How to keep old contacts available on my MOTO G7 Phone If I get a Thai SIM and Thai plan

[gk10012001]

Finally breaking free and heading to Thailand this July.  I have an ATT unlimited plan that really by itself does not have good prices or options for overseas use.  I want to keep my various contacts I have but plan to buy a Thailand SIM and package while in Thailand for about 88 days!  Yes, visa exempt 60 days then 30 day extension.  I assume the Thai SIM card replaces my current USA SIM card, so after I set up DTAC or whichever SIM and Thai plan I pre pay, how can I see and call my USA phone numbers contacts?

 

What happens after installing the new Thai Sim?  Does my android Phone Still have the same menus and look and feel?  I haven't used a Thai sim in about 7 years since my last trip when I used a small cheap voice and text only thai phone!

[gk10012001]

2 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Finally breaking free and heading to Thailand this July.  I have an ATT unlimited plan that really by itself does not have good prices or options for overseas use.  I want to keep my various contacts I have but plan to buy a Thailand SIM and package while in Thailand for about 88 days!  Yes, visa exempt 60 days then 30 day extension.  I assume the Thai SIM card replaces my current USA SIM card, so after I set up DTAC or whichever SIM and Thai plan I pre pay, how can I see and call my USA phone numbers contacts?

 

What happens after installing the new Thai Sim?  Does my android Phone Still have the same menus and look and feel?  I haven't used a Thai sim in about 7 years since my last trip when I used a small cheap voice and text only thai phone!

errata.  My phone does not support an Esim being somewhat old, i.e. 2020 model.  MOTO G7 Power.  So I may just do the Thai SIM unless I find some APP to download?  

[topt]

14 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

What happens after installing the new Thai Sim?  Does my android Phone Still have the same menus and look and feel? 

It shouldn't change anything - other than possibly specific ATT stuff.

 

I take it is only single SIM not dual?

 

Are you sure your contacts are not already saved to the phone? if not you should be able to save contacts from the ATT sim direct to your phone - here was one quick search - 

or -

https://en-us.support.motorola.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/136602/~/contacts---moto-g7-power

 

[gk10012001]

On 6/17/2025 at 3:19 AM, topt said:

It shouldn't change anything - other than possibly specific ATT stuff.

 

I take it is only single SIM not dual?

 

Are you sure your contacts are not already saved to the phone? if not you should be able to save contacts from the ATT sim direct to your phone - here was one quick search - 

or -

https://en-us.support.motorola.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/136602/~/contacts---moto-g7-power

 

Yes it is only a single SIM phone.  Many of my contacts were on the phone from when I first transported them over from my old phone,  I just added all of them from my SIM to my phone.. At least I think I did!

[Upnotover]

8 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

Yes it is only a single SIM phone.  Many of my contacts were on the phone from when I first transported them over from my old phone,  I just added all of them from my SIM to my phone.. At least I think I did!

I am sure in your contacts settings you can work out where your contacts are stored.  Just make sure they are not on the SIM.   There will be options to display/save/move, etc.  Just have a look. 

[DarthChuckler]

On 6/16/2025 at 9:19 AM, gk10012001 said:

Finally breaking free and heading to Thailand this July.  I have an ATT unlimited plan that really by itself does not have good prices or options for overseas use.  I want to keep my various contacts I have but plan to buy a Thailand SIM and package while in Thailand for about 88 days!  Yes, visa exempt 60 days then 30 day extension.  I assume the Thai SIM card replaces my current USA SIM card, so after I set up DTAC or whichever SIM and Thai plan I pre pay, how can I see and call my USA phone numbers contacts?

 

What happens after installing the new Thai Sim?  Does my android Phone Still have the same menus and look and feel?  I haven't used a Thai sim in about 7 years since my last trip when I used a small cheap voice and text only thai phone!

Most phones and android itself use. Google account. Sync to Google and you are covered.

[VBF]

21 minutes ago, DarthChuckler said:

Most phones and android itself use. Google account. Sync to Google and you are covered.

Beat me to it 👍

And, in fact, any other Android device that you log into that Google account will have your Contacts available. As will any Windows PC that's running Chrome.

The added benefit is that your Contacts are backed up in the Google "cloud" should you lose your phone.

 

IMO it's always better to store your contacts that way rather than on a SIM or device - just ensure you give your Google account a hard to remember password.

[vinny41]

35 minutes ago, DarthChuckler said:

Most phones and android itself use. Google account. Sync to Google and you are covered.

Back up & sync device & SIM contacts

Some contacts on your phone or tablet may not be saved as Google contacts. For example, some apps save contacts in device storage, which means they can only be managed on that device. Changes you make to these contacts don’t sync across Google services or to other signed-in devices. If the device is ever lost or damaged, these contacts may be lost. 

To keep your contacts backed up and synced to all your devices, you can automatically save device and SIM contacts as Google contacts. Google contacts are available across Google services and can be managed on any signed-in device. If the original device is lost or damaged, the contacts can automatically sync to a new device when you sign in.

https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/9423168?hl=en

If you want Google to backup sim contacts these contacts need to be imported into your google account as google contacts