Skype On Mobile Phones In Thailand

[Mercury]

In the UK, the 3 network has some mobile phones which allow the user to log into their Skype account and use their mobile as a Skype phone. This does not eat away at their inclusive price plan minutes but is completely free on pay as you go.

Now imagine this is available somewhere else, on another network, or on 3 if they have networks somewhere else. You could phone internationally, through Skype, for free and on your mobile.

Is this available or on the cards for Thailand ?

Is anything like this an option in Thailand ?

I'm trying to minimise UK to Thailand costs where the recipient is a Thai mobile and the caller is in the UK, but does not want to be bothered with calling cards or accounts or entering 25 digit numbers etc.

[thaimite]

In the UK, the 3 network has some mobile phones which allow the user to log into their Skype account and use their mobile as a Skype phone. This does not eat away at their inclusive price plan minutes but is completely free on pay as you go.

Now imagine this is available somewhere else, on another network, or on 3 if they have networks somewhere else. You could phone internationally, through Skype, for free and on your mobile.

Is this available or on the cards for Thailand ?

Is anything like this an option in Thailand ?

I'm trying to minimise UK to Thailand costs where the recipient is a Thai mobile and the caller is in the UK, but does not want to be bothered with calling cards or accounts or entering 25 digit numbers etc.

Check out www.fring.com

You can load Fring on many mobile phones and then use it to connect to Skype or other VOIP service using the data plan of any phone company.

Typical data plan prices for pay as you go in Thailand are 200Baht for 50 Hours / month and 1,000 Baht for unlimited.

As 3G is not generally available, using EDGE the connection can be difficult sometimes

[Mercury]

I was trying to avoid an add on cost service.

Would your solution work though with the normal DTAC and AIS etc. networks or are you talking about a 3g platform, which as you say, is not widely available.

[bubba]

If you have an iPhone, there is a Skype application (made by Skype). Call quality is excellent. From my office where we have a fast WiFi network, I find the paid Skype out calls to be superior in audio quality to normal landline service. Skype to Skype of course is free, and also of excellent quality.

[thaimite]

I was trying to avoid an add on cost service.

Would your solution work though with the normal DTAC and AIS etc. networks or are you talking about a 3g platform, which as you say, is not widely available.

Yes it works with DTAC and AIS. If Fring is available for your phone send them an SMS for the free download.

When in LOS just call the DTAC or AIS hotline to buy the data credits. If you do not do this you will be charged per Kb for your Skype call which will be VERY expensive

I use Fring on both AIS and DTAC pay as you go phones

[LivinLOS]

What kind of success are people having with Skype on edge ??

I have EDGE AIS on my phone, and have become a skype / gizmo junkie.. I see my phone can run a skype client but heard that VOIP on Thai mobiles was too poor to be used professionally. What do people think ??

[bubba]

What kind of success are people having with Skype on edge ??

I have EDGE AIS on my phone, and have become a skype / gizmo junkie.. I see my phone can run a skype client but heard that VOIP on Thai mobiles was too poor to be used professionally. What do people think ??

Unfortunately, Skype voice only works with a WiFi connection. If you try a call on EDGE, you get a message saying that it can't be done due to "contractual restrictions". This is yet another case of BS resulting from Apple's tie in with ATT in the USA, and ATT doesn't want to lose call revenue because of things like Skype running over their data network.

From what I can see, the Apple/ATT tie in is the single most limiting aspect of iPhone, even for those of us in other countries who have nothing to do with ATT or AS phone companies. There are countless examples of iPhone crippling to protect the interests of ATT and it's really annoying.

[cowman1]

If you have your phone jailbroken, you can get an application called 3g unrestrictor, and that will let you use skype through edge, although I experienced a slight delay. I'm sure if 3g was available it would be a lot quicker.

[LivinLOS]

What kind of success are people having with Skype on edge ??

I have EDGE AIS on my phone, and have become a skype / gizmo junkie.. I see my phone can run a skype client but heard that VOIP on Thai mobiles was too poor to be used professionally. What do people think ??

Unfortunately, Skype voice only works with a WiFi connection. If you try a call on EDGE, you get a message saying that it can't be done due to "contractual restrictions". This is yet another case of BS resulting from Apple's tie in with ATT in the USA, and ATT doesn't want to lose call revenue because of things like Skype running over their data network.

From what I can see, the Apple/ATT tie in is the single most limiting aspect of iPhone, even for those of us in other countries who have nothing to do with ATT or AS phone companies. There are countless examples of iPhone crippling to protect the interests of ATT and it's really annoying.

Erm.. I wasnt going to use an iPhone and this isnt the ATT network.. The app works over the edge connection on my phone for sure, I just dont know if the edge speed will hack it..

Guess I will have to install and test myself.

[bubba]

What kind of success are people having with Skype on edge ??

I have EDGE AIS on my phone, and have become a skype / gizmo junkie.. I see my phone can run a skype client but heard that VOIP on Thai mobiles was too poor to be used professionally. What do people think ??

Unfortunately, Skype voice only works with a WiFi connection. If you try a call on EDGE, you get a message saying that it can't be done due to "contractual restrictions". This is yet another case of BS resulting from Apple's tie in with ATT in the USA, and ATT doesn't want to lose call revenue because of things like Skype running over their data network.

From what I can see, the Apple/ATT tie in is the single most limiting aspect of iPhone, even for those of us in other countries who have nothing to do with ATT or AS phone companies. There are countless examples of iPhone crippling to protect the interests of ATT and it's really annoying.

Erm.. I wasnt going to use an iPhone and this isnt the ATT network.. The app works over the edge connection on my phone for sure, I just dont know if the edge speed will hack it..

Guess I will have to install and test myself.

Sorry, maybe it would be helpful to specify which phone you are using then. You might even have to go to all the trouble of installing the application and testing it yourself.

As for bandwidth, I get plenty of bandwidth using AIS GPRS for audio. I just can't do it with Skype.

Cowman: thanks for the tip...I didn't about that one! That's next on my install list.

[Mercury]

I was trying to avoid an add on cost service.

Would your solution work though with the normal DTAC and AIS etc. networks or are you talking about a 3g platform, which as you say, is not widely available.

Yes it works with DTAC and AIS. If Fring is available for your phone send them an SMS for the free download.

When in LOS just call the DTAC or AIS hotline to buy the data credits. If you do not do this you will be charged per Kb for your Skype call which will be VERY expensive

I use Fring on both AIS and DTAC pay as you go phones

Unfortunately, no "buy this add on" or "buy that add on" is going to work as it will be a Thai person using it in Thailand. There will be a prepaid phone, currently on DTAC, which will be the Thai based receiver and transmitter and the only bill that is going to be paid is the top up cards. Already, she has some GPRS charges she has no knowledge about, presumably from pressing too many buttons on her far too complicated phone. I cannot increase the complexity of operation nor introduce a potential minefield of charges.

I guess the UK ones are fool proof. You press the Skype button dial for free but you cannot use Skype out ! You use the normal buttons when you want to make use of your normal network.