mobile phones

s.evans670@btinterne

Im on a uk contract mobile phone can I take my phone with me to India and bUy a Indian sim card that will work in my phone without my provider charging me big money anyone know and can i get it at Delhi airport,thankyou Steve

Haylo

Unless your contract provider is O2, they will have locked your phone to their network, as the phone has been provided free or at least heavily subsidised by them. You'll have to have it unlocked before you can use another SIM in it.

There is no question of them charging you for it, having your phone unlocked will probably break the terms of your contract, that's why they lock them.

Yes. There are conditions. Please read about it on the sticky thread in the electronics forum, it's a question that gets asked a lot and it's too late at night for me to type it all out again.

There is an Airtel sales booth where they should be able to sell you a SIM. Good luck. I walked away in disgust after they told me the SIM tariff I wanted did not exist.

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The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

CaribeanGrl

this is a pain. I have had my phones unlocked and taken it to india, and it worked no problem. Just be wary of the Airtel people, they can sometime give you a hard time, on my last trip I had to pay a local to get a sim for me. The people at the mobile shop asked for a lease before they would sell it to me

OrangeStreet

Nikki

I understand your pain however SIM cards have been misused by terrorist organizations in India and hence submission of ID and Address proofs (Passport, Drivers License, PAN Card, Rent lease etc) has been made mandatory to obtain a SIM card.

It is the provider's (in your case Airtel) responsibility to verify all the details before activating the SIM.

So it may sound like a lot of hassle to submit documentation for a SIM card but at the end of the day, its for our security.

LilBoy BigTown

It is hardly a hassle. There have been numerous instances when sim cards have fallen into wrong hands merely because the guy manning the shop wanted to make a quick buck.

Besides, I am not sure you could buy a sim card anywhere without ID.

If anything, the laws need to be strengthened to stop people from exploiting these loopholes.

OrangeStreet

You can walk into any store in London, Pay 5 quid and get a Prepaid SIM Card which is pre-activated. So for some, getting all the paperwork together and then having to wait for the SIM to be activated can be considered as hassle.

But I'd agree with you, despite the procedure, SIM's do fall into wrong hands and laws need to be more stringent.

LilBoy BigTown

So you need not provide any ID to buy a sim card???

If that is the case, then its up to authorities in Britain to tighten the process. Surely this is pretty lax in the current environment.

Not sure what paperwork you are referring to, all you need is some form of photo id. Most people carry Drivers License in their wallet. Hardly a hassle.

OrangeStreet

Nope No Id, No Proof in London if you were to buy a pre-paid SIM card.

I dont think you understood my response fully.

Someone who is not an Indian national would NOT have a drivers license, rent lease or a pasport with an Indian address on it which can be verified.

For such gents and ladies, it can sure be some hassle.

holikarang

you mean I cannot get an Indian SIM card if I don't have a document with an Indian address?

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holikarang

livinhimalayas

Hey holi, if you have some friends in India, and I hope you have some here as you have been in India before, they can always help you out. Since you need an address proof you cna submit your passport along with a letter from your friend that states that you are staying with them. That should do it in most cases. Or you coud just ask your INdian friends to buy a SIM card for you with their own Ids. If they know you well enough, it shouldn't be a problem.

holikarang

oh well, yes, I have a few friends there thank God! Ok, if I can have it like that then there is no problem...

OrangeStreet

Yes typically you cant buy a Pre-paid SIM Card if you dont have an id proof which states an Indian address. However, As it has been stated on IM many times, There are store-keepers who sell SIM cards without documentation just to earn some quick bucks.

In no way I will encourage you to get a SIM card without giving your documents and as you have some friends in India , sounds like you are taken care of.

Good luck!

Cheers
OS

Haylo

That has changed, tourists are now allowed to purchase SIM cards using their addresses abroad, I have bought two from Airtel relationship centres.

Compared to the UK, where you can buy a prepay SIM that works fine in India for £1 cash, having to provide ID (and more importantly having your SIM cancelled after a week if the seller does not submit the paperwork in time) is a real nuisance. If calls back to the UK and even within India were less than Rs 99 a minute, I wouldn't bother with an Indian one!

CaribeanGrl

oh that is excellent. I have no issue with security, but requiring a lease is a bit much. Not everyone who is coming to India even for very long periods would have an official lease especially as you exit the airplane at the airport. It seems reasonable to request copies of passports, drivers license etc but a signed lease or utility bill .

OrangeStreet

Thats good news. I did not know that. Thanks for filling me in.

Cheers
OS