So, you have a few options. Being from the United States myself, I was totally clueless on my first backpacking trip to Thailand. I have to laugh at myself now when I think about the fact that I really had no idea what a sim card was at one point in my life. Well, the reality is that many people don't know. This is why this section is here.

Locked Phones

In many countries, it is common for a wireless carrier to "lock" the phone they sell to you. For example, companies like Verizon or AT&T in the US attempt to attract customers by offering them heavily discounted mobile phones. In order for the company to ensure that you will not simply get the phone and abandon them for another provider, they make the phone incompatible with sim cards from other networks. So, if you have an AT&T phone, you will not be able to take the a Verizon sim card and put it into your phone. The phone itself will display some sort of message that will force you to enter some sort of code. This is commonly referred to as the "unlock code". This code can be difficult to get your hands on. If you are one of the unfortunate ones who has a locked phone you have a few options to unlock it.

You can call your provider. I have had to do this myself. They can be quite reluctant to hand the code over to you, so you need to have a bit of patience. After all, they don't want you to jump ship, and having your phone unlocked gives you acess to other networks without having to pay the costs associated with a new phone. Explain to them that you are traveling overseas. In my case, I asked for a supervisor after being transfer about 7 times and repeatedly being told that it is impossible for them to retrieve my code. Eventually, a supervisor was able to do it. However, there are times when people get lucky, so you might get your code right away. This is the preferred way of getting the unlock code.

There are a number of phone shops in Bangkok that can provide this service for you for about 200 to 400 baht. MBK probably has the most shops available for you to choose from and get the best price. There are hundreds. You should be careful with your phone if you take it here. Be sure to keep an eye on your phone, as some unscrupulous outfits will sometimes swap out parts or save your personal information. This is not a big problem, but you should be aware that it does happen from time to time.

Sim Cards

If you are completely unfamiliar with what a sim card is, do not feel alone. I was in the same shape a while back. Slowly, I figured it out. A sim card is a small chip that you insert into your phone that contains information about the network that the sim card goes with. It is usually found behind the battery on most phones. I will post a picture soon.

After your phone is unlocked, you simply need a sim card that is part of a Thai network in order to make your mobile phone operational. There are a number of choices. To the average backpacker, it won't make too much difference, but if you are planning to travel extensively off the beaten track 1-2 Call provides the best coverage. Sim cards can be purchased all over the place at a cheap price. Promotions change all the time, so it is best to ask when you buy the sim card. They are usually less than 300 baht which will include some airtime. Rates for calls vary depending on the company that you choose to go with. International rates when using a code (explained below) will be constant. As with domestic calling, SMS messanging rates also vary.

When you have a new sim card, it is simply a matter of making sure you have money on your phone. You can buy top-up cards at most shops. 7-11's are pretty much everywhere in Thailand, so it is not hard to get a card. When you buy one, you scratch off the back to reveal the number and follow the English instructions that are printed on the back. It is a very straightforward process which you will have no problems figuring out! Even small shops sell cards. Sometimes they sell them for a very small markup, but you will never be that far from a top-up card. It is important to mention that you might be limited in some remote areas. For example, 1-2 Call is the only service available in some villages in Issan, so local shops may only carry 1-2 call cards. It is of little consequence since you wouldn't be able to use your phone most of the time anyway.

Buying a New Phone

Bangkok is by far the best place to buy a phone or electronics in general in Thailand. There are scores of places where you can find something that will serve your purposes while backpacking around. You should start by looking around online at a store like Jay Mart to check prices. Sure, the site is in Thai, but you can still see the model number and price of the phone you are interested in! This will give you an idea of the prices in the market. If the price from Jay Mart is good for you then go ahead and buy the phone from them. They will give you some kind of warranty and assurance that the phone is not stolen or a copy.

Using a Public Phone

Phone cards are pretty cheap at 7-11. You can pick one up at most 7-11 shops. You will notice the yellow phones all over the place that are marked for international calls. You simply swipe your card into the phone and you are off and running. Just dial the numbers and you are connected. It is a bit of a pain in the ass to use a public payphone though. Streets are lousy places to make phone calls. Background noise and traffic (foot and vehicle) are a major distraction. If you have something important to talk about or you haven't called home in a while, this can be quite inconvenient. It would be better to make such a call from a mobile phone in the privacy of your own room. Furthermore, this option doesn't allow you to sent or receive text messages.

Using an Internet Cafe

This is an alright option if you really need to make a phone call and you are short on time. There really is no reason to use these kinds of services if you are going to call from time to time. The prices will be highly inflated with minimum charges and huge rate per minute charges.