So will be in BKK for several months. Maybe longer. Business (mostly). Prol travel to adjoins countries for a sortie now and then. 
do I need to buy phone service?

I have iPhone with new type of built in sim device. 
 

I’ve been in Taiwan a while and honestly WiFi is everywhere and I tell US contacts to use WhatsApp. 
 

anyone have opinions on the matter 😁

"WIFI is everywhere" Are you going to ask everywhere for their WIFI password?

Do you know that shared WIFI isn't secure?

You are here for business, use business expenses to get a proper internet deal.

I have an iPhone with service through AIS.  I don't like to use any kind of public wi-fi, so when I travel, I use my I-Phone as a hotspot for online browsing.  My phone comes with a data plan, but if the allowed data runs out for some reason, I can buy additional data right through the AIS app.  

Wifi IS everywhere, unless you're out trekking in the jungle very little need for phone data.

Coffee shops, bars, restaurants, hotels, condos .............

Ask for password in every venue once, when having a coffee or beer, use it forever more.

Usually faster than the phone data as well.

 

Same in Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines.

Enjoy your trip!

I just buy an inexpensive data only e-sim online.  I use it mainly for ride sharing apps (Grab, Bolt), so I don't have to deal with taxis or tuk tuk rip offs.  For most things I use wifi at my condo.

WIFI is cheap here, just purchase a monthly plan and stop worrying about it.

25 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Wifi IS everywhere, unless you're out trekking in the jungle very little need for phone data.

Coffee shops, bars, restaurants, hotels, condos .............

Ask for password in every venue one, when having a coffee or beer, use it forever more.

Usually faster than the phone data as well.

 

Same in Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines.

Enjoy your trip!

 Am I the only one here who understands why accessing the Internet via public wi-fi is a bad idea? 

7 minutes ago, jas007 said:

 Am I the only one here who understands why accessing the Internet via public wi-fi is a bad idea? 

No as I wrote that 30 minutes before you did 🙂

get a local thai number...it is cheap and comes in handy in a variety of situations.....maybe not needed for a casual tourist for a week or so but  several months with no thai number is not ideal.

You can easily "get by" with just public wi-fi (security issues notwithstanding.....VPN would be a good idea.)

 

Where it can be tricky is if you want to call a Grab or use google maps while driving or something like that while you're "on the go" - phone service pre-paid plans are very inexpensive in Thailand so if you want to guarantee you'll always have coverage.....

 

Additionally, if you want to order things online (Lazada, FoodPanda, et al.) you'll need a Thai number (I think.)

32 minutes ago, jas007 said:

 Am I the only one here who understands why accessing the Internet via public wi-fi is a bad idea? 

Tell me what you think the security issue could be?

My bank account app is locked to my fingerprint, anything I buy is paid for by scan on delivery, I see no possible problem.

24 minutes ago, jas007 said:

Am I the only one here who understands why accessing the Internet via public wi-fi is a bad idea? 

 

If you are using a secure (https) website that you are sure is legitimate, your data is safe even over public wifi.  Over https all information is encrypted before it leaves your device, and it's impossible for anyone but the destination website to decrypt it.

 

The only people who will tell you otherwise are companies trying to sell you vpns and worthless security software.

 Possible issues:  Man in the Middle attack.  Rouge hotspots.  Just to name a couple.  I wouldn't use public wi-f-in a million years.  

3 minutes ago, Yolando said:

 

If you are using a secure (https) website that you are sure is legitimate, your data is safe even over public wifi.  Over https all information is encrypted before it leaves your device, and it's impossible for anyone but the destination website to decrypt it.

 

The only people who will tell you otherwise are companies trying to sell you vpns and worthless security software.

What a load of nonsense.

3 minutes ago, jas007 said:

Possible issues:  Man in the Middle attack.  Rouge hotspots.  Just to name a couple.  I wouldn't use public wi-f-in a million years.  

Man in the middle is when someone creates a fake version of a website.  That would have to be an incredibly sophisticated attack, and a big coincidence that you happen to use the same website they are targeting.....

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

What a load of nonsense.

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/are-public-wi-fi-networks-safe-what-you-need-know

22 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Tell me what you think the security issue could be?

My bank account app is locked to my fingerprint, anything I buy is paid for by scan on delivery, I see no possible problem.

Public Wi-Fi networks pose several security risks. These risks include:

 

norton.com+3

• Man-in-the-middle attacks, which are a form of eavesdropping.
• Unencrypted networks, which can allow others to intercept your data.
• Malware distribution, which can infect your device.
• Wi-Fi snooping and sniffing, which can allow others to see your online activity.
• Malicious hotspots, which can be set up to look like legitimate Wi-Fi networks but are actually designed to steal your data.
  To avoid these risks, it is recommended to avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks when possible. If you must connect to public Wi-Fi, use a corporate or personal Wi-Fi hotspot with strong authentication and encryption whenever possible

1 minute ago, Yolando said:

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/are-public-wi-fi-networks-safe-what-you-need-know

Public Wi-Fi networks pose several security risks. These risks include:

 

norton.com+3

• Man-in-the-middle attacks, which are a form of eavesdropping.
• Unencrypted networks, which can allow others to intercept your data.
• Malware distribution, which can infect your device.
• Wi-Fi snooping and sniffing, which can allow others to see your online activity.
• Malicious hotspots, which can be set up to look like legitimate Wi-Fi networks but are actually designed to steal your data.
  To avoid these risks, it is recommended to avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks when possible. If you must connect to public Wi-Fi, use a corporate or personal Wi-Fi hotspot with strong authentication and encryption whenever possible

Just now, FritsSikkink said:

Public Wi-Fi networks pose several security risks. These risks include:

 

norton.com+3

•  

 

From Norton.  They are trying to sell their software and VPN to gullible people by scaring them.

7 minutes ago, Yolando said:

 

From Norton.  They are trying to sell their software and VPN to gullible people by scaring them.

Not only Norton, any trained IT security guy will know this (me being one of them).

My company earns a lot of money repairing businesses their computer environment because dumb employees have compromised their laptop and infect the companies network by using public WIFI.

43 minutes ago, jas007 said:

 Am I the only one here who understands why accessing the Internet via public wi-fi is a bad idea? 

It's okay if you use a VPN and only go to HTTPS sites.

2 minutes ago, jaywalker2 said:

It's okay if you use a VPN and only go to HTTPS sites.

No, it isn't. You might think you go to the coffeeshop WIFI but hackers can lure you to their system.

Just now, FritsSikkink said:

No, it isn't. You might think you go to the coffeeshop WIFI but hackers can lure you to their system.

How safe do you think your phone is then when you're walking around town, inputting your bank information, or whatever. There's no ideal solution, especially when you're traveling.

16 minutes ago, Yolando said:

From Norton.  They are trying to sell their software and VPN to gullible people by scaring them.

Not even sure malware for android phones even exists.

9 minutes ago, jaywalker2 said:

How safe do you think your phone is then when you're walking around town, inputting your bank information, or whatever. There's no ideal solution, especially when you're traveling.

I'm fairly certain my fingerprint is 100% secure, and that's the only information that allows access to my banking apps (and only on my phone).

I don't enter debit card details anywhere, that's old tech, move with the times.

1 minute ago, jaywalker2 said:

How safe do you think your phone is then when you're walking around town, inputting your bank information, or whatever. There's no ideal solution, especially when you're traveling.

I don't use public WIFI and have my phone secured. I am not using my banking app while walking around.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I'm fairly certain my fingerprint is 100% secure, and that's the only information that allows access to my banking apps (and only on my phone).

You don't have a clue how hackers access information, there are ways around the use of your fingerprint.

6 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

You don't have a clue how hackers access information, there are ways around the use of your fingerprint.

Only if they're holding my phone.

13 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Not only Norton, any trained IT security guy will know this (me being one of them).

My company earns a lot of money repairing businesses their computer environment because dumb employees have compromised their laptop and infect the companies network by using public WIFI.

 

Very strange then that you can't produce any evidence that this a threat from any non-biased site that's not trying to sell their crappy software.

Just now, BritManToo said:

Only if they're holding my phone.

No