Receive SMS with Thai mobile while in the USA

[scottydel]

Lived in Thailand for 6 years in early 2000s.  We still bank with Bangkok Bank though we live in the USA with our two kids.  It's convenient to keep the accounts open so when we visit every couple years, we have accounts, ATM cards and don't have to carry a lot of cash.  I can still feel like I'm a local a little too, ha ha.  Banking with Bangkok Bank requires a Thai mobile number registered with my account.  My wife's brother has been letting us use his mobile for years.  So while in the USA, whenever we use Bangkok Bank's website to transfer money, or tonight we tried to add a new 3rd party transfer account, it requires him receiving an OTP password on his Thai mobile.  We have to contact him on his mobile, he tells us the password, we key it in to the website here in the USA and we are on our way.  Was wondering, is there any way to keep a Thai mobile number active for years on a phone that we bring back to the USA, don't really use, but just keep it with us, so we can stop bothering the brother at random?

 

It's obviously way out of network and the phone doesn't have to work, but I know technology just keeps getting easier and easier, and just curious if anyone has any ideas on how this might be accomplished.  Like maybe if I topped up a Thai mobile number just enough to keep it active, even though it was physically in the USA, could the SMS somehow be forwarded to an app, or another USA number, the same way you can forward emails?  We actually still have two AIS 1-2-CALL SIMS from June 2018, when we returned from our last trip.  I bet those SIMs are still active, just don't know how to get them working here in the USA.

 

Bangkok Bank will not let us use a USA mobile number, which makes sense.

 

[Langsuan Man]

Any of the big telecom companies here in Thailand will give you a SIM that is good for a year or more, since you can top them up via Internet banking so you don't even have to be in country

 

Only thing you have to do is enable roaming when you leave Thailand and you will get the SMS from Bangkok Bank for free since there is no fee for International SMS

 

I have DTAC and every year I return to the US for six months and just put my DTAC SIM into an extra phone and turn it on when I am expecting a text message from Thailand.  I think it only costs  24 THB to extend the life of my SIM by 365 days and have been able to keep the same Thai phone number for the last 12 years 

[scottydel]

Thank you much Langsuan Man, that is great info.  We are already in the USA so not sure if I can enable roaming anymore, but I will try.  At least will definitely keep that in mind for next time. 

[mtls2005]

It might just be easiest to keep using the BiL's service? Then when you come back for your next visit get this all sorted out.

 

Otherwise, you'll need to buy a SIM, activate international roaming, keep the validity, have a phone which accepts a SIM, have a local signal from a IR partner.

 

Assume you could do this on your next trip? Or ask someone in Thailand to buy a SIM, activate IR, do 12 (10 baht) top-ups to extend the expiry to 365 days and then mail it to you. Some providers here offer the option to buy expiry at the rate of 2 baht/30 days which could be done remotely once IR is enabled.

 

DTAC Jai Dee Day Giveaway: http://www.dtac.co.th/en/prepaid/services/jai-dee.html

 

Keeping the expiry valid remains a challenge, you can do this remotely or ask someone in Thailand to keep adding 10 baht for 30 days. The maximum expiry is 365 days. Some providers here require activity every 90 days.

 

You may be able to activate IR remotely on your AIS SIM by contacting the provider, maybe by email? You can't use the normal channels (mobile app, web app) as you can't receive an SMS.

 

Not sure if you can add a new mobile number to your BBL account remotely - you cannot get an OTP yet?

[ravip]

My AIS SIM allows to receive free SMS abroad.

I did request roaming before leaving Thailand.

[sanmyintmaung]

If your phone support VoWifi feature, you can receive SMS to your AIS number by keeping the AIS sim inside the phone and connecting to Wifi network. Your phone will not need to connect to foreign carrier for International Roaming.

http://www.ais.co.th/4g/vowifi/en/

Edited October 3, 2018 by sanmyintmaung

[Langsuan Man]

13 hours ago, sanmyintmaung said:

If your phone support VoWifi feature, you can receive SMS to your AIS number by keeping the AIS sim inside the phone and connecting to Wifi network. Your phone will not need to connect to foreign carrier for International Roaming.

http://www.ais.co.th/4g/vowifi/en/

Why?

 

SMS sent Internationally are free for the receiver

[sanmyintmaung]

11 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

Why?

 

SMS sent Internationally are free for the receiver

 

It is just an alternative solution. No need to request roaming enabled before leaving Thailand. It will work as long as the phone is within wifi range.

 

 

Edited October 4, 2018 by sanmyintmaung

[mtls2005]

6 hours ago, sanmyintmaung said:

It is just an alternative solution. No need to request roaming enabled before leaving Thailand. It will work as long as the phone is within wifi range.

 

Yes, but you won't be able to enroll in AIS's WiFi program if outside the U.S. as you will not be able to send the *399 code.

 

You could try to contact AIS out of band and request that international roaming be enabled, or even ask that WiFi calling be enabled - assuming your handset supports it.

 

You could try the various contact channels: web-chat, email, telephone

 

011 662-271-9000 (dialing from the U.S.)

email: [email protected]

 

[sanmyintmaung]

30 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Yes, but you won't be able to enroll in AIS's WiFi program if outside the U.S. as you will not be able to send the *399 code.

 

You could try to contact AIS out of band and request that international roaming be enabled, or even ask that WiFi calling be enabled - assuming your handset supports it.

 

You could try the various contact channels: web-chat, email, telephone

 

011 662-271-9000 (dialing from the U.S.)

email: [email protected]

 

My experience with VoWifi from AIS is that it is already enabled by carrier out of the box. Just need to turn on the Wifi calling setting of the phone and you are good to go. No need to press *399 code. Having said that, I understand your experience could be different as there are  many older SIMs from pre-4G period still in use. Older SIMs might not have VoWifi enabled by default and thus need *399 code.

[ravip]

On 10/3/2018 at 7:10 AM, sanmyintmaung said:

If your phone support VoWifi feature, you can receive SMS to your AIS number by keeping the AIS sim inside the phone and connecting to Wifi network. Your phone will not need to connect to foreign carrier for International Roaming.

http://www.ais.co.th/4g/vowifi/en/

If the Android phone supports the VoWifi feature, on which menu does it appear? 

[sanmyintmaung]

2 hours ago, ravip said:

If the Android phone supports the VoWifi feature, on which menu does it appear? 

[mtls2005]

10 hours ago, ravip said:

If the Android phone supports the VoWifi feature, on which menu does it appear?

 

Evert phone/UI is a bit different. In stock Android 9.0 it's in Settings, Mobile & internet, Mobile network, Advanced.

 

Often one can "Search" Settings so just type "WiFi" and "WiFi Calling" should show up if it is within the Settings options.

 

Is your phone make/model on the AIS "list"? There are quite a few makes and models which are allowed via an IMEI check: http://www.ais.co.th/4g/vowifi/en/

 

Alternatively, you may be able to enter *#*#4636#*#* from the dial-pad, choose Phone Information, see if "WiFi Calling Provisioned" radio-button is available and toggled to "on".

[ravip]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Evert phone/UI is a bit different. In stock Android 9.0 it's in Settings, Mobile & internet, Mobile network, Advanced.

 

Often one can "Search" Settings so just type "WiFi" and "WiFi Calling" should show up if it is within the Settings options.

 

Is your phone make/model on the AIS "list"? There are quite a few makes and models which are allowed via an IMEI check: http://www.ais.co.th/4g/vowifi/en/

 

Alternatively, you may be able to enter *#*#4636#*#* from the dial-pad, choose Phone Information, see if "WiFi Calling Provisioned" radio-button is available and toggled to "on".

Thank you. I guess mine is not listed on the AIS site - SM-A500G

[mtls2005]

I think your A5 is VoWiFi-capable.

 

I see the A5 on their approved list. But maybe you have an earlier (2014?) rev. of that phone which does not support VoWiFi?

 

Did you get a reply from *399*1# SEND?

 

Did you see VoWiFi in the *#*#4636#*#* menu?

 

https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Smartphones-Tablets-Wearables/Wifi-calling-texting-A5/m-p/549757

 

 

[ravip]

1 minute ago, mtls2005 said:

I think your A5 is VoWiFi-capable.

 

I see the A5 on their approved list. But maybe you have an earlier (2014?) rev. of that phone which does not support VoWiFi?

 

Did you get a reply from *399*1# SEND?

 

Did you see VoWiFi in the *#*#4636#*#* menu?

 

https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/Smartphones-Tablets-Wearables/Wifi-calling-texting-A5/m-p/549757

 

 

Yes, mine is A5 2014. So bad luck!

Did you get a reply from *399*1# SEND? - Connection problem or invalid MMI Code

Did you see VoWiFi in the *#*#4636#*#* menu? - Error

 

Thank you, anyway.