torrow

I installed the True WiFi calling app on my Asus. Went through a registration process which was painless. Put the phone into air plane mode and it worked.

So my question is this - if I'm using WiFi in another country, what will I be charged to make and receive a call?

Hi, Anyone using True Wifi calling? Am I reading this correctly - even if there is no mobile signal, your phone will still make and receive a call provided you are connected to WiFi?

Thanks for all your replies. I'm no telecoms expert but before 3's roaming partner in Thailand was DTac, now they've recently switched to True. I've tried to get some clarification of whether 3 can provide service here in Thailand but they always fob it off as True's problem.

Hi.

I need to keep a UK SIM active to receive text alerts from my bank etc. (they will only accept a UK mobile number). My 3UK SIM no longer works. Obviously most UK networks will work in Thailand but the biggest issue for expats is keeping the SIM active. What's the best?

I've been in Thailand around two weeks.

Same for my 3 sim, just a x by the signal icon.

EE sim works fine.

Thanks, that's the answer I've been waiting for.

Thanks.

It's worked fine for the last couple of years, it's only the last month or so it's failed.

We've been round and round the houses with this. Everything suggested (and more) has been tried including changing phones - with screen shots back and forth to the UK. My feeling is, 3UK are having problems with True. Occasionally, a roaming advice text will arrive from 3UK but nothing else. I know in the past I've had problems roaming in Asia with 3 - it wasn't reliable to use in the Philippines, kept losing the network, so I had to mess about with an o2 SIM.

In an ideal world, a fellow Brit in Thailand with a 3UK SIM is going to tell me how his service is :-)

I'm using a 3UK sim to receive text alerts from my UK bank etc. but the texts have stopped coming. The sim is in credit and 3UK think there is a problem with their roaming partner in Thailand - True. In the past I'm sure my SIM always used the DTac. network. Anyone else having problems or can confirm the service is good?

I have a Thai driving license, is this an acceptable form of identification?

Reading the paperwork it appears a birth certificate is not acceptable as identification. Bearing in mind I have no residency status in Thailand (apart from registering at my local immigration office) what is acceptable identification please?

Thanks for the replies. Can someone confirm please - if I apply for this in Bangkok, I only need to provide photocopies of my original unexpired passport? I can still retain my existing passport and continue to use it until the new one arrives?

Hello. My passport is almost full but has 5 years until expiry. I'm mostly in Thailand on tourist visas but do wander off to visit other SE Asian counties too. My understanding is Brits cannot have pages added to the passport - is this correct? Can I obtain a new passport in Thailand, a country close by or do I need to get it from the UK? Thanks

Thanks for the replies.

I want to transfer money from paypal direct to my Kasikorn bank rather than a UK Bank and then have to draw it from an ATM in Thailand. Not big money, someone pays me in Euros sometimes and I want Euro to Baht without having to convert to Sterling in between.

Hi, has anyone used a green bank account with PayPal? Can it be done? Does it work?

I have a long standing PayPal account from my time in the UK. if I tried to draw small amounts of money from it to a Thai bank account, would PayPal suspect money laundering and put a lengthy hold on it or block my account?

Thanks

Hi, I want to go out and back at Ban Pu Nam Ron... is this crossing open and can I activate the second part of my tourist visa there? Thanks.

While its always fun to get and give help to/from others the OP really should at this point go to the Mint forums as no one here seems to have the simple answers.

http://forums.linuxmint.com/

No doubt you'll find an answer there.

There maybe a few exceptions that I am unaware of, but I think every distro has it's own forum. Remember Linux was built on collaboration. Forums are in the DNA.

One would asume so but sadly the response there was.. let's just say, very dissapointing.

At this point, I've settled for using Yahoo Messenger on my phone. It works, but not without problems - but that's another story.

Thanks for all the replies anyway.

Mint is a Kubuntu wannabe. I found Mint to be behind the curve with respect to software releases, and the (public forum) support to be wanting.

Needless to say, I'm happy I switched to Kubuntu 14.04 LTS for my laptop. The built-in webcam works fine with Skype, Cheese, and... Pidgin.

You may be right, I haven't tried another distro lately. All I know is, Mint 17.2 was the first Linux install I've had that worked 100% straight out of the box and so far, I can't fault it. Likewise, Skype is perfect too; it just worked, I didn't have to configure anything... the webcam was there. It's only Yahoo messenger which is causing grief but it's not a deal breaker.

Some would say, why persevere which Yahoo? Skype will fail with a poor connection whist YM will still hold up a video chat and for that reason, I have a few contacts who can't move to Skype.

Once YM ruled the world; I really don't figure Yahoo out, they've just let it go. Even the Andorid app sucks and basically doesn't work.

I'm still waiting for someone to say they are actually making video calls to people who only have Yahoo messenger.

You are going to have to look for a substitute application that uses the Yahoo IM protocol. The last Yahoo Messenger stable release for Linux was 11 years ago in September of 2003.

I agree; I use Kopete (under Kubuntu). My web-cam works fine.

I'm a little perplexed as to why Pidgin is not working for the OP. It would be helpful to know some additional info... for example, which Linux distro is the OP using, which version of Pidgin, etc.

Are you making video calls or using a webcam with yahoo?

Thanks for the replies. There is no newer version in the software manager, the only way to update it I can see is with app-get through ppa. Maybe that will cause more plroblems.

Before I do all this, is anyone actually using a webcam on Yahoo now?

You are going to have to look for a substitute application that uses the Yahoo IM protocol. The last Yahoo Messenger stable release for Linux was 11 years ago in September of 2003.

I agree; I use Kopete (under Kubuntu). My web-cam works fine.

I'm a little perplexed as to why Pidgin is not working for the OP. It would be helpful to know some additional info... for example, which Linux distro is the OP using, which version of Pidgin, etc.

I'm using mint 17.2 and pidgin 1.2. There is a button to make a video call but it's always greyed out, even during a chat. Skype on the other hand is perfect and needed nothing changed - it all just worked. In Skype I can go into the setttings and actually see the cam working

Thanks. Pidgin works fine with text only, I just can't get to work with a webcam

Is your webcam working with other apps (e.g. Skype and/or cheese)?

Yes, Skype is fine.

Thanks. Pidgin works fine with text only, I just can't get to work with a webcam

Has anyone got it working on Linux with a webcam?

Do you think Google will ever offer an official Chrome browser to put on older machines ?

I know there are some Chrome based Linux browsers , but not official so I do not know if the Chrome add ons work

The problem with Chrome is, it will bring an old machine to it knees because it's doing so much 'Google stuff' in the background and Google keep silently slipping in plugins you don't need (but they think you do) Also when you close Chrome, it doesn't close (ever wondered why it's so fast to open?) it hides in the background doing more Google stuff.... which is why people use Firefox and not Chrome.

Sorry - what a load of crap!

There is an option under System / Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.

If you mark this, Chrome will start very fast as it is still running in the background - you unmark it and close Google Chrome, all aps are closed, just check Taskmanager / Processes - no Google Chrome.

Sorry - but that's a bit of a contradiction... saying that my post about Chrome running in the background was a load of crap and then in the next paragraph say it does run in the background depending on the system settings.

Do you think Google will ever offer an official Chrome browser to put on older machines ?

I know there are some Chrome based Linux browsers , but not official so I do not know if the Chrome add ons work

The problem with Chrome is, it will bring an old machine to it knees because it's doing so much 'Google stuff' in the background and Google keep silently slipping in plugins you don't need (but they think you do) Also when you close Chrome, it doesn't close (ever wondered why it's so fast to open?) it hides in the background doing more Google stuff.... which is why people use Firefox and not Chrome.

Update:

After using Mint 17.2 on a USB for a few days, I bit the bullet and installed it. I've installed various flavours of Linux before but never without some niggling problem which was serious enough to send me back to Windows. Mint 17.2 was so quick and painless to install, I was truly amazed. For the first time ever, I have a Linux install where every thing worked right out of the box ( including audio and webcam). Likewise, Skype worked perfectly first time.

I've been using Windows 10 Insider preview up to now. I know it's pre release but the current builds are fairly close now to the RTM build. The first thing I noticed was how much cooler my laptop is running. So far everything is fine.

Thanks