Buying an Unlocked Cell Phone for Travel
What the heck is an unlocked cell phone?
When I first heard the term Unlocked cell phone 
Most cell phone carriers in the United States (At&t, T-Mobile, etc) lock the free or discounted cell phones that you get when you sign a contract with them. These locked cell phones will only accept a SIM card from that carrier and you cannot switch carriers without unlocking it first. Many carriers will offer unlocked cell phones through their websites, but they charge top dollar for these phones.
Why would you want an unlocked phone for travel?
Last year when we landed at Mexico’s Cancun International Airport I saw something that made me cringe. Looking around as we waited in line for customs and immigration, I noticed fellow passengers pulling out their cell phones and turning them on. While this is a common practice after you land, this is a huge no-no when going to a different country as international roaming charges can quickly add up. But that is only when you make or receive a call, right? Not true if you have a data plan. Just having your iPhone or other smartphone turned on can rack up roaming data charges. I have heard of people coming back from a one week trip to Mexico and find a $500 cell phone bill for just having their iPhone turned on.
Even if your carrier offers international roaming plans, an unlocked cell phone can still be a better option. With an unlocked cell phone you can purchase a local pre-paid SIM card in whatever country you travel to and have a local phone number, plus cheap airtime. With an unlocked cell phone, you do not even need to have a contract with a carrier, as you can just use pre-paid SIM cards anywhere. This can be really beneficial if you are planning a round the world trip, like we are.
Which unlocked phone to buy?
Approximately 80% of the worldwide cellular network is GSM. So it would make sense to buy a phone that uses the GSM network. In the United States only At&t and T-Mobile use the GSM network so any of the phone models that they use will work. If you already have a phone from one of these carriers, you can contact them and ask for the unlock code. While they will not do this for an iPhone, they might for other phones. But if you are in the market for a new phone, searching Amazon.com will give you the best options for cheap unlocked cell phones. I recently purchased a new unlocked HTC S621
Where to Buy an Unlocked Cell Phone
The best selection and prices that I have found for unlocked cell phones is Amazon.com
UPDATE November 28, 2011:
My HTC S621 just met with disaster on a recent crabbing trip. A bit of saltwater splashed on the phone and it no longer works. So, looking at phones on Amazon I thought I would try an unlocked smartphone running the Android operating system. One of the cheapest ones I could find with the best reviews is the Samsung i5500 Corby Galaxy 5 for around $110 USD. It has Wi-Fi, touchscreen, GPS, and it is not too big, which is perfect for travel. I have been using this phone for a couple of weeks now and I love it! It also makes for a great entertainment system, as my daughter wants to play Angry Birds all the time. And who needs to pay the extra money for a data plan when there are so many free Wi-Fi spots now. If you are looking for a great unlocked phone for travel, I highly recommend a smartphone running Android. You won’t be disappointed!
January 27, 2011 Planning, Travelogue
Three cheers for cheap bastards (I’m one myself, so I’m allowed to say that). Thanks for these good tips. We haven’t quite figured out if we’ll carry a cell phone or not on our RTW, but if we do, this is very good information to know.
It won’t hurt to toss in a small (cheap) unlocked cell phone in your bag. You never know if you might need it. Dealing with foreign pay phones or calling cards can be a real hassle!
Hi, Jason. This is great info, thanks. I have no idea whether my iPhone is locked or not. (Canada, Fido). Hopefully it can come with us to Europe.
Thanks for spelling it all out.
Cheers,
Renee
It probably is locked. You can contact Fido about getting the unlock code. And if that does work, there are companies that can assist in unlocking it, for a fee.
Good post. I bought an unlocked cellphone online a few years ago, right before I left for South Africa. I have been continuously traveling with it for three years now, and it has been indispensable. We just buy a SIM card every time we enter a new country and get a local number. Especially useful for finding housing and making friends for our daughter. Glad I found your site, looking forward to reading more of your adventures.
Hi Chaya. I am glad you enjoyed the post. That is a great point you make about using the phone for setting up play dates for children as you travel. I am sure we will be using ours for the same thing!
Useful info. When I went to Paris, my international data plan worked just fine, but that was pre Twitter & Facebook which are apps that use up data. So for our RTW I’m planning on unlocking my T-mobile phone. However, since I’m looking at a different type of phone, am also considering just buying one already unlocked. Thankfully the locked phones are cheaper than most of the unlocked ones I’m seeing for Android phones, so will probably go that route.
Hey Jason-
Please excuse my technology-challenged brain…we are going to the Cancun, Mexico area in 3 wks. If I buy a T-Mobile phone, will it come unlocked? If not, will they unlock it for me? If I’m flying into Cancun International Airport, is there a place there I can buy a local SIM card? (I ask because you state earlier that you were there). We are being transported to our remote resort with no opportunity to detour to some local store so we would have to be able to buy it at the airport.
Thanks for the help…
Hi Lisa,
The phone that you get from T-Mobile will most likely be locked, unless you buy one that is specifically stated as being unlocked. For them to unlock it would depend on how long you have been a customer and which phone it is. I contacted At&t to request the unlock code on my previous phone and they emailed the code to me a few days later at no charge. So, you never know unless you ask. As for buying SIM’s in Mexico, I have no idea if the airport carries them. The arrival area of the Cancun International Airport does not have much for shopping and I don’t remember seeing any SIM vending machines. In Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Cozumel you should be able to find one easily. If you cannot unlock your phone, your best bet may be to talk to T-Mobile about getting an international roaming plan for this trip.
thanks for the information, jason. i need to know if is it safe to carry an unlock iphone through international airport? cause the unlock iphone must be jailbroken right?is it considered illegal or is it okay to carry it through international airport? thanks
I am not sure about all countries, but jailbreaking an iPhone in the USA and EU is legal. Plus, I don’t think anyone is going to check your iPhone anyways.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jailbroken
What’s the WiFi like in Costa Rica and Nicaragua? Trying to figure out if a sim will be enough for my smartphone, or if I need to try and get some sort of data card. Thanks!!
Every place we stayed in Costa Rica had high speed Wi-Fi, so you should not have a problem. We even had it way up in the mountains. Costa Rica is a very modern country. As for Nicaragua, I ma sure you can find Wi-Fi there, as well. But, we were only there for one day and did not need internet. We were too busy admiring all of the wonderful things in that country.