So…last August I thought I’d be clever and choose the “global” edition of the Blackberry as it had a SIM port. This, as I understood it, would allow me to purchase a local SIM card when I traveled…thus I would have a local number, but could also make and receive calls to the US.

Brilliant! Right?!?

I was in Uganda when I first discovered that my brilliant, groovy SIM enabled phone did NOT accept local SIM cards. It was locked. I decided to live with my disappointment and just get it unlocked when I got home. Well, you all know how that story ended…with me in Bangkok.

When I bought my power cord I asked around about who might be able to unlock my phone.

“MBK” was the universal response, so off I went to MBK.

Which sounds easy, but my taxi driver asked for 150 baht ($5)- when his meter clearly read 73 baht ($2.24). So I handed him 73 and got out. He grumbled, but took it! UNREAL!!

In MBK I found a cell phone store and they told me that my phone had been locked by my provider. I was furious! So as soon as I got back to the hotel I began to email Verizon. I even borrowed a friends phone to call – but you can reach 1-800 #s from outside the US – and Verizon doesn’t post any other # to call. So I was stuck!

After days of email back and forth some bright soul finally sent me their international help number and I called – only to be told that I have to have a Verizon SIM card installed in my phone before I can unlock it. Again, less than happy!

The final work was received Tuesday morning via email…apparently there is a secret code you can type in to bypass the missing “Verizon SIM” card. I’ve now unlocked my phone only to discover the the local SIM has not activated.

So….one more trip across town ought to do the trick!