Sim Card To Use In The Uk

[simon43]

I'm off to the UK for 3 days next week and I want to keep in touch with my wife in Phuket. I know from previous experience that my DTAC Happy prepay SIM does not work in the UK. Apparently, if I wish this SIM to be activated for UK use, I have to produce my Thai work permit (don't have one and why do they need it?), as well as the inside leg measurement of my late grandmother's pet rabbit.

I can easily call from the UK to Thailand using a calling card solution. But I want her to be able to call my mobile.

Is there any 'international' SIM that I can buy here in Thailand? Or is the best solution just to buy a UK SIM for the duration?

Simon

[TommyGun]

I have 1-2 call TH GSM. I have to problem using it when i make a short visit back to the UK

[duratanium]

My 12Call works in the UK also. Uses the Vodaphone network.

On the other hand, if you have access to a land line you can call a Thai mobile for 1p per minute. Not sure if I am allowed to give the number on here.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Do you have a UK address?

http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/freesimcard

http://shop.vodafone.co.uk/index.cfm?go=si...mp;WT.svl=link2

[sumrit]

If you have access to a land line the cheapest way is to phone 08448612121 then your Thailand number. Costs 1p per minute. If you don't have access to a landline get a UK pay as you go sim and dial via the same 08448612121 number. The mobile phone companies charge 25p a minute to dial any '0844' number. Not cheap but much cheaper than dialing an international number direct and not too bad as a one off as your only there for a few days. Or if you have access to the internet set up a voipcheap account and phone via the PC for 1p per minute.

Edited to say I was able to use my 12 call sim when I was in the UK in July but I don't know how much it would cost as I didn't try it. I've been told it's quite expensive.

Edited October 12, 2007 by sumrit

[Jiu-Jitsu]

But I want her to be able to call my mobile.

So why are people coming up with useless suggestions?

Anyway, I don't know who told you that you need to produce a work permit to take your phone to the UK.

Just call 1678 in order to tell them when you are coming and going and then top up your telephone substantially.

Otherwise UK SIM card is a decent option. 10p per min for your wife to call you, using the 00944 option.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

You were right about the work permit: http://www.happy.co.th/en/service/happy_gointer/process.html

UK SIM it is then.

[onethailand]

But I want her to be able to call my mobile.

So why are people coming up with useless suggestions?

Anyway, I don't know who told you that you need to produce a work permit to take your phone to the UK.

Just call 1678 in order to tell them when you are coming and going and then top up your telephone substantially.

Otherwise UK SIM card is a decent option. 10p per min for your wife to call you, using the 00944 option.

Is there any 'international' SIM that I can buy here in Thailand?

He asked this question too. So the answers are on target.

Having said that, though, your roaming charge is likely to be over 100 baht per minute. I keep asking the same question of myself, wanting to get my True prepaid SIM set up for roaming, but it is a major PITA and expensive to boot. I also have a Mobal sim card which never expires but still going to cost 70-80 baht a minute.

You can also buy a sim card in the UK, but even that's an expensive proposition for 3 days of travel. I remember buying one but it cost something like 15 quid, with 5 quid of airtime, and expired in 3 months.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

No, the answers are not on target.

I can easily call from the UK to Thailand using a calling card solution. But I want her to be able to call my mobile.

UK SIM cards an expensive proposition? Did you look at my post #4 before posting? UK SIM cards can be free.

[intumult]

TOT use VOIP (voice over Internet protocol). If you go to the main TOT office you can purchase a card that gives VOIP from thailand mobile to UK for about 7 baht a minute. Can be topped up with thai visa card if U want.

UK SIM cards free but 70p a minute (on average) to call Thailand mobile phone. Use VOIP from England too from mobiles & standard telephones. Planet talk are cheap.

Careful dialling some cheap numbers from UK mobiles as they still get charged at 70p minute. If using 0744 & o844 numbers check the UK sim provider to see if they allow these calls at low rates.

[sumrit]

UK SIM cards free but 70p a minute (on average) to call Thailand mobile phone. Use VOIP from England too from mobiles & standard telephones. Planet talk are cheap.

This price is if you dial direct from a mobile.

Careful dialling some cheap numbers from UK mobiles as they still get charged at 70p minute. If using 0744 & o844 numbers check the UK sim provider to see if they allow these calls at low rates.

I checked the Orange web site here for the cost of 0844 numbers before my earlier post. They charge 25p per minute (click on 'show details' on this web page). Orange sim cards are sometimes free, but usually cost about £3 with £3 free credit.

[gregb]

Simon,

I don't think it is possible to activate IR without a work permit. Your best bet would be to find someone with a work permit and borrow his SIM card for the duration. Obviously, don't actually pick up any calls if someone calls you (much too expensive > 100Baht/min). Wait until you're at a payphone and use a calling card as you suggested. (Please note that depending on the carrier/country there may be a charge for receiving SMS'es, and it is not possible to reject those.)

However, if that isn't possible, there are a number of international prepaid SIM products available. These generally work by giving you an expensive number in the U.K. that the person calling you dials. The SIM card provider has a revenue sharing deal with the owner of the number, and they split the money that they get when someone calls that number. From Thailand, (if you use TOT/008 or CAT/009 and CAT or TOT haven't blocked the UK prefix you are assigned) these calls are actually relatively cheap at 6-7 baht per minute (008 = 6/009 = 7). (Please note that CAT/TOT lose money big time here, because they are probably paying 13 baht per minute to terminate, but I have no problem letting them subsidize me if they want to.)

The effect is you can receive calls in many countries for free, and the person calling you pays. There is no charge for SMS delivery also. It's a good product for someone roaming. This is the only company I know that is actively selling these in Thailand at present:

http://backup.thaitelephone.com/EN/Products/OneSim/isim.php

These SIMs cost a little bit of money (generally around 50 euros), but they are a good investment for someone who roams to many countries and wants to give out a single number that everyone can use to reach him where ever he is.

Again, keep in mind that what you have done is passed on the roaming charges to the people calling you instead of paying them yourself, however the charges they are paying are still significantly less than you would pay for IR. Also, incoming calls aren't free in every country, only some of them, so you have to be mindful of this.

If you aren't really a heavy roamer and don't need to give out your number before you leave Thailand, then I would just pick up a prepaid SIM card once you get to the UK. Still the cheapest way. Depending on the airline you might even be able to buy one on the plane before you land.

[onethailand]

UK SIM cards an expensive proposition? Did you look at my post #4 before posting? UK SIM cards can be free.

I said "can be" and no I didn't look - thanks for those links.

Unfortunately, the Orange promotion is only open to UK residents - so if Simon has a UK address this might work - but it wouldn't work for me.

Vodafone is what I used the last time I bought a SIM there - must've been Jan 2005 or Jan 2006 I think. This deal looks workable to me, might have to try that next January, thanks

Not sure if either one can make international calls - but if all Simon wants is to be able to receive calls, one of these could be a solution.

[paveet]

Picking up calls in the UK on roaming isnt as expensive as some posts suggested (100+ baht/min), it's actually about 20-30 baht/min (with the exception of T-Mobile which has the worst signal in the UK anyway:P).

Have a look here http://www.dtac.co.th/getfile/dtac/inter/Roaming_06_1.aspx

[onethailand]

Picking up calls in the UK on roaming isnt as expensive as some posts suggested (100+ baht/min), it's actually about 20-30 baht/min (with the exception of T-Mobile which has the worst signal in the UK anyway:P).

Have a look here http://www.dtac.co.th/getfile/dtac/inter/Roaming_06_1.aspx

I can't quite read the Thai heading, but I presume that the three headers are "call within country" "receiving from Thailand" "calling to Thailand" in no particular order.

It could be that receiving has become much cheaper now. But using your phone to call out can still be quite expensive. My info was based on AIS rates from a few years ago.

[zzSleepyJohn]

I'm off to the UK for 3 days next week ....... But I want her to be able to call my mobile........

.... Or is the best solution just to buy a UK SIM for the duration?

Simon

Probably too late for next week, but I heard from a friend in UK that local simcards can be bought in his local market at two for 1 pound. Wouldn't matter what outgoing calls cost, you would have a UK mobile number for your wife to call. Not sure if there's any hidden snag, but if anyone is interested, I could enquire further from my UK friend. Once the UK postal strike is over, perhaps my friend could arrange to post a card to a UK address for you. Let me know.

+ SJ

[Mahout Angrit]

Probably too late for next week, but I heard from a friend in UK that local simcards can be bought in his local market at two for 1 pound.

Very true and Indian corner shops have them for under £2. Just a check on Ebay.co.uk would give plenty available for 99p if you have time to have one sent to a UK address (some even include more credit than the cost of the card/postage) and as you mainly want it to be able to receive calls it wont cost you a penny more.

Edited October 15, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[Jiu-Jitsu]

For your information , Virgin Mobile are probably the cheapest PAYG SIM for call through numbers. 10 to 15 pence per minute to call Thailand.

http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/genericCont...rrif.shop.sm018

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Grab this for future vists: http://www.virginmobile.com/promo/duoSim.html