Happy 1-2-3

Today I spoke with a former work associate about my upcoming Thailand excursion I'll be taking with some classmates. Andrea works on human sex trafficking issues as part of her doctoral research at Univ. of Maryland. For the past couple of years she's been doing field studies in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. Anyway, I talked to her today about the how-to's of getting a cell phone to work there. Oh, we also talked about the sex trade but that will be another topic du-jour for later posts.

This is what she told me. I need to find some independent phone dealer (one that sells not just one variety of phone or plan) and buy a phone that is dual or tri-band - and it must be "unlocked". I guess that when you typically buy a phone, you get it locked - so that you can only use service plans for whatever company you buy it from. If you can get an unlocked phone, that allows you to use the phone on local networks, including international ones. Something like that.

Anyway, I was told tha at the Bangkok airport there is a kiosk called "Happy 1-2-3" where you can buy a chip that can be inserted into your unlocked phone. You also get access to a local phone number. Then, to get service at local rates, you buy a phone card from some other kiosk vendor anywhere in the city in 30, 60, or 90 minute increments.

It makes sense, in theory, but ultimate success (i.e. a phone that WORKS) is contingent on a lot of factors. First, purchasing an affordable unlocked phone here in the States. Second, finding the Happy 1-2-3 kiosk at BKK. Third, finding and buying a compatible phone card. Lastly, turning it on and it actually recognizing the chip and connecting to the local network. Being a non-techy myself, it sounds very troublesome. I will investigate the matter further and will post appropriate updates.

If any of you readers has attempted anything similar to what's been described above, contact me with details.

Thanks.