Is there a US cell phone that can handle a Colombian prepago sim card?

johnny2009 says on Sep 6, 2009, 19:50:

avoid AT&T, they have a particularly spiteful way of making their handsets permanently locked

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ranaquajo says on Sep 6, 2009, 19:52:

any unlocked GSM phone will work...

... nihil declaro .....

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Bluesdude says on Sep 6, 2009, 19:53:

I had my AT&T cel phone unlocked in Cartagena. Accepts local sim cards now.

A guru once said, "the mind is like a drunken monkey." If that's true, then my mind is an orangutan on a binge

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Allen Parker says on Sep 6, 2009, 20:08:

I've unlocked AT&T,Sprint and Verizon ....Then used them in Colombia
Hope this helps!

Without change we all die!

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theflatline says on Sep 6, 2009, 20:23:

Really? When did Verizon start doing phones with sims? Different type of network altogether.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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Papi de Alejo says on Sep 6, 2009, 20:27:

What and how would you connect to a Colombian wireless company with an unhlocked Sprint phone?

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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Saltador says on Sep 6, 2009, 21:05:

I think most of the prepagos use comcel, that way they can network with their fellow prepagos.
But seriuosly, follow azunomans advice. unlock a t-mobile phone, and use it with a comcel card.

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Woodde says on Sep 6, 2009, 22:02:

Allen Parker says on Sep 6, 2009, 20:08 (today): flag

I've unlocked AT&T,Sprint and Verizon ....Then used them in Colombia
Hope this helps!
------------------------------------------

That's awesome! So how does a CDMA phone (Verizon/Sprint's non-world traveler BB's, which cant be unlocked properly anyways) work on a GSM network?

To answer the OP, any US GSM phone will work once unlocked. Best is a quad-band, but a tri-band US GSM phone hits the right frequencies. Even an unlocked iPhone should work without issues (Planning on bringing my old, unlocked, iPhone 2G with me when I go). You can grab a cheap quad band phone off ebay for less than $25.

Ebay: http://cell-phones.shop.ebay.com/Cell-Phones-Smartphones-/3312/i.html?...

4/9/09

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cableboy says on Sep 6, 2009, 23:58:

You can buy unlocked gsm phones on amazon for as low at $35

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cstew47 says on Sep 7, 2009, 05:10:

Excuse my ignorance, but, how do you go about getting a phone unlocked? Mine is an AT&T.

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Papi de Alejo says on Sep 7, 2009, 05:53:

Cstew47, you can actually try doing it yourself but for me it has been a technical pain in the ass, When I am in Colombia there are several locations where you can get it done for about 10,000 pesos ($5). Money well spent.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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ranaquajo says on Sep 7, 2009, 05:53:

cstew47 - it depends on make and model of phone... some can be unlocked with a code, others need special equipment... there are web sites that will sell you the code for your phone, if applicable... or go downtown where they sell sims and phones, if they can't unlock it, they will know who can...

... nihil declaro .....

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robbie1 says on Sep 7, 2009, 06:22:

Woodde, I know your Iphone is older here in the States and not a big deal, but in Colombia, it will be extremely flashy. A new Iphone there costs what most people pay for 6 to 9 months rent. You get what I am saying? Be careful.

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Woodde says on Sep 7, 2009, 07:09:

robbie1 says on Sep 7, 2009, 06:22 (today): flag

Woodde, I know your Iphone is older here in the States and not a big deal, but in Colombia, it will be extremely flashy. A new Iphone there costs what most people pay for 6 to 9 months rent. You get what I am saying? Be careful.
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So pretty much only use the iPhone as an MP3 player on the trip down and use my old nokia-barely-color-display-candybar phone while down here? That sucks, the thing takes decent video too. Would a pocket DV cam be more or less flashy? (Something like the Kodak Zi8? http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/kodak-zi8-impressions-surprising-fu... )

4/9/09

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theflatline says on Sep 7, 2009, 07:23:

Robbie,

There plenty of Colombians with Iphones and ipods, not a super big deal unless you are in some poor ass barrio filming the street kids..

Woodde,

Not a good idea to walk around with buds in your ears. You need to listen for cars and motorcycles about to run your ass down. Streetlights and stop signs or only for decoration.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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Woodde says on Sep 7, 2009, 07:42:

Woodde,

Not a good idea to walk around with buds in your ears. You need to listen for cars and motorcycles about to run your ass down. Streetlights and stop signs or only for decoration.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Not worried about that. The only place I ever have buds in is the gym or at home when listening to my books on tape(Currently Michel Thomas, awesome spanish lessons).

4/9/09

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theflatline says on Sep 7, 2009, 07:45:

Actually, use the iphone to take video, you see colombians using theirs all the time for this. One less thing you have to carry around besides!

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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pedro says on Sep 7, 2009, 07:51:

Phone unlock: find any cellphone place that advertises "apertura de bandas".

You will find this most easily in your "San Andresito" type district. The guy selling cellphone accessories on the street should know where to hook you up, too.

In Medellin, the first place to look would be El Hueco.

"this may seem a strange post but it is not...when in colombia men need to be aware that colombia women may try to be seductive and entice a travelling gringo to have sex with them..to be forewarned is to be forearmed..." -- pow wow

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cstew47 says on Sep 7, 2009, 07:52:

Thanks for the input guys. That was helpful.

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cstew47 says on Sep 7, 2009, 07:54:

Papi, I found a website that wants $25.00 for the unlocking code. I am in Medellin. Where would you suggest I look to find a cheaper way to unlock? What types of stores?

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mikeinpuerto says on Sep 7, 2009, 08:07:

if you are here for a holiday ... and you are worried ...buy a 30 dollar phone and get a tigo chip .....tell all your friends in the states what your number is and they can sms you all they want ..that way you won't feel like your on holiday ....

Smile and everyone will wonder what they are missing.

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theflatline says on Sep 7, 2009, 08:09:

What is the brand and model of the phone?

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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ranaquajo says on Sep 7, 2009, 08:21:

cstew - I'm pretty sure I had mine unlocked on Maracaibo between Sucre and Junin... north side of the street... bunch of places there...

... nihil declaro .....

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cstew47 says on Sep 7, 2009, 08:32:

Flayline, if you are referring to me I have a Samsung A707.

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theflatline says on Sep 7, 2009, 08:44:

cstew47,

Have you had it for awhile? Was the contract paid out on it? You can usually email the carrier you got it from, call them and have them send you the unlock code.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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ranaquajo says on Sep 7, 2009, 08:48:

cstew - WikiAnswers says you can unlock that phone by typing in #7465625*2877#

... nihil declaro .....

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jimmycr1 says on Sep 7, 2009, 11:11:

I went to Barranquilla. Before I left I called AT&T and had them unlock my Nokia E71X phone. They had no problem in doing so as I was a customer with a monthly plan. When I got to Barranquilla, I put in a Comcel chip and it worked fine. Had to go to a Comcel store, my girl gave her info, then I gave 2000 pesos for a SIM card. Off I went. Worked perfectly.

jimmycr

The love of my life is in Barranquilla!

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cstew47 says on Sep 7, 2009, 16:16:

Well, I tried to unlock mine and it went into a hard lock. Am I screwed?

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theflatline says on Sep 7, 2009, 16:29:

cstew47

Is the sim card asking for a PUK code?

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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cstew47 says on Sep 7, 2009, 18:38:

No, it says that the SIM is locked and I need to contact the service carrier. It's a hard lock.

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theflatline says on Sep 7, 2009, 19:55:

if the sim is locked, change the sim. You only get so many tries before it locks it down. But it only locks the sim down.

it is a good phone, albeit an older model.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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cstew47 says on Sep 8, 2009, 03:19:

thanks tfl. I think I'll talf to Comcel and try and get some help.

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cstew47 says on Sep 8, 2009, 13:48:

Well, there is a happy ending. Comcel referred me to a person who straightened everything out and unlocked me for 20,000. When will I learn that in Colombia it's cheaper to have somebody do it than to screw it up yourself.

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robbie1 says on Sep 8, 2009, 16:37:

There are lots of laptops in Colombia too. And? Be my guest, walk around downtown Bogota chatting on an Iphone. Or Medellin, or Cali, or wherever. Maybe take a call or make a call while strolling around outside of some night clubs.

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cstew47 says on Sep 8, 2009, 21:41:

I must be a little thick. What is your point and how does it relate to this thread?

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Woodde says on Sep 8, 2009, 21:52:

He is referring to me bringing my old iPhone down to use (perma-unlocked 2G, only worth $100 or so) and that I will probably get mugged if I used it. Which is a shame, since I was looking around and it was only going to cost me $40/month for unlimited data on it while down there.

4/9/09

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maynard7 says on Oct 13, 2009, 13:59:

Verizon does sell some phones that accept a GSM SIM card. You can see them on the Verizon web site... they are made by Blackberry and HTC. They use the CDMA network in the USA, and have 4-band GSM capability when traveling outside the USA.

To unlock your GSM phone, just look on Ebay. I got the unlock code for my AT&T Samsung A137 for only $2.50. Some phones require a cable to unlock.

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