Since we have discussed unlocking cellphones many times here...

There is a new law taking place in the USA - you will need permission from your carrier's permission to unlock your phone:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...egal-saturday/

Oh a law....IMHO That law will serve to drive up the price of unlock codes, that's about it though. Create the black market and watch people take advantage of it. I wish there was a law against some laws. :)

Most carriers will unlock your phone after six months or so. I know T-mobile and AT & T will and those carriers use sim cards on the GSM system same as all world carriers. Unlocking a CDMA phone (Verizon etc) does you no good for use in JA.

I think as far as Jamaica goes the unlocked GSM phones can still be bought new as long as they are not offered by a carrier at a discounted price. Since most of the phones in JA are prepaid you're simply buying time.

At least that is as I understand it. Perhaps someone can shed more light on this.

All Verizon iPhone 5's ship unlocked straight out of the box!

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Originally Posted by captaind

Most carriers will unlock your phone after six months or so. I know T-mobile and AT & T will and those carriers use sim cards on the GSM system same as all world carriers. Unlocking a CDMA phone (Verizon etc) does you no good for use in JA.

I think as far as Jamaica goes the unlocked GSM phones can still be bought new as long as they are not offered by a carrier at a discounted price. Since most of the phones in JA are prepaid you're simply buying time.

At least that is as I understand it. Perhaps someone can shed more light on this.

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Is Lime GSM as well? I thought I recall it running on CDMA.....

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Originally Posted by Ras Walleye

All Verizon iPhone 5's ship unlocked straight out of the box!

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True true. They are actually required due to an agreement with the FCC due to the spectrum they are using for 4G.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by captaind

Most carriers will unlock your phone after six months or so. I know T-mobile and AT & T will and those carriers use sim cards on the GSM system same as all world carriers. Unlocking a CDMA phone (Verizon etc) does you no good for use in JA.

I think as far as Jamaica goes the unlocked GSM phones can still be bought new as long as they are not offered by a carrier at a discounted price. Since most of the phones in JA are prepaid you're simply buying time.

At least that is as I understand it. Perhaps someone can shed more light on this.

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Capt,

This is a US law - it has no bearing on a phone bought in any other country.

The Nexus 4 from Google is the perfect world phone as it will work on virtually all bands of GSM you will come across. They are ordered directly from Google and come unlocked with no service contract. Too bad no one can buy them right now as they are out of stock.

https://play.google.com/store/device...id=nexus_4_8gb

They'll have to pry my illegal unlocked cell phone from my cold dead.....oops what a minute, wrong forum :)

Move to Canada. No such law here. :) YET

Will Iphone's work in Jamaica without a sim card?

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Originally Posted by Thatswhatshesaid

They'll have to pry my illegal unlocked cell phone from my cold dead.....oops what a minute, wrong forum :)

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;) ;)

You can use an iphone but you will need a sim card cut to size most phone stores have the cutter.

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Originally Posted by poolguywindsor

You can use an iphone but you will need a sim card cut to size most phone stores have the cutter.

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So, once unlocked, I can just take my old iPhone to Digicel in Negril, and they will cut a new card and put it in the phone with the amount of minutes or data that I have purchased, correct?

RyanP - If you are using an old iphone, it may not even need a cut sim card.

Do you think the digicel sim card would work in this phone? I tried calling but did not get a sufficient answer. Want to buy it for a friend in JA.

Thanks for any advice.

http://www.tmart.com/I9220-4.0-Andro...mpaign=product

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Originally Posted by Sam I Am

RyanP - If you are using an old iphone, it may not even need a cut sim card.

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It's an iPhone4. Old is relative, I suppose.

HA... yes, old is relative. I think the 4 an 4s do have mini sim cards so the digicel sim will need to be cut. I believe the iphone 3 still used the full sized sim.

rompcherry - my guess would be yes... usually the magic words are "unlocked" and "quadband". But I am no expert for sure!

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Originally Posted by Sam I Am

HA... yes, old is relative. I think the 4 an 4s do have mini sim cards so the digicel sim will need to be cut. I believe the iphone 3 still used the full sized sim.

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If that is the case, then I will just have my old iPhone3 unlocked and use it. I suppose all I need to do when I get there is get a SIM card with minutes on it?

I think that should work! Just stop by lime or Digicel and pick up a sim and add some minutes. A sim is around $5 I think. And add as much time ans you need while at the store.