Wireless Family Plan

[mehkar]

First post, after reading many (learned a lot, thanks everyone!).

We are moving to BKK in Aug., and one of the first things I want to do is to get a phone. Q: Are there any wireless family plans in Thailand (in the US we have "FamilyTalk", "Friends & Family", ...)?

And, as a follow-up: Are there any web-sites that track & compare the available plans? Thanks!

[jackbox]

If you want a postpaid account there are no family plans, but the monthly rates in Thailand are about 1/4 the rates or less in the USA so you just get a number for each phone you want. Depending on how many outgoing minutes you need postpaid plans start around US$6.00 per month. You can pay a small fee to get unlimited calling to certain numbers you specify within the same network. Also there is never a charge for incoming calls in Thailand on mobile phones. You only for for calls you dial. If you want prepaid there are a few plans where the sims come in pairs, triplets, etc. and calls between those linked numbers are reduced or free. Just go check out the three major GSM carrier's websites (they all have English versions of their websites). The two best are AIS (best coverage in the country) and DTAC. The third company TrueMove sometimes offers lower rates but their coverage sucks and you will hate their service. AIS and TrueMove will require a work permit for prepaid service. DTAC will give you a postpaid account if you have a valid foreign credit or debit card (used as guarantee for first three months service). Also for the most part there are no contracts here. You can cancel whenever you want.

AIS: http://www.ais.co.th/main/en/index.html (postpaid: http://www.ais.co.th/gsmadvance/en/, prepaid: http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/)

DTAC:http://www.dtac.co.th/english/ (postpaid: http://www.dtac.co.th/english/postpaid.html, prepaid: http://www.happy.co.th/home_en.php)

TrueMove: http://www.truemove.com/en/index.rails

Welcome to LOS.

[mehkar]

Thanks! It's a shame since, I'd say, over 90% of my calls go to 3 or 4 numbers. I see there are some add-on options available -- I'll look at those...

[nikster]

BTW I disagree about TrueMove. While coverage out in the sticks isn't as good as AIS, it's adequate. And True has 3G in many places now, so I am surfing at very high speeds via my iPhone.

Also 300 minutes, 300 text messages, and unlimited internet for less than $20/month (599 baht).

Mobile phones here are totally different than over there. You get no subsidies so you pay full price for a phone - say iPhone, costs nearly $600. However, there's no lock in to the contract, and the calling rates are way cheaper so over the course of a year or two, you will end up paying much less than in the US subsidy model. That's even more true if you just want a basic phone for making phone calls and texting - a $30 Nokia will do for that.

All in all, the pricing model here is much more honest - no bundling, cheap rates, good competition between the three providers. DTAC has some really great plans for talk/text... True is I believe the best for the unlimited internet package.

I wouldn't worry too much about family plans and so on. Maybe one of the providers has something like this, but since calls are already very cheap it won't matter all that much. Calls within the same network tend to be cheaper than to the outside.

[mehkar]

Yes, I am aware that the subsidy model is quite US / North America centric. I was just hoping that there was a plan that provides free calling among a group of phones, but no biggie.

Regarding True vs AIS/DTAC, I am in a similar situation. I am very tempted to treat myself to an iPhone. I expect I will spend most of my time around BKK and some of the beach resorts. How is the True coverage in the greater Bangkok area, in particular Nonthaburi (Chaengwattana area) where we will live?

[Phil Conners]

Yes but if you have a business you're stuck with one provider as your phone number is usually an asset you don't want to change.

[nikster]

Yes, I am aware that the subsidy model is quite US / North America centric. I was just hoping that there was a plan that provides free calling among a group of phones, but no biggie.

Regarding True vs AIS/DTAC, I am in a similar situation. I am very tempted to treat myself to an iPhone. I expect I will spend most of my time around BKK and some of the beach resorts. How is the True coverage in the greater Bangkok area, in particular Nonthaburi (Chaengwattana area) where we will live?

No idea. Bangkok is huge. I know 3G works downtown, and not out in the Suan Siam area where my father in law lives. DTAC might work too, they also officially sell the iPhone now, and they have a 3G trial in Bangkok though I don't know where. If you do get an iPhone be sure to buy it from either DTAC or True so you get a factory unlocked model. At the small shops in the mall they often sell jailbroken/unlocked US models which will re-lock if you accidentally upgrade the firmware. They're not much cheaper either, absolutely not worth it. A friend of mine has been stuck with an unusable iPhone for 3 months now, he's waiting for a new jailbreak/unlock...

[mehkar]

Really, DTAC offers the iPhone now? I thought True had an exclusive contract in Thailand. Can anyone confirm? Could not find anything on their website... Does AIS offer the iPhone, too?

[nikster]

Really, DTAC offers the iPhone now? I thought True had an exclusive contract in Thailand. Can anyone confirm? Could not find anything on their website... Does AIS offer the iPhone, too?

AIS does not. DTAC most certainly does, it's plastered all over the DTAC shop in CM Airport shopping mall. I don't know about the plans they offer or phone prices though. DTAC was so excited they even sent me a letter to tell me about it (we have 2 DTAC phones).

True's contract is apparently not exclusive

As for confirmation.. let me Google that for you http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=dtac+iphone

[mehkar]

Aaahh, you see, it's in Thai only, thus I couldn't find it browsing the relevant links from the English start page...