I debated this over 2 years ago as my condo has wifi and every Pattaya bar you go to has free wifi also. Do you really need a Sim card with so many social media ways to contact people? You can even call each other on wifi messenger if you actually want to speak to someone.

 

Maybe not having 24/7 access to social media is a good thing ????

 

 

 

Do you ever have need to call a business in your home country?

If from the facet of making phone calls... No, I hardly ever actually use my ‘phone’ (cell network) to make a phone call. 

 

However, I use my ‘data’ a lot....  WiFi is of course good, but its not available all the time when on the move.

Not everywhere has WiFi to log into.

 

‘Data’ is extremely useful when ‘out and about’ using google maps etc, searching for locations / destinations etc, finding the best way through traffic (spotting busier areas etc).

 

Thus a SIM card with a data plan is extremely useful.

1 minute ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

 

 

Do you ever have need to call a business in your home country?

You could do that with Skype over wifi. But you'll need to pay for the calls (though just a few cents per minute to most countries).

 

Paul Laew

You do need a SIM card if you're going to do any electronic banking here, since the bank may want to send SMS codes to your phone for security.

 

Paul Laew

Just now, Paulaew said:

You do need a SIM card if you're going to do any electronic banking here, since the bank may want to send SMS codes to your phone for security.

 

Paul Laew

Excellent point... 

 

For the cost, ease and convenience of a SIM Card and data plan in Thailand the question really should be, why wouldn’t anyone get a SIM card ?

My son introduced me to a video conferencing tool called Duo, works better than LINE or Skype, no SIM card required.

17 minutes ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

 

 

Do you ever have need to call a business in your home country?

No I email them

 

12 minutes ago, Paulaew said:

You do need a SIM card if you're going to do any electronic banking here, since the bank may want to send SMS codes to your phone for security.

 

Paul Laew

I do all my banking with wifi. All banks I have use apps and the OTP code is given via the app rather than by sms

10 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

My son introduced me to a video conferencing tool called Duo, works better than LINE or Skype, no SIM card required.

Line and Skype do not need a SIM card - they just need an internet connection.

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

For the cost, ease and convenience of a SIM Card and data plan in Thailand the question really should be, why wouldn’t anyone get a SIM card ?

Well, you and I think like that, but there is a whole generation of younger people in America (and probably elsewhere) who have opted out of the phone sevice provider system altogether, and just use wifi wherever it's available. They mainly use social media and, as the OP said, "You can even call each other on wifi messenger if you actually want to speak to someone."

 

As if you might actually want to talk to a live person!

 

Paul Laew

2 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

I do all my banking with wifi. All banks I have use apps and the OTP code is given via the app rather than by sms

 

There is a concurrently running thread about ‘contactless payment’..... making payments by scanning QR codes etc in your mBanking app.

 

I pay for a number of things this way - just open the App, scan the QR Code / or input the PromptPay number and make the payment. 

 

This obviously isn’t for everyone and as with many things there are alternatives... 

As with the ‘do you need a car’ thread, or ‘Contactless Payment’ thread... and many other threads about how we do things, there is a convenience vs cost balance......

 

We ‘can’ do things the less convenient way, but why would we - SIM cards and post paid or even pre-paid plans are extremely cheap in Thailand. 

 

For many things you don't need a sim card. But it is good to have for some things or for emergencies. If you don't  call much as you say you do, then it will be so inexpensive to have a cheap one, I don't see why you would put yourself in danger to save $10 per month? 

7 minutes ago, Paulaew said:

Well, you and I think like that, but there is a whole generation of younger people in America (and probably elsewhere) who have opted out of the phone sevice provider system altogether, and just use wifi wherever it's available. They mainly use social media and, as the OP said, "You can even call each other on wifi messenger if you actually want to speak to someone."

 

As if you might actually want to talk to a live person!

 

Paul Laew

Thats interesting to know... 

 

I don’t pay for a Plan... It comes as part of the Internet package at home....   800 baht all in for True Internet (400 mbps) / Mobile Phone (30 GB) per month.... 

 

Before that I think I had a plan for about 100 baht per month...  and topped up on the App IF I needed extra data. 

 

 

9 minutes ago, Paulaew said:

They mainly use social media and, as the OP said, "You can even call each other on wifi messenger if you actually want to speak to someone."

 

As if you might actually want to talk to a live person!

I don't want to, I'm in the "Get off my lawn" stage of life ????

1 minute ago, aussiexpat said:

I don't want to, I'm in the "Get off my lawn" stage of life ????

I'm at the stage of life where the doctors' offices are calling me to confirm my appointments. I have to have a SIM card so they can reach me ????

 

Paul Laew

2 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

I don't want to, I'm in the "Get off my lawn" stage of life ????

As an Aussie... isn’t it ‘get out of my country’ ????? ????

29 minutes ago, Paulaew said:

You do need a SIM card if you're going to do any electronic banking here, since the bank may want to send SMS codes to your phone for security.

 

Paul Laew

In addition, many mobile banking apps must be activated using mobile data and not wifi.

6 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

In addition, many mobile banking apps must be activated using mobile data and not wifi.

Not true, I switched all my bank sms alerts to give app alerts

 

6 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

In addition, many mobile banking apps must be activated using mobile data and not wifi.

Yes, good point. Google accounts too.

 

Paul Laew

Just now, aussiexpat said:

Not true, I switched all my bank sms alerts to their app

What if you change your phone ???  (the app needs a ref code SMS’d to the registered phone number, no ?)

 

Do you need a phone number and OTP to activate the App on that Phone ??

 

Do the ThaiBanks have that option?

I travel a lot and having to switch back to my Thai SIM to receive an OTP while over seas to carry out a Thai transaction is somewhat of an annoyance - App approval for Thai Banks would be a step forwards. 

 

Note: I have App approval with my UK accounts (and some from other countries), but not Thailand. 

47 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

If from the facet of making phone calls... No, I hardly ever actually use my ‘phone’ (cell network) to make a phone call. 

 

However, I use my ‘data’ a lot....  WiFi is of course good, but its not available all the time when on the move.

Not everywhere has WiFi to log into.

 

‘Data’ is extremely useful when ‘out and about’ using google maps etc, searching for locations / destinations etc, finding the best way through traffic (spotting busier areas etc).

 

Thus a SIM card with a data plan is extremely useful.

Exactly. wifi and cellular are necessary back ups to each other for full reliable continuous phone and internet service.

Just now, aussiexpat said:

Not true, I switched all my bank sms alerts to their app

You can only do that once you have activated or at least used the app for the first time.  For example, the K+ app requires that the first time you connect to it, it must be done via mobile data.  The Bangkok Bank Bualuang app requires activation using an OTP sent by SMS.  The SCB Easy app requires a mobile phone number for registration.  A bank is not going to send the first activation OTP or confirmation to an unactivated app, it would defeat the purpose of providing a security ID.

I would say mobile data is required if you want to use Bolt or Grab to get around.  You might have wifi in your condo or an establishment you frequent, but once you're a few yards outside waiting on a taxi you need to be able to communicate with them.

You will need a sim card if you use Thai banking apps, as many of these provide a one time passcode via SMS to verify your online purchases.

you need a sim card to do banking and some purchases online ...

internet is not that expensive in Thailand.   I get unlimited internet access on my mobile 100 baht/month

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, blackcab said:

You will need a sim card if you use Thai banking apps, as many of these provide a one time passcode via SMS to verify your online purchases.

And wont allow certain aspects of the app to be completed over wifi.

18 minutes ago, treetops said:

I would say mobile data is required if you want to use Bolt or Grab to get around.  You might have wifi in your condo or an establishment you frequent, but once you're a few yards outside waiting on a taxi you need to be able to communicate with them.

Lol, in 14 years coming to Pattaya I've never sat outside waiting for a taxi. They message/Line me when outside and then I leave my condo. If catching a taxi away from my Condo, they're on the street ready to go

 

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

What if you change your phone ???  (the app needs a ref code SMS’d to the registered phone number, no ?)

 

Do you need a phone number and OTP to activate the App on that Phone ??

 

Do the ThaiBanks have that option?

I travel a lot and having to switch back to my Thai SIM to receive an OTP while over seas to carry out a Thai transaction is somewhat of an annoyance - App approval for Thai Banks would be a step forwards. 

 

Note: I have App approval with my UK accounts (and some from other countries), but not Thailand. 

I'm most familiar with the K+ App, which must be reactivated using mobile data if you change your phone number.  This can be done in the App:

 

Once it is activated you can use any wifi connection, not necessarily in Thailand, to connect and do your banking.  I log onto the App using my fingerprint and, once I've set up a transaction, enter my 6 digit PIN to confirm.  I have transfered money to other accounts when out of Thailand using this method on a number of occasions.

3 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Lol, in 14 years coming to Pattaya I've never sat outside waiting for a taxi. They message/Line me when outside and then I leave my condo. If catching a taxi away from my Condo, they're on the street ready to go

How do you hail a Bolt or Grab out on the street in an area with no regular taxis?

8 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

Lol, in 14 years coming to Pattaya I've never sat outside waiting for a taxi. They message/Line me when outside and then I leave my condo. If catching a taxi away from my Condo, they're on the street ready to go

 

 

These threads....  

- Do you need a SIM card in Thailand ?

- Do you need our own transport Thailand ?

- Do you use ‘cashless / digital payment’ ?

- Do you need a Yellow Book / Pink ID card ?

 

etc etc....  are all the same... posters come up with a myriad of excuses as to why the don’t need something... or don’t need to do something a certain way etc... 

 

Everyone has different experiences.....   When it comes to ‘need’ we can get away without most things.

 

But...  having them adds an element of convenience which makes them worth it.