy Note, or brands.models other than their own low-end promo models.

 

I wonder if we are using the same terminology here? Samsung did have some sort of odd Region-locking SIM "feature" - meant ostensibly to prevent grey-market/currency arbitrage efforts - which required a regional;y acceptable SIM to "unlock" the phone to initialize it. After that, you could use any SIM. But that was at the manufacturer/region level, and not the carrier level, and not sure if that is still used?

 

It sort of makes sense that a dual-SIM LAVA-like model might be unlocked, so you can another carrier's SIM; that's often the primary application for dual-SIM models.

 

But the obvious point is to ask, ask again, ask a third time, read the terms, ask a fourth time, try a different SIM, ask a fifth time. And ask here, but provide some details.

 

http://www.ais.co.th/supervaluepack/

 

Where it says something to the effect: "Supports AIS networks only". That might raise a flag?

[elgenon]

It would seem that if you buy a phone from someone other than a wireless provider it wouldn't be locked. My iPhone from iStudio wasn't locked.

[pearcerf]

I always buy my phones at a Samsung outlet in most malls in Bangkok. There phones of course are unlocked. I then purchase a monthly prepaid data package through AIS,  Easy. When I travel back to the states, I then buy a SIM card and phone/data package month to month soon after I arrive. Easy. 

[mtls2005]

I know dozens of people who've bought hundreds of phones (including iPhones) from AIS, DTAC and TrueMove H, and not a single one was locked.

 

There are some great deals to be had, so I wouldn't necessarily avoid buying from wireless provider here. You can get up to one year of service essentially for free, or up to a 25% discount on the phone.

 

These are post-paid bundles, may require credit/residency, may involve pre-paying some months of service, or making commitments to a length of service with stiff cancellation penalties.

 

I am pretty sure the wireless providers here sell the bulk of the iPhones.

 

 

" I always buy my phones at a Samsung outlet in most malls in Bangkok." 

 

And you may be able to get VAT back, so 7% 'discount'.

 

 

[2008bangkok]

I think the diffeence is that in US and also UK the phones are generally free and you pay for them over the course of your contract so they have a right to lock them, over here you may if you are lucky get 1000 baht off the price of a branded phone if you are lukcy so if they are locked they got a right cheek

[mtls2005]

Almost all the service providers in the U.S. have moved away from free/subsidized phones. Now you buy outright/upfront, or in monthly installments.

 

There are more and more MVNO's. More than a hundred, all offering unique service (albeit running on a major carrier's network), great value, no contract, etc.

 

BYOD is becoming more the norm,e specially with younger, tech-savvy folks.

 

Can't speak to the U.K.

 

 

[Keesters]

I've a DTAC Joey 2. It has my DTAC SIM in it but has another slot for a second SIM. Be a bit silly if the phone was locked to DTAC only wouldn't it. But TIT so anything could happen. Can't check as my TRUE tablet SIM is a different size.

 

 

[mtls2005]

3 hours ago, Keesters said:

I've a DTAC Joey 2. It has my DTAC SIM in it but has another slot for a second SIM. Be a bit silly if the phone was locked to DTAC only wouldn't it. But TIT so anything could happen. Can't check as my TRUE tablet SIM is a different size.

 

 

 

 

According to the DTAC rep. who posts on Pantip...

 

Dtac Phone Joey Jet 2 for lock sim can not use it with any network. Support for two SIM me.

 

Other reviews (in Thai) say that there is "no SIM-lock".

 

You could probably find a ROM and reflash it to unlock it?

 

Or maybe find a shop to do it?

 

https://androidrepairkm.blogspot.com/2015/07/true-super-2-how-to-unlock-phones.html

 

True super 1 unlock
True super 2 Unlock
True-smart-3.5 Unlocked v1.2.2  V1.2.8 1.3.7  Unlock Sim Fix Camera Fix imei
True Smart 3.5 UNLOCK-2 SIM 2.0.3 Work All Sim 
True Smart 3.5 Touch  Unlock Sim2 V2.0.3 (ប្រើបានតែស៊ីមទី2ទេ)
True Super 3 Unlock All Version v07 v08 v09 v1.0 v1.1   v1.4 
True-smart-4.0 Unlocked 
True Super Ultra I Unlocked
True GoLive S1 Unlocked
True GoLive S2 Unlocked
True Go Live Dual Core Dtac 12 call    Unlocked

Dtac i-style 215 Unlocked 
Happy 3G Phone  Unlocked 
Happy Phone C570 Unlocked
DTAC ZTE C310  Unlocked 
AIS Ola Pop   Unlocked G260
DTAC Joey Turbo 4.0 ZTE

True bayond 3G Unlock 
TRUE SMART_TAB_Gen_ME
TRUE SMART 4G 5.0
TRUE SMART 5.0 Slim 4.4.2 Unlock
True SMART Tab 7.0 Quad Core Unlock
True Beyond Tab 3G

AIS LAVA 

LAVA 600
AIS LAVA 5.0 (Iris 800)
AIS Lava IRIS 360  AIS)
AIS LAVA iris 510
AIS LAVA PRO 5.0 (Star)
AIS LAVA 5.0 (Iris 800)
AIS Super Combo LAVA Iris 810 v1
AIS Super Combo LAVA Iris 810 v2
LAVA  Iris 700
LAVA iris 500
LAVA iris 456
 

 

[Keesters]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

 

 

According to the DTAC rep. who posts on Pantip...

 

Dtac Phone Joey Jet 2 for lock sim can not use it with any network. Support for two SIM me.

 

Other reviews (in Thai) say that there is "no SIM-lock".

 

You could probably find a ROM and reflash it to unlock it?

 

Or maybe find a shop to do it?

 

 

 

 

Some say locked some say unlocked...Typical Thailand, a maze of confusion. Have no need to do anything with the phone. Only need one SIM, DTAC. Having 2 slots was just a unwanted bonus.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I think it's safe to say, MOST mobile phones sold in Thailand are NOT locked. That's especially if you're buying a regular commercial manufacturer product (Samsung, ASUS, LG, etc.), instead of some kind of house brand phone promo deal thru one of the mobile carriers.

[johng]

My wife  has  3 phones from True  ( with logo on the phone )  all dual sim but all locked to True.

 

Lenovo A2010     flashed the ROM to CUBOT_A2010  still SIM locked

True-SMART-4G-Speedy   flashed to  cyanogenmod 12.1 Sd4.0_Plus_UnlockSim2     still SIM locked

TrueSmart-3.5   tried a few files nothing unlocked the SIM

 

I tried some of the unlocking  files on the True-SMART-4G-Speedy  and ended up with a phone with no IMEI

no way to input in the hidden "Engineer Mode"     luckily I had made a clockworkmod backup so could recover

other files where password protected requiring payment.

 

I asked at the True office and was told they cant be unlocked...I said what if I want to use the phone overseas they where flummoxed....err  can only use True  ok then bye.

[Keesters]

On 8/18/2016 at 11:15 AM, Keesters said:

 

Some say locked some say unlocked...Typical Thailand, a maze of confusion. Have no need to do anything with the phone. Only need one SIM, DTAC. Having 2 slots was just a unwanted bonus.

 

 

Via DTAC facebook page & comments DTAC have stated Joey 2 is NOT locked. It will work with any carrier's SIM subject to the frequencies being compatible.

[sometimewoodworker]

On 8/17/2016 at 12:34 PM, 2008bangkok said:

over here you may if you are lucky get 1000 baht off the price of a branded phone

There you are wrong. As long as you want a data plan and you buy it with your phone and you want the colour that is available you can get a very significant discount iPhone 16 pro max over ฿6,000, iPhone 15 ฿12,000, iPhone 14 ฿12,000

so discounts are around though you have to want the data plan that gives you that discount along with wanting the colour and memory that is available 

[NowNow]

1 hour ago, sometimewoodworker said:

There you are wrong. As long as you want a data plan and you buy it with your phone and you want the colour that is available you can get a very significant discount iPhone 16 pro max over ฿6,000, iPhone 15 ฿12,000, iPhone 14 ฿12,000

so discounts are around though you have to want the data plan that gives you that discount along with wanting the colour and memory that is available 

 

EIGHT years later! Really?

[sometimewoodworker]

12 hours ago, NowNow said:

 

EIGHT years later! Really?

I should have marked the forum read, but it was and is a true comment