10 hours ago, rwilem said:

That is not doable with the Ultra $3/month PAYGO, it's a forever 100 minutes for calls/100 texts

 

Incorrect, UlraMobile PAYG offers both data and voice/text add-ons. Certainly reasonable enough for a return trip of a few weeks.

 

But Tello seems fine as well.

 

7 hours ago, Furioso said:

Could I go back to the U.S. for a short trip, let's say Hawaii for a few days, buy and activate a couple of phones

 

 

More details, please.

 

You want to activate "phones"? Where are these phones from? 

 

Maybe you want to buy and activate SIMS? If so, then yes.

 

5 hours ago, rwilem said:

Do you mean buy and activate a couple of sims or get some new phones?

 

On my visits back I've never bought any phones, but I have bought and activated sims. 

 

So you'd want a sim from providers such as T-Mobile, Ultra, and any of the other numerous MNVO providers that 'piggy-back' off T-Mobile or AT&T networks.

 

Would be a good idea to get a couple of sims activated, have them up-and-running and then you are covered after returning here. And at the same time, get a google voice number, and a new textnow number. I believe textnow even offers a sim for a lifetime number for $5, or at least it did a short while ago? But you must activate it while in the U.S., and like everyone they only mail it to a U.S. address.

Maybe they even offer it as an e-sim now? Don't know. 

 

Next time I'm back, it'll be a 'shotgun approach' to loading up on U.S. numbers and call apps.

 

 

Yes, I would bring with me 2 phones and both would have physical and esim capability. I'm going back to the U.S. sometime in the next 6 months anyway, probably for just about a week or two. 

1 hour ago, bamnutsak said:

More details, please.

 

You want to activate "phones"? Where are these phones from? 

 

Maybe you want to buy and activate SIMS? If so, then yes.

 

Yes, I would have 2 phones with me to active SIMS. 

11 minutes ago, Furioso said:

Yes, I would have 2 phones with me to active SIMS. 

 

You purchased those phones here, in Thailand? Which SIM provider?

 

You should be able to activate SIMs in the U.S., you really only need one phone, assuming the phones are supported on the networks, as you can activate multiple SIMs on one phone.

 

I would create a Google Voice account for each SIM while in the U.S.

 

 

13 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

 

You purchased those phones here, in Thailand? Which SIM provider?

 

You should be able to activate SIMs in the U.S., you really only need one phone, assuming the phones are supported on the networks, as you can activate multiple SIMs on one phone.

 

I would create a Google Voice account for each SIM while in the U.S.

 

 

Yes, over the last 3 years here in Thailand I've bought 2 phones, provider has been AIS. 

The Google Voice account is a great idea I'm glad we've got this thread. 

9 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Incorrect, UlraMobile PAYG offers both data and voice/text add-ons. Certainly reasonable enough for a return trip of a few weeks.

 

But Tello seems fine as well

Right. But I'd like to go with a package a step or two up from the Ultra PAYGO one. But yes, you can 'add on' with Ultra. The Tello options are very good, though, and I will get set up with them. Of course, keep the Ultra account, too.