Cell Phone

Can I bring my cell phone with me, or should I buy a new one when I get there?

• It is recommended to try and jailbreak/unlock your phone before moving to Thailand. It is possible, but some teachers have had trouble in the past and this leads to a major delay in getting a working phone. By coming with an unlocked phone, all you have to do is purchase a new SIM card and you’re good to go. Another easy option is purchasing a phone in Thailand, which will be unlocked when you purchase it.
• Phones here in Thailand are not eternally tied to the carrier where you bought them. You can pretty much get a phone anywhere and bring it to any carrier and, with a mountain of paperwork bring your phone number with you. The advantage of buying directly from a mobile carrier is that they will likely give you a little discount on the handset. All kinds of plans: data, minutes, etc are available from a number of different carriers. AIS and True are the major names.