[icepick]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I can't seem to find it

I'm going to Taiwan for about a month and was wondering what kind of options do I have for phones? I currently have verizon wireless in U.S., but their phones doesn't have a sim card slot so I don't have that option, I was thinking about a rental phone (don't know how to get one in taiwan yet) =/

Anyways, hope you guys can help me out, I'm a noob at this lol

[Caligula]

You're probably best off getting a cheap unlocked phone that takes SIM cards. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Nokia-C1-01-Unlock...0047DVF00/

I'm not positive that the above would work in Asia. I believe it would have to be tri-band, rather than dual band. I don't know which, do some research on compatibility before buying.

You can buy a prepaid SIM card in Taiwan and use that. Actually, it may be cheapest to buy the phone in Taiwan too. Just make sure it's unlocked so you can use it for future trips. That way you can be sure you're getting a phone that will work in the country.

Remember not to use your US phone and disable data unless you want to come home to a huge bill.

[livefree]

Go on ebay or amazon and search for "unlock gsm phones" you wil get anything from phone costing $20 and up! Unless you wanna pay like crazy, don't use your US phone. Once you are there, buy a SIM card (unlike USA, they are available everywhere) and keep using that. Good Luck.

[DoctaWho]

If you don't want to go the ebay route then hop on craigslist. You're looking for an older phone from carriers like t-mobile and at&t that use the gsm network. Before you buy the phone, just make sure that it supports the frequencies where you are going. You can pick up a smart phone for 70-100. I'm not sure about Taiwan, but I remember data being pretty cheap in parts SEA.

[BigDave]

Just get an unlocked GSM quad band "world" phone. That will work nearly everywhere except in the few places that use CDMA. But I think most countries that predominantly CDMA still have GSM providers, too.

[Timoteo]

   
The Motorola F3 Motophone will take any SIM anywhere in the world and work. It's basic - voice and text, and it's inexpensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Motofone-...B0013A7KMW

[icepick]

Thanks for all the response guys... found out one of my frd from taiwan have a old school motorola razor I can use, although it can't read chinese, which could be a problem when I get there.... hope this thread helps out other guys with the same question!