# Using an unlocked iPhone 4S in Chile **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 10, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150 "2013-07-10T17:00:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/1 "2013-07-10T17:00:52Z")
Has anyone dealt with using an unlocked US smartphone in Chile? I found one vendor who offers their own sim card with a great calling plan, but horrible data plan (I will need to check email). They also offer an Entel sim card from Chile, however I will have to have it “cut down” since the iPhone uses a micro sim. With this card, I’ll be dealing with Entel (do they speak English 😕), but the calling rates are also quite good and the data is acceptable. This company says I will simply need to take the Entel sim card to an AT&T store and they can convert it/cut it to a micro sim. Are there other options available? Unfortunately, the AT&T rates are simply atrocious. If anyone has dealt with this and can help, I’d appreciate it! ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/2 "2013-07-10T17:04:58Z")
Sparky, si quieres me manday un mp y te ayudo, pero en todo caso, si esta desbloqueado, deberías poder ponerle el chip de cualquier compañía y debería funcionar. El chip lo puedes cortar tu mismo usando otra micro sim como “molde”, o puedes simplemente comprarte una microsim y cambiar tu numero a ese chip. Yo y uso Virgin y he hecho cambios de sim/microsim un par de veces entre cambios de equipo sin ningún problema. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/3 "2013-07-10T17:16:00Z")
> [@grama](#): > > Sparky, si quieres me manday un mp y te ayudo, pero en todo caso, si esta desbloqueado, deberías poder ponerle el chip de cualquier compañía y debería funcionar. El chip lo puedes cortar tu mismo usando otra micro sim como “molde”, o puedes simplemente comprarte una microsim y cambiar tu numero a ese chip. Yo y uso Virgin y he hecho cambios de sim/microsim un par de veces entre cambios de equipo sin ningún problema. No hablan español! 😕 The phone is unlocked. I guess the best bet is to purchase a SIM card when I arrive in Santiago. I just checked AT&T. 300MB for $60! Granted, only checking emails, and that should be enough. But damn! And 40 minutes of voice is $60! Grrrr! ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/4 "2013-07-10T17:59:27Z")
Sorry, I assumed you were chilean. What I said is that if its unlocked it should work with any Sim, of any company here. You can cut it yourself or just buy one. I use virgin and I’ve done it a couple of times before. With virgin you can get 500mb for 10usd, and half a cent per second for calls, so less than 10usd for 40 minutes. (You can get cheaper minutes, what I just said is the flat prepaid rate) ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/5 "2013-07-10T18:24:48Z")
> [@grama](#): > > Sorry, I assumed you were chilean. What I said is that if its unlocked it should work with any Sim, of any company here. You can cut it yourself or just buy one. I use virgin and I’ve done it a couple of times before. With virgin you can get 500mb for 10usd, and half a cent per second for calls, so less than 10usd for 40 minutes. (You can get cheaper minutes, what I just said is the flat prepaid rate) Thanks for the help! I really, really need email during this trip. I’d prefer not to waste time when I land trying to locate the best option for my iPhone. Does Virgin sell just the card for use in any phone, or is it limited to use in their phones? BTW, nice hearing from someone from Chile. I have about a million questions about the place! ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/6 "2013-07-10T18:37:40Z")
You can pm me any questions you have. Currently by law, any simcard works with any unlocked phone out of the box, (and phones now all come unlocked by default), so you should be fine. I don’t know if you can buy a simcard at the airport, but you can find a voirgin stand in most malls. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/7 "2013-07-10T18:48:06Z")
> [@grama](#): > > You can pm me any questions you have. Currently by law, any simcard works with any unlocked phone out of the box, (and phones now all come unlocked by default), so you should be fine. > > I don’t know if you can buy a simcard at the airport, but you can find a voirgin stand in most malls. Thanks again. I really appreciate the help! I’m wondering, if it is Virgin, I wonder if I can get the card here in the US for use there? Guess I’ll have to contact Virgin. ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/8 "2013-07-10T18:54:41Z")
Yeah I don’t know about that, better to ask directly. ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/9 "2013-07-10T19:04:03Z")
Just asked here… You have to buy a new simcard, but there are vending machines in some subway stations you can use, pm me for details. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-an-unlocked-iphone-4s-in-chile/663150/10 "2013-07-29T13:28:38Z")
grama, thanks again for your help. I bought a Claro SIM card and had the vendor cut it down to fit my iPhone 4S micro sim slot. Cost was $8 for the card. I then when to a Pharmacy and added $30 to the card. I should have about 400 MB available, which is plenty. All very easy, and much more affordable than any US plan additions.