Mailing a cell phone to the Phil

[B_J 2,752]

I simply want to send her a new phone I received so that she can call me from the airport when she gets here. She won't be using it there. This is much easier than having her use a pay phone, buying and sending a prepaid phone, or finding a sim card to send her.

-James

If it makes you feel better, I had the exact same plan. I've already bought her phone and now I'm reading this thread to find out what to do.

[James and Cynthia 70]

If it makes you feel better, I had the exact same plan. I've already bought her phone and now I'm reading this thread to find out what to do.

That makes me laugh.

[Darnell 8,478]

Sounds like this is what I should do then. Thanks. How do you get a sim card here in the states? I've never bought one before. I just use verizon. Will it automatically work when she puts it in her phone so that she can call me at 503-xxx-xxxx, nothing else needed?

-James

verizon rarely uses sim cards or gsm phones, but they do have some service plan that is atrocious.

Yer lass has a GSM phone, uses a sim card -

best thing to do is to get a SIM card from tmobile or verizon (the 2 carriers in the USA that USE sim cards and GSM phones)

then activate it when she leaves the airport in Manila.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

verizon rarely uses sim cards or gsm phones, but they do have some service plan that is atrocious.

Yer lass has a GSM phone, uses a sim card -

best thing to do is to get a SIM card from tmobile or verizon (the 2 carriers in the USA that USE sim cards and GSM phones)

then activate it when she leaves the airport in Manila.

AT&T has been using SIM cards ever since they converted to GSM like 6 - 7 years ago.

[sunandmoon 450]

Every Time I buy a cell phone in PI, it don't work in USA, I think they are on a different signal or wave.

You can take a USA phone to PI and get it unlocked over there or have it unlocked in USA and you will be fine....

Best way to send electronics, phones, etc is via Balikayan Box, No customs and duties....

Philippines, GSM frequencies being used 900/1800. USA, GSM frequencies being used 850/1900.

[damulag 26]

Philippines, GSM frequencies being used 900/1800. USA, GSM frequencies being used 850/1900.

You can buy unlocked quad band phones that work on all four frequencies. My wife has brought phones from the Philippines to the US and inserted a T-Mobile card and it works fine, takes the same phone back to Philippines and inserts a globe or whatever card when she is there.

[Darnell 8,478]

did I really say that ? oh my - massive edit now...

verizon rarely uses sim cards or gsm phones, but they do have some service plan that is atrocious.

Yer lass has a GSM phone, uses a sim card -

best thing to do is to get a SIM card from tmobile or ATT (the 2 carriers in the USA that USE sim cards and GSM phones)

then activate it when she leaves the airport in Manila.

If money is an issue - can purchase a prepaid SIM card that's good for some $$ or some timespan.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I sent a nokia GSM phone in a box..just didnt claim it on the customs form. It wasnt a new one, so I wasnt worried if they confiscated it..I just wanted her to have it to use while still in the PI. What I did when my wife travelled was to just buy a prepaid calling card. I gave her the number and PIN and she called me from the stopover in hawaii.

Edited April 2, 2011 by Scott and Mhay

[jrmejia 31]

I sent the latest blackberry with all the bells and whistle to my friend as a wedding gift using FEDEX. The only thing the recipient did was to pay some taxes. I think 2000 pesos or so. Since it was a gift, I sent her the tax money also. But no issues other than that. She is happily using it.

Hey guys, of course I asked my fiancee for permission and she gave me the okay!

<-- she is always watching me even when I am reading

[ChrisB0707 4]

Hello,

When ShaSha came to the U.S. I just sent her a SIM card from T-Mobile and made sure to make a photo copy of it before. A few days before she was scheduled to fly to the US I called T-Mobile over the phone and asked to activate a pre-paid phone and I already have a sim card. You can buy a pre-paid package from a local Wal-Mart for about 20.00 just dont activate it until needed. These come with a little airtime already. I made sure to have at least 1 hour of talk time incase we had to make a few calls to find each other in LAX airport. Have her buy a cheap cell phone that will also work in the U.S. and put the sim card in it after she lands in the U.S. and you are all set. Keep in mind a sim card is not activated and alot smaller then a cell phone.

Edited April 3, 2011 by ChrisB0707

[Zen Den 18]

Sounds like this is what I should do then. Thanks. How do you get a sim card here in the states? I've never bought one before. I just use verizon. Will it automatically work when she puts it in her phone so that she can call me at 503-xxx-xxxx, nothing else needed?

-James

gsm networks are those that have SIM cards (ATT, Tmobile. they're are cellphone stores, even on ebay. activate the sim before sending (to avoid problems that might come up if you wait till she's actually at the airport)

make sure also that her phone is unlocked (will take any SIM) otherwise the SIM will not work even if she's already on US soil.

she can call you with that sim only when she's already on US soil. so if you want for her to be able to call you wherever, have her activate her philippine GSM sim's roaming service the day or hours before she gets on the plane. turning "roaming" on will allow her to use the SIM wherever she is during her flight (except on the plane of course)

[A and T 82]

Agreed, quadband unlocked gsm , so she can use it there or in the usa. . I would avoid blackberry because the BIS plans are hard to deal with on a prepaid accounts. Try a nokia E71, you can get these used cheap on ebay, , great for texting

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

You can buy unlocked quad band phones that work on all four frequencies. My wife has brought phones from the Philippines to the US and inserted a T-Mobile card and it works fine, takes the same phone back to Philippines and inserts a globe or whatever card when she is there.

Exact same thing I have always done. Works Fine and Lasts A Long time!!!! However I once bought a dual band cell in the Phils which does not work in the USA so I simply mailed it to my then fiance in a box along with other things. I never listed it on the custom form and it made it fine. I mailed it through the USa Post Office.

I then bought a new Nokia Quas unlocked cell and simple change the sim card when I land in the Phils and off I go running smoothly. I simply put the USA T-Mobile Sim in when the plane smacks the runway in the USA and all things are Cool. Best thing since Sliced Bread!!