I need to figure out a cell phone in India. I will be alone for part of my trip and need to hook up with a colleague. My crappy phone will not work there. Can I buy one? Can I rent one? In Japan you can buy them at the airport. Help. The clock is ticking....my itinerary keeps shifting and I leave in a week.

There are phone stores everywhere. You can buy yourself another crappy phone as I did and a local sim. Some sims are for India only and some can call anywhere, all are inexpensive. I bought the phone on one of several trips to India and it's been my travel phone with the addition of local sims everywhere I've gone in the world since. Mine is a very simple Nokia. There were cheaper ones but this one was inexpensive enough and has served me well.

Buy one there. Take along 2 visa size photos, and plan on it taking about 30-45 minutes to have the papers processed. I recommend that you buy from one of the official phone stores rather than a little vendor. Once you have the phone it will work virtually everywhere as India has good coverage. You can "top up" by phone if you run out of minutes.

You can easily buy one and there are electronic stores in most of the major airports in India.

Prianka--Thanks for your reply. Good to know we can buy a phone at the airport also.
Could you tell approximately how much it would cost--The phone and the Sim card. I realize there are many models and makes, but a rough idea would be really helpful.
Have a splendid day.

A basic phone would cost you around INR1200 (USD 22). A prepaid SIM should be suitable for you and you can keep recharging it with more money depending on the usage. Purchasing the SIM along with a first recharge may cost you around Rs.350 (approx USD 6) but it all depends on how much talk time you want on your phone. Please do carry your passport size photos and a passport copy when you go to buy the SIM. Have a good trip!

Emmagus - if you are staying at The Oberoi or Four Seasons in Mumbai - the concierge can organise a no-nonsesnse phone along with a pre-paid sim card for you.... You can't go wrong with a vodafone India or an Airtel prepaid connection...

Cheers

Hmmmm. We have a trip to India in Oct. with a stop in Bangkok on the way back. Can I get a cheapo phone in India that will also work in Bangkok?
Thanks!

The least expensive way is a local sim in each country. So, yes, the phone will work, buy an additonal sim in Bangkok if your stop there is long enough to bother.

It's a week.

I wouldn't bother for a week but it's a personal decision, entirely up to you.

Of course it's up to me.

I guess I mistook a comment for a question. I'll try to do better in future.

Thank you. No problem.

you are really doing a good job through this forum.

I wonder if we'll ever find out if emma read our tips?