>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/26/travel_much_dont_buy_a_samsung_galaxy_note_3/

They pulled the same crap with the Note 2 (which I have). There are ways to unlock it though (which I have).

This type of crap really pisses me off. Why have an unlocked, tri-band phone that wont work when you travel? Stuuuuuupid!

Now it's my understanding that this isn't as bad as it seems, you just have to put in a proper region SIM THE FIRST time you use the phone - then after that it will work on other regions. - so the trick would appear not to start with an out-of-region SIM.