Mobile Phone Thailand

[tampanugget_2001]

I have a bit of confussion as to some board members mention buying a mobile phone while in thailand.

What would be the approximate cost. How about service providers? How do I arrange?

I come to Thailand 2-3 times per year for a couple of weeks each time. Is it worth the cost/hassle.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[stogie bear]

There is a lot of information about this.

You can buy a new one anywhere (even Tesco's Supermarket) for 1,000 Baht. Used ones are even cheaper. You can also buy credit at any convenience store and buying a mobile phone number is cheap and easy...

[kahuna]

(tampanugget_2001 @ Aug. 29 2007,15:07)  Is it worth the cost/hassle.

Yep...there is no hassle and it's worth it...at least for someone from USA...considerably less expensive than using my USA sim...

If you already have a GSM phone all you need to do is have it unlocked which you can do at  hundreds of places on the 4th floor at MBK for a few hundred bht...and buy a Thai sim...the sims cost 200 -300 bht or so...And as Stogie has already indicated, you can buy credit at any 7/11 or Family Mart or ?

[jimslim]

I bought a brand new Nokia 1110i for 1200 baht , ok it looks old fashioned , but for calling the same Thai network its about 1 baht per min , also phoning home is cheeper and handier than going to overseas call shops , well worth it plus it will last me a few trips until I get drunk and lose it .

[rxpharm]

Thai mobile sim cards can be bought as "prepaid", that is pay as you go. These can be recharged by buying credit at various places in Thailand - 7-11 carries a full range of these "recharge" cards for all the major providers and they will sell the sim cards as well.

The other type is what North American and Europeans are more familiar with, the subscription plan - of course for the occasional visitor this is not a good option.

One drawback with the pay as you go SIM cards is that they will expire after a certain amount of time, so the number will be lost (maybe not such a bad thing if you have a lot of lbs calling or sms'ing you). Buying a new card is inexpensive, around 300 Baht, with 50 Baht credit for calls. There is another option that Koykaeng discovered, and that some shops in MBK will extend the expiry if you pay 1 baht per day extension.

Another option is to load your phone with credit, which also will extend the expiry. 1000 Baht gives around 3 months expiry. Not really worth it if you can only visit once or twice a year.

If the phone from your country is not "locked" into one service provider and is multiband then you could use it in Thailand as well. However mobiles are not expensive in Thailand, so you don't risk much if you lose a cheap Thai mobile rather than the mobile from your home country.

[Guest]

If you want a sim card before you go take a look on ebay as they are selling from about £2.99 plus postage.

Just check your phone before you go, if it will take say an O2 sim and an Orange sim then it is already unlocked. If not take it to a phone shop and for about a fiver you can have the phone unlocked.

You can even buy top up credit online at ebay or just stop at the first 7 11 and its as easy as that.

Realy needed as for UK mobiles you can pay up to £2 a minute to make or receive calls in thailand and text are about £0.50p to send or receive

[jhcal26]

Make sure it's the right frequency. My at&t phone did not work in LOS and I bought a cheap one for 800 bht including a 150 bht phone card. Goto the 2nd floor of Tuk.com in Pattaya.

[PigDogg]

(jhcal26 @ Oct. 06 2007,14:52) Goto the 2nd floor of Tuk.com in Pattaya.

That's where I bought mine. Lots of vendors and price is somewhat negotable.

Somehow I have lots of tine till expiration on my 1-2-Call card, not sure why.

Btw-If you're going to the movies at the mall right by the Pattaya Bay Resort you might get a discount if you are using 1-2-Call. Ask the ticket seller.

[69billy]

I just got one of the LBs to send me a Topup code, And it worked ...soo I have my phon ready to go ...

[PigDogg]

(69billy @ Oct. 07 2007,10:03) Topup code

Like an ace paratrooper you're going to hit the ground running Billy!

[Monkey]

(PigDogg @ Oct. 06 2007,23:32) Somehow I have lots of tine till expiration on my 1-2-Call card, not sure why.

probably topped it up a lot, something like 30 days/300 baht or something silly, I can't remember...


I've got a 1-2-Call which I think expires soon (if not all ready), wont be going back before it runs out so it's up for grabs (buckshee!) if anybody wants it...
might have 100 or so baht on it, pm me if interested

[PigDogg]

(Monkey @ Oct. 07 2007,13:18)

(PigDogg @ Oct. 06 2007,23:32) Somehow I have lots of tine till expiration on my 1-2-Call card, not sure why.

probably topped it up a lot, something like 30 days/300 baht or something silly,

Nope, I don't use it much, think at most I put 600 baht on it and I'm good till Aug 08...I think, can't check now that I'm back home