Mobile Phone Advise Please?

[Ananke]

Hi. I'm going to be in BKK for a month. Last time I brought my own mobile and returned to a scary bill. Was wondering, what cheaper option would you suggest?

Can I easily buy a "pay as you go" sim card with an inexpensive phone or something like that? (How much, approximately?) Any recommendations on networks?

Thanks

[guava]

Very easy to buy a local SIM card and credit top-ups here. AIS (1-2-call) is probably best option, especially if you plan to use the SIM for roaming elsewhere.

You can generally use your existing phone if it is not network-locked and it's a GSM phone (ie not CDMA). Or you can buy another new or used phone here - basic models are cheap, and they're almost always unlocked.

Google for further advice. No doubt other posts on this forum as well.

[GaiYaang]

Hi. I'm going to be in BKK for a month. Last time I brought my own mobile and returned to a scary bill. Was wondering, what cheaper option would you suggest?

Can I easily buy a "pay as you go" sim card with an inexpensive phone or something like that? (How much, approximately?) Any recommendations on networks?

Thanks

Hello, Ananke, not to hijack your post, I'm going to Bangkok in a few weeks for couple of months also.

You said you bought your own phone what service did you have. I have T-Mobile, I wonder if mind would work.

Will see what others recommend also, Thanks.

[dotcom]

We suggest buying a Thailand SIM card.

[shawndoc]

Hello, Ananke, not to hijack your post, I'm going to Bangkok in a few weeks for couple of months also.

You said you bought your own phone what service did you have. I have T-Mobile, I wonder if mind would work.

Will see what others recommend also, Thanks.

I don't know about other countries, but in the United States if you got your phone from the phone company, it is usually "locked", and won't work with other SIM cards. You'll need to call your phone company and see if they are willing to unlock your phone for you. If not, you'll either need to buy an unlocked phone, or prowl Craigslist for someone who can do a gray market unlock for $10-20.

You also need to be sure your phone is GSM based (AT&T and T-Mobile in the US), and at least tri-band, and preferably quad-band. This refers to the radio frequencies that the phone supports. If you have Sprint or Verizon (or one of the smaller carriers who piggyback on their network) you will have to buy a new phone.

Personally, I prefer to carry a cheap Panasonic that I bought off eBay for $40 or so. Its Tri-band and the smallest phone I've ever seen, so it easily fits in any pocket, and that way I don't lose or break my expensive smartphone.

[alexth]

Just buy a sim card here and a cheap phone, around 40$ US for an old Nokia model as far as I remember

[JohnC]

Brand new nokias being advertised lcoally for around 1600 baht! I think in tukcom but not sure, also chepest option would eb a 1 2 call simcard at 99baht, if your phone is locked it can be unlocked at any of the big phone markets for a couple of hundred baht.

[JohnC]

Brand new nokias being advertised locally for around 1600 baht! I think in tukcom but not sure, also cheapest option would be a 1 2 call simcard at 99baht, if your phone is locked it can be unlocked at any of the big phone markets for a couple of hundred baht.

[tw25rw]

I saw basic Nokias for about 1100 baht.

[j0hnga1t]

Ananke,

If you are in the US and have AT&T, they will give you instructions on how to unlock your phone.  Otherwise, I'm sure you can find a service in your country and get it unlocked or if you're in another country, it's probably unlocked.

When I go there I use a 1-2-call sim card.  It's about 200 baht to buy one.  You can get it at any 7-11 store.  Recharge cards cost up to 100 baht, the instructions are easy to follow on the back of the card.  The number expires after 30-60 days of non-use.  I have my gf in Bangkok use my simcard and extra phone to keep the number active since I go there a few times a year.  I recently dropped the sim into my unlocked-iPhone and it worked well and I was also able to get internet access via my iPhone....way cool!!  Another friend told me that it cost her 6 baht/min to call the USA using 1-2-call...

Good Luck

[Ananke]

Thank you all for the really great tips. I got lucky on the phone front - someone has lent me their old one then I'll be off to 7-11 to get a new sim card.

Oh, and by the way, I noticed that right after you come through customs at the new airport (and make it past all the taxi offers) just about the first shop that you come to is a phone shop. They rent phones sell sim cards, etc ... Didn't check the price though - given all the good tips I've been given here.

[petermik]

On the second floor of the arrivals terminal there is a 1-2-call mobile phone outlet-buy a prepaid thai sim 199 baht with 135bht.credit loaded-when you need it topping up just go to any 7/11 store and ask they will gladly do it for you-easy!