Jonpolo

We are moving to NY in July and whilst I've resigned myself to paying the remaining £36 per month to O2 for 10 months I wondered if I would be able to take the phone, a Samsung Galaxy SIII, with me to use in NY with either a local pay-as-you-go Sim or sim-only contract.

Does anyone have experience with this phone in doing that or even getting a sim-only contract as it seems silly to see the phone go to waste.

Thanks in advance!

steveq

Get the thing "unlocked", either by a special website code, or by asking O2, then look at buying a card from the folks I used "Gored pocket".

g.g.j

Make sure you cancel bolt on's first like data.

agentred

There's a similar thread about this here (http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=799904)

but the key points are:

1. Call O2 and ask them to unlock your phone (they'll ask for your IMEI number which can be found in the settings menu). It usually takes less than a week.
2. Take out the SIM, when you move to the U.S. you can go to T-Mobile or AT&T, which both offer SIM only monthly, annual and pay as you go plans, you can see the details on their website.

And the third point, which is less tangible, but I did this and found no cost savings at all by supplying my own phone. You'd save a ton of money by unlocking your SIII, selling it on ebay and then joining Sprint or Virgin Mobile when you move here, which are cheaper carriers. If your heart's set on keeping your phone though, T-Mobile is usually cheaper than AT&T.

Also, first get a pay as you go SIM, make sure you get good data speeds and reception where you are, then sign up for either a monthly or annual contract, it'll cost an extra $10-20 but save a lot of hassle in the long run.

EDIT: And also, have you spoken to O2? The fact that you're moving to a place with no reception should allow you to get out of your contract, I think. I know when I moved abroad I cancelled my land line contract and didn't have to pay the remainder of the contract.

Jonpolo

Thanks for the replies I don't think I can blag that I am moving our of an area with reception but if anyone has something else I can use to exit the contract then please let me know! I'll likely unlock and sell like you said.

Thanks

Bob

You are though aren't you. So got nothing to lose by trying it.