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Can I use my company phone for a local SIM card in Thailand, or does it have to be unlocked?

SIM CardsMobile PhonesUnlocked PhoneseSIMThailand
Jun 18, 2022
3 years ago
Roman *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone

I understand that to have data on my mobile I need to buy a sim card but my concern is if I can use my personal cell phone that is with a company or does it have to be an unlocked phone

Thanks in advance
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To use a local SIM card in Thailand, your mobile phone must be unlocked. Most comments emphasize the necessity of having an unlocked phone, as locked devices will not accept local SIM cards. A few suggestions include purchasing a dual SIM phone or utilizing eSIM technology for easier management of local and home numbers. There are also options for unlocking your phone through service providers or purchasing unlock codes online.
Terary **********
American I presume? Or at least North American? I have seen advertised personal wifi for rent but I dont know anybody who has used it.

If your phone does not have room for another SIM or your SIM is not removable you will need to get another phone. You can buy cheap phones everywhere. I have bought a couple and had nightmares. If I were in your situation I would buy a cheap phone at a reputable phone place (AIS).

AIS is your best phone service provide, second is DTAC, in my experience.

Some phones may support eSim, which I am not too familiar. Basically, an eSIM allows you to register your phone with a local provider without having a SIM. However, I dont' know of your phone support that. I think AIS does support it.
3 years ago
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Hristo ***********
Just buy second hand phone with hotspot and use it as router in case everything else doesnt work 😂
3 years ago
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Brad **********
If you have an iPhone, go with a into your providers store & have them set up an Esim! That way your number, contacts & so on, will stay/be in your phone & you can then buy a Thai Sim, put it in your phone. You will then be able to sway between ‘Sims’ quite easily!!

Settings-Mobile and you will see both sims! Choose which one & your away

2 x 📱 👍
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Brad *********
 some models of iPhone are dual sim. Some not
3 years ago
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Todd *********
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Michael *******
New I phones take two sim. Can switch from one to the other.
3 years ago
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Paul *********
Go to a phone shop and ask
3 years ago
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Chris ******
You can buy unlock codes online. It's not expensive and takes about a day to wait for it. That AIS virtual sim is also a nifty idea. Though I don't think you can have both services active at the same time. But I don't have personal experience with that so I'm not sure. The unlock codes work though.
3 years ago
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Chris *********
I bought a cheap phone at MK across from Siam Paragon, and a 1 month tourist AIS.
3 years ago
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Todd *********
What countries still have locked cell phones lol
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Terry *******
 and you found this tidbit of legal information on the Daily Hive? 🤔 There are actually really good sources. Like this below. Happy Canadians can escape the gong show of locked phones now. Awesome!! Now if it could just stop being such a miserable place to live.

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3 years ago
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
 No matter where I stand the Marine standing beside me will win.
3 years ago
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Terry ********
No one talks bad about USA in front of me. Now one talks bad about Canada in front of me. Case closed
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Terry *******
 good for you! Want the best for USA also, however, it’s got more than its fair share of major issues. Shite places to live really, but people gotta live somewhere. Great places to make money though… and then move away
3 years ago
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
 Bud. I understand. We are on the same team.
3 years ago
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Terry ********
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
 Bud. I want the best for USA. Defend you country every time I hear some one talks bad for you I jump in If a country needs help USA is always the first in. Last out. Total respect. Honest. I have total respect for USA.
3 years ago
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
 below the 49 the parallel. We are friends.
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Terry *******
 true. Although in spite of 26 countries in Europe taking down borders 37 years ago, 🇨🇦 and 🇺🇸 still fail to organize themselves. Instead wasting billions of taxpayer dollars defending themselves from their greatest ally.

But yes, as a comparable, they are a fair example of one of the many nations with higher quality of life
3 years ago
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Todd *********
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
 wow. Reread. Canada is a miserable place to live? Rethink that statment.
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Terry *******
 yes. That’s a very accurate representation. You don’t have much to compare it to I guess
3 years ago
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Todd *********
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
 all I said is in Canada you cannot sell a locked phone. That's all. Sorry for other countries
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Terry *******
 I think Canada and USA were the harshest at applying SIM to bundled phone packages. Thus our extremely expensive monthly bills. But no doubt others existed.
3 years ago
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Todd *********
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
 UK too. What is so amazing? Not everyone can afford to buy the latest expensive smart phones. Customers with contracts can have the latest expensive but 'locked' phone every year, which otherwise they might not be able to afford or have to buy. It seems to be good for companies and customers.
3 years ago
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Roman *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terry *******
 I 👍 agree
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Terry *******
 why? Because only a select few backward nations punish their uneducated citizens with this kind of monopolistic insanity. It's great for the companies. And bad news indeed for the uneducated consumer who fails miserably to do the basic math the contract will demand of them
3 years ago
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
 "backward nations", "uneducated citizens"; Great attitude Todd! Are you sure you're not from over the border? ...lol.
3 years ago
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Roman *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 it seems that you are very smart in this branch of mobile phone but it is true not all of us have the money to buy unlocked phones
3 years ago
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Nick ************
@Lines ******
 mine cost me £120 in the UK before I came to Thailand. I would not call that expensive and its worked perfectly for 3 years. Use it for hotspotting my laptop and can receive texts from UK when required. In fact, the device I am using to type this is hot spotted to the phone right now.
3 years ago
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Nick ************
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Roman *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 USA
3 years ago
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Terry ********
@Lines ******
 EDS's knowledge base is so extensive. We never make mistakes. If I say something then believe me. Case closed
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Lines ******
 I think Canada too 😂. Amazing in this day and age. Sooo far behind
3 years ago
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George *******
@Todd ********
 locked phones are very common in the US. You purchase the phone from the carrier on a payment schedule. When the phone is paid for. They will unlock it and you can choose another carrier
3 years ago
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Robert **********
@George ******
 AT&T still locks usa phones bought on payment plan. Some Thai phones locked, generally on payment plans for Thai citizens
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@George ******
 yes. Same in Canada
3 years ago
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Terry ********
Todd McGowan False. All phones sold in Canada must be unlocked. Any old smart phone must be unlocked my the provider for free. It is illegal to sell a locked phone in Canada.
3 years ago
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Terry ********
@Todd ********
3 years ago
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Terry ********
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Brett **********
You may find it more useful to get yourself a dual SIM phone where you use a local sim for data and calls but can still keep your normal SIM and receive any calls/texts from home. I can highly recommend the Redmi brand as a decent budget smart phone option
3 years ago
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Brett **********
I realise that might not be practical if you're just here on a holiday. If you're quite far into your contract your current provider should unlock for free, allowing you to swap out while you are here. If you're on a new contract they may charge to unlock
3 years ago
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Brook ********
@Brett *********
 You can add AIS as a virtual SIM and have both services on the same phone.

Simply delete the eSIM from Settings when you are done. The cellular provider does these eSIMs all day long for foreigners.
3 years ago
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Roman *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brook *******
 delete it,? How?
3 years ago
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Brook ********
@Lines ******
3 years ago
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Brook ********
@Lines ******
3 years ago
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Brook ********
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Roman *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brett *********
 thank you
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Lines ******
 there is one other possible option. If you have an iphone 11 or above, they are capable of having an esim (as are several android phones like recent pixel phones). If you have one of those phones but are still using a physical SIM card you can ask your provider to move you onto the esim. That will then free up the physical SIM slot for you to pop in a local card
3 years ago
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Brett **********
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Chris *******
Yes you have to have an unlocked phone.
3 years ago
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Roman *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ******
 Thank you
3 years ago
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Roman *******
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Stuart *********
It will need to be an unlocked phone to use a local sim. Contact your supplier to see if your phone is locked or how to unlock.
3 years ago
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Roman *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 Thank you
3 years ago
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Roman *******
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