Stupid Future Expat Question #432:

[Bernie Moscovitz]

Cell phone: Will need a cell for a month. Is it best to rent in Boquete because those phones work there.

Or, can I rent in PC and find a phone that will work all over, including Boquete.

My iPhone/Verizon is a non-starter .

Thanks,

[Karen Templeton]

T-Mobile also advertizes phones now that work world wide. I don't know any more about it just saw the adds.

[Bruce Laidlaw]

I saw them too Karen. They are advertising "no long term contracts and they will pay the ETF's as well with Verizon and ATT).

[Leslie Barranger]

it was just a little under two years ago when we were getting ready to leave the US and move here, this unlocking phone thing was sooo difficult.  AT&T really gave us a hard time about it and it was a real pain in the ,well, you know.  So, it would appear that even the phone companies are realizing that peeps are fleeing the US for one reason or another because they are making this pretty easy now.  Just sayin...

[Karen Templeton]

We just bought a cheap phone two days ago at Claro in David for $25 and added $10 worth of minutes which gave us 80 minutes. It took over an hour to purchase because their system was down and the it took another two days to actually work. Not complaining just stating our experience. You can purchase the exact same unlocked phone online at bestbuy.com and when you get here all you need is the chip. Easy peasy. It's beautiful here and I hope you have an enjoyable time visiting. Good luck!the only reason we didn't do this is because I discovered it too late in order to receive it in time before we left the states.

[Pantah]

At the Movistar "agency" at Plaza Los Establos in downtown Boquete sells unlocked cell phones major brands, $30 and up at good prices. SIM chips are available in town for $2 or so, I think. I bought an Android phone there and was good to go in a few minutes.

[Steve Gibson]

You are better off buying a $25 throw away and buying phone cards here. I had Verizon phones prior to moving here and none of them can be unlocked, they have special software to keep you from changing to another subscriber.

[Lee Zeltzer]

I am going to REPEAT, Verizon iPhone 5, 5C AND 5s will accept a SIM and do not need to be unlocked anyplace. This is a specific to these phones and how they were designed. This has more to do with an FCC frequency rule and Apple than to any largess of Verizon.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/21/verizon-iphone-5-unlocked-att-t-...

[Lee Zeltzer]

ONLY an iPhone 5, 5c or 5S from Verizon will work on GSM without unlocking

[Lee Zeltzer]

ONLY an iPhone 5, 5c or 5S from Verizon will work on GSM without unlocking

[Judi P]

I was at Verizon in Colorado last week looking for a GSM phone to use with a with a prepaid acct. The only ones they have are locked and only available with a 2 yr contract.

[Leslie Barranger]

Just purchased an IPhone 5c in December, in the States.  It was a Verizon which is what the Geek Squad said I needed to use in Panama (or any other country) ans HOLY COW, it worked!