Travelling to China

[UFGator]

Hi. I have a LOCKED 3Gs iphone running 3.0 software. I am going to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. I have read several different forums and it would appear that I need to unlock my iphone in order to use a China SIM in my phone. Is that correct. I am really interested in using the phone for a few calls, but mostly GPS and email. My questions are:

1. What is the best SIM for me to use in China for GPS, Voice and Data.
2. Do I need to unlock my phone?
3. Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance,
Joel

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by UFGator

Hi. I have an unlocked 3Gs iphone running 3.0 software. I am going to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. I have read several different forums and it would appear that I need to unlock my iphone in order to use a China SIM in my phone. Is that correct. I am really interested in using the phone for a few calls, but mostly GPS and email. My questions are:

1. What is the best SIM for me to use in China for GPS, Voice and Data.
2. Do I need to unlock my phone?
3. Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance,
Joel

The answer to Question 1 would be: whatever GSM carrier that has the best coverage and a Pre-pay plan.

#2-You stated you have an unlocked phone, so question 2 makes no sense.

#3- Yes, even if you have a Chinese Pre-pay setup, depending where you are calling, it's still probably international.


If you want a straight calling option and you plan on calling to the US, then I suggest going to Best Buy or Walgreens and picking up a Magic Jack for $39.95, get a cheap and small land-line phone and so long as you have internet access and a compatible laptop, you can use the MagicJack to call the US from anywhere in the world as if it was a local call -NO CHARGES.

I have one of these that I am sending to a friend in Ecuador. She also has a place in Miami. She will setup the magicjack with a Miami number and then she can call me for free from Equador. And I verified this with a MJ customer service rep.

[UFGator]

Sorry. My mistake. I changed my original entry. I have a LOCKED phone so...

1. Do I need to unlock to use a china SIM?
2. I'm assuming that I can unlock a 3.0 3Gs phone?
3. Will I be able to use GPS?
4. will unlocking my phone cause me any problems with my current AT&T service?

Thanks for the info! I would really prefer to use my iPhone and I found a site that sells SIMs that will work across mainland china with no roaming (feedback appears to be good. Recommended by several other forums) so that might be a good way to go. I just want to make sure I have my bases covered.
Joel

[juls1585]

1. yes you need to unlock to use the china sim
2. yes you can unlock a 3.0 3gs phone
3. i have no idea
4. it shouldnt. when you get back you just put your at&t sim back in.