39 replies to this topic

[Darkside Apprentice]

The Backpacker, on 22 April 2011 - 05:56 PM, said:

Calling the US from a pre paid SIM card is not that expensive.
In the DTAC network, if you dial 004 before you number their regular rate to the US is 8 baht/min and now they have a promotion for 3 baht/min.
Way cheaper than 2$/min...

http://www.dtac.co.t...+_rate_004.html

Thanks to everyone for the responses, I knew there had to be a cheaper way to call then just straight international mobile, next trip this will save me hundreds. My first time I didnt want to mess around and waste time in Patts figuring out how to call home so I sucked up the cost.

[Rinzler]

Darkside Apprentice, on 22 April 2011 - 06:14 PM, said:

Thanks to everyone for the responses, I knew there had to be a cheaper way to call then just straight international mobile, next trip this will save me hundreds. My first time I didnt want to mess around and waste time in Patts figuring out how to call home so I sucked up the cost.

Thats exactly what I did too. My phone bill was double that month.
For that price, I could have gotten a decent phone from Big C and a pay as you go plan.

[Jason_Bourne]

Darkside Apprentice, on 19 April 2011 - 05:49 PM, said:

I called home every other day to touch base with the kids, $350.00 when I got the bill. Never Again.

DA, imagine what you could get in LOS with that $350. You can buy a virtual calling card on www.callingcards.com that will give you 27 cents per minute from LOS to US. Or Skype. Or use one of the services available locally for tourists. NEVER use a US world phone to call back to the US.

$350!!!! That's like 10,000 baht. Think about it!

Just think about it!

[Solice]

If you are using an iphone and calling an iphone then just download the app Viber on both phones and calls will cost you nothing wherever you are in the world.

Solice

[Kpeh57]

Dtac

[Tony Soprano]

This last trip I would only text message so it was real cheap. When I'm here in the US I call a couple of people there once in awhile and use a service called CallMuangThai.com I paid 10 bucks and got 600 minutes. I dial a local number, put in my pin and dial the Thailand telephone number. I don't know for sure if it's everywhere or not. I know you can use internet phone services, but this works for me. If you use a cell phone though the cell phone provider will still count the minutes. But you can use any landline.

Edited by TSteve C, 03 June 2011 - 07:45 AM.

[patz69]

Solice, on 22 April 2011 - 07:38 PM, said:

If you are using an iphone and calling an iphone then just download the app Viber on both phones and calls will cost you nothing wherever you are in the world.

Solice

What data service would you use for an iphone for 3 weeks?

[roscoe]

Outside of the Korea and Japan you are safe with GSM (and even in the US). If you are from the US and have a carrier package, and if you have a world phone, like the Motorola Atrix for example, just ask your provider for the unlock codes (if you are in the US) and buy a cheap 3G card at the Thai airport. This will give you your internet-phone access, and Google maps, etc all for very little cost. When I travel, I always like to have GPS on my phone, so like to have a proper smart phone. I think Android smartphones are generally easier to deal with internationally than the iPhone, but you can unlock most of the high end phones and use them almost anywhere (in particular in Thailand)

[roscoe]

BTW ... the unlock process is very easy for most phones. You start by calling your provider (I use ATT so just dial 611). Tell them you want your unlock code, and they will give you number over the phone. Then power down the phone, put your foreign card into the SIM slot, power up and the first thing you get on the screen is a request to enter your unlock code. Enter, and the phone is now unlocked and will recognize the international provider.

Do not waste money on those Internet unlock services. They just do the same thing, but charge the clueless ... they're scams.

[paulj92]

i take a very old nokia 1600 its so old no one would bother to nick it but its mine and if i leave a bar to buy a paper or any thing i leave it on the bar next to bin to show iam coming back i alway buy a one to call sim card from 7/11 and the staff there always sort it out for me and its cheap calls home (uk)

[roscoe]

I actually have an old Nokia S40 phone that I will take around for the same reason. When I am out and around ... particularly on day trips, I like to have the GPS, so will take my smart phone

[Beachlife]

Download the app WhatsApp for texting ... a LOT of the girls in LOS use it now. The other person needs to have this app too. Great for people in the States to get ahold of you too if need be - just get them to download before you leave. No texting charges when wireless available and if not very cheap ...
When you get back to the States (or Europe) just uninstall the app, change SIMs, reinstall the app and you have all your contacts from your previous # ... keep in contact with the girls for free.

Skype for computer to cell phone ... can also use Skype on your Android to call cell phones if you have wireless access. I used Skype for work meetings no problem ... now company has switched to Office Communicator for conf calls ... soon we'll have Google Talk on all phones.

Wireless access is free along Sukhumvit in BKK now for True SIM ... not fast but doesn't need to be for texting and small emails. Fill a True SIM with baht at any 7/11 just like DTAC. You get this SIM for 1 yr and can extend it so I keep my same number now. Best to buy a True SIM at the airport after you exit Customs ...

Unlock a phone before you go as Roscoe shared or if you forget ...
To unlock a phone just go to MBK in BKK where they sell all the phones and ask and they'll point you to someone that will unlock any phone you have. I broke my touch sceen on my Nexus One in June and they had it fixed in 4 hrs. ... still works great.

Can you imagine what it was like 4 yrs ago? Now staying in contact with the girls is so easy ... can't imagine what it was like prior to Skype and WhatsApp ...

I need to figure out a way to "block" a user on my True SIM ... only had to do that once with lb Tan ... ended up burning my SIM card and changing hotels ...

Edited by Beachlife, 04 September 2011 - 07:22 PM.

[roscoe]

Beachlife, on 04 September 2011 - 07:12 PM, said:

I need to figure out a way to "block" a user on my True SIM ... only had to do that once with lb Tan ... ended up burning my SIM card and changing hotels ...

We are blessed with too many telecomms riches ... aren't we?

[Tyler D]

This card works well and is 2 baht/min to UK/Aust landlines, 6 baht/min to mobiles. 1 baht/min to USA. It takes no credit off any Thai SIM card, you just dial 1544 which is like a FREEPHONE number.

CAT PhoneNET
CAT PhoneNET rates

The only place in Pattaya I've ever seen the card is Foodland on Pattaya Klang, but I just get it online.

Edited by Tyler D, 05 September 2011 - 12:21 AM.

[ninewives]

ARFON, on 20 April 2011 - 02:20 PM, said:

The 2 issues as I see them are fistly, None of your friends/family back home will know how to contact you. Secondly how do you contact them? It took me about ten times visiting LOS for me to take my head out of my butt and invest 100Bt (~$3) in a sim card, a phone that makes calls & texts can be picked up for ~800Bt. A few texts to essential contacts & a re-recorded voicemail (e.G. "Hi, I'm currently deep undercover researching the flora & fauna of Thailand- honestly. I may be conntacted on +668Thaimobilenumber or email less urgent queries) will sort out the first. The 2nd is easy, pick up a cheap inernational call card or use skype. I no longer get 4 figure phone bills & the added bonus is if you meet a girl & she gets your Thai number nobody back home is gonna find out.

I have a Happy sim card purchased from 7/11. It is very easy to top up, is valid for 12 months from last top up and cheap to use (can't recall how much to call back to Australia but I will try the 004 dtac service suggested by the Backpacker - thanks for the tip)

My question is can I leave a re-recorded voicemail on my Happy sim so that if anyone rings from home they can hear my voice and leave a message? Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks

[Tyler D]

ninewives, on 16 September 2011 - 05:39 AM, said:

My question is can I leave a re-recorded voicemail on my Happy sim so that if anyone rings from home they can hear my voice and leave a message? Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks

Yes, you can call the service centre and have them set up Voice Mail on your number. Be warned though, only a tiny percentage of Thais use voice mail, so when they get your greeting, they don't know what it is, so I'd only recommend it on a number that is primarily used for incoming overseas calls. When I had it setup on my line, I had a funny incident from someone where they kept calling and thinking I was fucking with them by not speaking Thai to them and and not listening to what they were saying ... they were hearing my voicemail greeting.

[ninewives]

Thanks Tyler D - appreciated

[putytat]

I trust you are relaxing and taking in the sun and some early evenings ninewives......

[Rinzler]

Ok, last year, when I was in Pattaya, I knew Thailand uses a GSM signal.
Here in the US, we use a CDMA signal.

I had a GSM phone with me last year, but the phone died on me and I replaced it with a new 4g phone. 4G is the latest and greatest for a fast internet connection on a cell phone. I really don't think Thailand would have it yet.
I just called my provider and they informed me that my phone will work there. I think it also uses CDMA and Thailand has a few CDMA sites.

Here, I found a map.


The data package costs more than a night with Amy, so I won't be using any internet. But its nice to be able to keep my phone for text and voice since many people don't know I'm going. Makes it easier to keep it a secret.

[Swedeman007]

Rinzler, on 29 November 2011 - 01:56 AM, said:

Ok, last year, when I was in Pattaya, I knew Thailand uses a GSM signal.
Here in the US, we use a CDMA signal.

I had a GSM phone with me last year, but the phone died on me and I replaced it with a new 4g phone. 4G is the latest and greatest for a fast internet connection on a cell phone. I really don't think Thailand would have it yet.
I just called my provider and they informed me that my phone will work there. I think it also uses CDMA and Thailand has a few CDMA sites.

Here, I found a map.
Thaicell.jpg

The data package costs more than a night with Amy, so I won't be using any internet. But its nice to be able to keep my phone for text and voice since many people don't know I'm going. Makes it easier to keep it a secret.

FYI, In the USA there is GSM, CDMA and TDMA. AT&T is one example of a GSM wireless operator in the US.
You are better off buying a cheap phone in LOS and using a prepaid service from one of the carriers below.
Sure your phone will work, but the per minute charges are a rip-off. You can always bring your phone and have it rollover to voicemail. I doubt you will be answering the phone in LOS as they are 15 hours ahead depending on which timezone you are calling from. I believe there is already 4G in parts of Bangkok as well. -Swedeman007

AIS 1175 GSM Advance 1175 Mobile Life 1175 One-2-Call 1175 GSM1800 0-2502-5000 DTAC 1678 Happy 1678 Hutch 1128 True Move 1331 Thai Mobile 1777 True 0-2900-9000 PCT 0-2900-9000