simon43

Maybe I can add my own comments to this, since my business is solely concerned with text messaging!

The concept of 'free sms' seems great, but nothing is ever free!  Until recently, if an SMS message was sent from one mobile network to another, that 'receiving' mobile operator was required to deliver the SMS message to their subscriber phone without receiving any revenue for 'carrying' this SMS traffic.

The assumption was that the number of non-network messages received would balance out the number of network messages being sent to other networks, and so no revenue reconciliation was required.

However, some greedy mobile networks realised that they could make a fast buck by offering to deliver sms messages to other networks for only a very small charge to the sender (or zero charge if the website offering this free service could cover this small charge with online adverts etc etc).

Swisscom in Switzerland and MTN in South Africa were guilty of this practice and it resulted in huge numbers of sms messages being delivered onto other mobile networks who were then required to deliver them without charge.  Thus, the 'balance' of messages-in, messages-out became hugely unbalanced!

Result - many mobile networks blocked the delivery of such 'free' messages...

To resolve this issue, mobile networks agreed to pay each other the revenue for carrying this message traffic.

So, if these so-called free sms services do not work, then its probably because they are trying to deliver the messages via a route which attempts to circumvent this revenue agreement.

I said that nothing is free, and if you really want a reliable SMS service then you really will have to pay for this - but the charge can be very low (much lower than sending the message from your mobile phone).

Although I'm in the sms business, i don't offer such delivery services. But you could, for example, try www.lycos.com (which offers 5 free messages each day if you complete their free registration).

I do have the necessary network agreements and server infrastructure and, if there is enough demand, I could set up a mini website where you can send sms messages for delivery to Thai (or other mobile) networks.  I would charge this at cost, which is about 2 baht per message.  (But I need to work out a payment mechanism!!). I do have secure on-line credit-card clearance facilities, but I was stung many times previously because of the use of stolen credit-cards for pre-purchasing these SMS 'credits'.

Anyone interested??

cheers

Simon

Sorry for my late reply - been upcountry enjoying Sonkran...

Hey - I like your idea about calling this service a 'live english language school'!! - although some of the chat messages that they receive might not offer the sort of english they want to learn..(or maybe it will!).

Right now I run this service from offices in the UK and Spain, and employ about 10 part-time staff per language, to provide a 24/7 service in English, French, Spanish, German and Dutch, with more languages to follow.

As for salaries, the idea is to save money by moving this work to Thailand.  right now I pay about 5 GBP per hour in the UK and 5 euros/hour in the Spanish office (but add about 30% on top of that to reflect my tax/insurance liabilities etc)

Simon

Well, I would certainly use 'farangs' but there are 2 problems:

1 - You lot would probably demand more money than the miserable sum that I'm willing to pay in wages!

2 - I will have work permit problems! I am setting up a Thai ltd company and the requirements for employing farangs stipulate that i must employ a number of local Thais for every frarang.  Well, I will be one of these farangs....So if I start to employ more then I will end up with a whole load of Thais doing not a lot in my office....

Simon

Good idea - and thanks for the clarification re degree status in Thailand.

Actually, for some of the chat services i run, a bar-girl background is fine! (A number of these chat services can get quite naughty in their content...)

Simon

OK thanks for your advice, but this is not what I'm finding when I'm out on the street in BKK every fortnight!  The level of english competency that im looking for is fairly basic, and thats for reading and writing.  Spoken english is not required for these vacancies.

What I'm trying to point out is that I am not interested in whether someone has a degree or not. The important thing is their competence in English.  If this means that the majority of them has a degree, then thats fine.  And I accept your point about finding competent people in other European languages. I'm pretty sure they will have to be degree-qualified.

Simon

OK thanks for this reply  but a question.  why should i employ someone with a degree (if the work required does not justify a degree...)

The staff who i employ in the UK for this level of work are school or college-leavers, and their qualifications arn't actually that important.  It's more important that they work hard! (for which they get a decent employment package).

Simon

Following on from my last posting, can anyone help me to find a company who operates a data-hosting centre in BKK?

I have maybe 20 servers currently located near London in a data-hosting centre.  I will be moving these all to a similar facility in BKK which can offer me a reliable internet connection. My problem is that i do not know any companies in BKK who offer such a service.

Can anyone help?

Simon

Hi - After a few months of going to/from BKK to sound out the environment, I am close to moving some of my text messaging business into Thailand.  But I need a little advice about typical wages that I might need to pay my local staff.

I intend to set up a Thai company and open a local office (and this website gives plenty of information about how to do this).  I then need to employ a number of local staff who can read and write reasonable english (or other european languages).

The actual work is quite fun! It is simply reading (from a PC screen), an incoming text message that someone in Europe has sent to one of the mobile networks, and then sending a suitable reply message back to them.  The idea is to try to encourage them to text-chat some more (since that is where I earn my revenue..). Naturally, some of these messages are somewhat 'naughty' in their content, but my existing staff in Europe tell me this adds to the fun of the job!

So the employee must be able to read reasonable english, and then send a suitable reply in reasonable english (or other language, such as French, spanish, Dutch etc).

Help will always be given with learning 'slang' for each language.

Can anyone give me some idea of what salary i need to pay?  And what about finding staff who can read/write these other european languages?  and will i have to pay them more??

Thanks for any help

Simon

I was in BKK 2 weeks ago and saw an increase in the number of people wearing masks at the airport.  Now I'm coming back to BKK this Friday, travelling onto HatYai for Thai new year.

My feeling is that the worst place to be when there is a chance of an infectious person is either on board a plane or at an airport!!  Yes, the SARS risk is minimal, but I still don't want to spend my Thai new year being prodded and poked by doctors...

Is it being paranoid to wear a mask during my outbound flight from London, and to wear this mask at BKK airport?  I'm only thinking along rational lines because SARS is spread by sneezing and coughing - and the confined aircraft atmosphere or proximity to many different travellers at an airport surely increases the risks.

Thanks for any advice

Simon

Thanks for the info re cheap flights.  I have actually managed to secure a great deal on BA/Qantas!  My flight usually costs £559 but I just registered as an air courier and I can get the same flight for £350!!  (I'll try out this from mid-May and let you know if it really works at this price

Simon

Hi - I am an avid horse-rider in the UK and fancy continuing this sport when I'm in BKK.  Does anyone have an email address for the Bangkok Equestrian Center?  (Or contact details for any other riding centres in BKK)

Thanks

Simon

I got my 'B' visa last week in only 2 days, but this was based on the fact that I own my own UK business which wants to launch into Thailand.  As the director of this company, I was able to 'guarantee' my own repatriation etc.  I also provided my latest accounts the the consul so they could see that my business could indeed afford to repatriate me.

An explanation, but it probably doesn't help you much in your own quest for a 'B' visa..

Simon

Thanks to all your advice in this forum about the best visa for me to apply for - to enable me to visit my GF every fortnight, and to investigate the launch of my business in Thailand.

On Monday just gone, I applied for a one year, multiple-entry B visa at the Hull Consulate in the UK.  This morning I got my passport by post with the requested visa!!

Well, I cannot beat that for efficiency!  Well done to the Hull consulate for such fast work - and thanks again to all the advice from this forum!

Simon

I fly out to BKK from London every fortnight, leaving London on Thursday night and flying back from BKK late on Sunday night (or very early Monday monring).

I usually book via Expedia or Ebookers and a typical return fare is 559 GBP.

Any suggestions as to how I can reduce this price?  I want to fly non-stop and my stays are usually only a couple of days.

Anyone ever worked as an air-courier to get reduced-price tickets? If so, any links to this sort of work??

Cheers

Simon

OK - I can understand that if I live and work in Thailand, then it's important to do a 90 day reporting.  But I don't live in the country and I don't work!  I visit BKK every fortnight to see my girlfriend and stay in this rented apartment. So my concern is whether I legally have to report this apartment rental, and/or whether I am at risk of damaging my (current), clean reputation if I don't report it.

And how do you report it?  My interpretation of the note on this website is that is is only necessary to write to the relevant government office to report this, and not actually necessary to visit in person. (I want to avoid spending my valuable time in BKK down at a government office instead of spending it with my GF!)

Cheers

Simon

Amazing the info you find on this web-site!  So I just discovered that because I am renting a condo from a Thai citizen, this must be reported to the relevant authorities within 24 hours of taking up occupancy. (Oops..missed out on that one by 6 weeks then...)

Is this really required? I rent a condo but am not resident in BKK (I use this condo 2 times a month because it's cheaper than paying for a good hotel....).  Will I be deported for failing to report this?! Or will the Thai guy I rent it from be hung up by his toes??  I think I need to know!

Cheers

Simon

Yes - I for one, would appreciate this new forum.  I am busy trying to expand my UK/European business (mobile text-messaging services), into Thailand. Just got back 1 hour ago from a long weekend in BKK.....

Cheers

Simon

OK - thanks for this - I'll contact the Hull consul!

Marry my fiancee? Hmm - have to divorce my English wife first!! (..and that's in progress...)

Hi - I live in the UK but visit Bangkok every fortnight to see my girlfriend and to investigate expanding my SMS text-messaging services into Thailand. I do not work in Thailand so have no work permit, nor am I resident in Thailand.  But I rent an apartment in central Bangkok.

Every fortnight when I enter Thailand via the airport I get a 30 day tourist stamp in my passport. And 3 days later when I leave thailand this is cancelled. I then return 11 days later and go through the same process.

My question is - Since my passport is rapidly filling up with 30 day tourist stamps, can I apply for a visa for a longer period? (which type?)  And will Thai customs start to have a problem with my multiple entries to Thailand? I'm just a little concerned that they might ask me why I visit Thailand so often and stay for such a short time. (I have to say that my girlfriend is well worth so many visits!!)

Cheers

Simon

Hi - I've previously enquired about running my UK Ltd company business in Thailand - and understand the need to register a Thai company etc etc.  But reading through the information I see that American companies get special treatment in Thailand.  Now I also own a US company (LLC registered in Delaware).  Would use of this US company be a good route into operating my business in Thailand? What advantages (if any), would there be over using my UK company?  Do I have to be an American citizen to take advanage of any benefits??

Thanks

Simon

Maybe an easy question! I am planning some regular trips to Thailand to investigate moving my business there. I will be coming to Bangkok ever other weekend for several months.  My question is - I will get my passport stamped on entry for a 30 day tourist visa.  If I leave Thailand and return within that 30 day period, do I need to get a re-entry visa on my return within that 30 day period? Or do I just point out my existing visa stamp to immigration? (Or do I do nothing and get a new 30 day stamp?). What if my return visit of a few days exceeds the cut-off date of my existing 30 day visa?

Any advice needed and please don't think I'm mad to travel halfway round the world to visit Thailand just for the weekend!!

cheers - Simon

OK - I need some expert advice about living legally in Thailand!  Here's the background:

I currently live in the UK and own a successful business that provides SMS text-chat services to UK and European mobile networks.  Although my offices are in the UK, our connections to all these mobile networks is via the internet!  So I could base the office anywhere in the world.  I had been considering moving to Spain (cheaper than the UK and nice weather), but a recent visit to Thailand has got me thinking about living there and running my business from Thailand. (Plus I met a gorgeous girl....!)

Well, I can't get my head round what the best sort of visa I need to be able to stay longterm in Thailand.  I have no problems re money to buy a house in Thailand (according to the usual methods etc). But all the work visa I can find seems to refer to working for a Thai company.  I simply want to live in Thailand and operate my UK company 'remotely'.

Maybe I should not mention my business at all, but simply live out there.  Can I get eg a visa where I simply have to demonstrate a regular income coming into the country??

Any help is much appreciated!

cheers

Simon