Smartphone Service Plans

[misterdowntown]

The device I bought says truemove/3g aircard E173....seems that i was getting 3g service, as i think I'm getting that now also.

I will look at your advice and see what plans I can get, I'm just trying to have as much time that I need online, as I have several

hours a day of interent classes.

Again thank you for the help.....

[siam2007]

is anybody able to give an overview what is currently, as of February 2012, available for post-paid and pre-paid plans from the 3 big providers ? that would be very very helpful (to many members, me thinks).

the Truemove and AIS-websites are still almost entirely in Thai, and DTAC, the most foreigner-friendly network, still sadly does not have a sufficient network for 3G

[lomatopo]

TrueMove H recently launched a Prepay service for their national 3G network. This network operates 3G on 850 Mhz, and is shared with CAT, through a complex relationship. CAT just started offering services on this network under their "My Net" brand, and are recruiting resellers (MVNOs). Legacy CAT CDMA customers are also being migrated to this network. Any roaming is onto the legacy TrueMove network for GSM voice, text and data (2G: GPRS/EDGE).

Their website is in Thai so Google Chrome with Translation may help figuring out what is on offer.

They have three SIMs: iPhone (for the iPhone, presumably a microSIM) , iSIM (a MicroSIM, for data, aircards) and Smartphone SIM (regular size).

http://www.truemove-...sim-iphone.aspx

http://www.truemove-h.com/isim.aspx

http://www.truemove-...smartphone.aspx

The iPhone and Smartphone SIMs are 99 baht. The iSIM is 169 baht.

Calls are 1 baht/min to all networks, SMS are 2 baht each.

This ThaiVisa thread has some additional detail and information. http://www.thaivisa....epay-available/

Voice, text and data plans can be found here: http://www.truemove-...ay-topping.aspx

3G coverage is impressive, nationwide and expanding daily. http://www.truemove-...k_coverage.aspx

[Gary A]

True doesn't even have a signal in the Ning Hin Loei area and certainly no 3G service.

[lomatopo]

True doesn't even have a signal in the Ning Hin Loei area and certainly no 3G service.

Yes, according to the coverage map TrueMove H does not appear to have coverage anywhere near the area of rtes. 201/210. The nearest coverage looks like Lom Sak in Petchabun?

Do you know if there was ever CAT CDMA in Ning Hin Loei? If so I would expect TrueMove H at some point.

[lomatopo]

One-2-Call is the pre-paid brand for AIS. Their 3G operates on 900 Mhz, and they have greatly expanded their 3G coverage nationwide over the past few months. Additionally they have a roaming agreement with TOT, which operates on 2100 Mhz. TOT has also greatly expanded their 3G network beyond its initial deployment in metro-Bangkok. This roaming agreement just started so too early to judge performance.

http://www.ais.co.th/mobileinternet/en/3g/coverage/

http://www.i-bkk.com/ilocation/viewer/

Most of One-2-Calls web pages are available in English. http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/index.html

They offer both traditional SIM and data SIMs, you can choose a calling plan, and/or change to another, for a small fee. You can layer a data plan on top of any SIM. Data plans at 2 GB and higher, fair-use, offer unlimited volume above the thresholds, albeit at 384 Kbps.

Volume based data plans: http://www.ais.co.th/mobileinternet/en/internet-package/#2

Time based data plans: http://www.ais.co.th/mobileinternet/en/internet-package/#1

http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/promotion_special.html

There are some choices on SIMs: http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/sim-card.html

The Freedom SIM is the default/most popular and is sold for 50 baht.

Current calling plans look like they are 2 baht for the first minute then 50 satang for each additional minute, to all networks.

The NetSIMs, on the prepay side, look as they should be avoided as they seem to require time-based plans, at least for the first four months.

[siam2007]

very helpful LOMATOPO, thanks.

Isn't it that I can use just a regular SIM that fits my new TAB and dial a specific code which gives me 1 day or 1 week of Broadband-access ? Like I did when using my netbook fitted with a USB-Dongle ?

I have SIM's from all 3 big providers and actually would not see a need to buy an additional one if not necessary.

Oh, and anybody knows a TRUEMOVE and AIS-outlet in BKK where staff speak decent English ? my Thai is not good enough to discuss some complicated matters....

Ah, found the link from that other topic: http://www.truemove-h.com/prepay/prepay-topping.aspx

it indeed seems I can just apply using those codes. might give it a try. but are these plans per month ?

[lomatopo]

^ In most cases you can layer a data plan on to any SIM, as long as the provider is the same. So you could not layer a TrueMove H data plan onto a TrueMove SIM. Some providers offer daily and weekly data packages; I know DTAC does, AIS/One-2-Call and TrueMove H just have a daily plan(s). You can typically subscribe to a data plan by sending a service (USSD) message; this may require a handset but some air-card UI's allow for the origination of USSD messages.

TrueMove and AIS shops in the major malls typically have staff who can speak English; True have a large-ish shop in the Digital Gateway, attached to Siam BTS (SW exit).

Unless data plans are for the day or week then by default they are good for 1 month (not 30 days).

[bobl]

Quick question re: Truemove-H

I live on the edge - literally and connectivity-wise

I'd given up hope of getting a decent internet connection anytime soon (I'm out near Maetaman) but there's a CAT tower on the 107 a few km away so I figure I might eventually get 3G from it... If not already (their coverage map's down)

Anyway enough preamble - the question... I already have a Truemove chip - which works fine on edge. Will that chip see the 3G network when/if it comes up or do I need to ditch it and get a truemove-H chip?

[lomatopo]

Quick question re: Truemove-H

Anyway enough preamble - the question... I already have a Truemove chip - which works fine on edge. Will that chip see the 3G network when/if it comes up or do I need to ditch it and get a truemove-H chip?

You would have to get a new SIM from TrueMove H, or CAT/My. I guess you could port (MNP) your TrueMove number to a new SIM from TrueMove H if you wanted to keep the number.

CAT is way ahead on deployment; a ThaiVisa member was told to expect 3G on an old CAT tower by March, he had service a few weeks ago. You may aleady have service.

[lomatopo]

Happy is the pre-paid brand name for DTAC. DTAC has nationwide GSM (voice, text and 2G data). They operate 3G on 850 Mhz, and have somewhat limited coverage compared to AIS/One-2-Call/TOT and TrueMove H/CAT.

http://www.happy.co.th/home_en.php

Happy has a decent offering of SIMs (data only, smartphone), calling plans and data plans. Their data plans have recently been re-priced/re-packaged, adding unlimited 384 Kbps above the plan ceiling on plans down to 1 GB/399 baht.

Take a look at the Invulnerable (Kong Kra Pun) SIM http://www.happy.co.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=37〈=en

..which has 0.99 baht/min to all networks, 0.99 baht per SMS fee. This SIM has a rolling 43 day expiry, which is automatically extended each day you use it.

Note that Happy has daily, weekly and monthly plans.

http://www.happy.co.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=333&Itemid=368〈=en

DTAC/Happy have by far the best user account management offers, with a web-based eservices platform that is better than One-2-Call’s (TrueMove H doesn’t have anything), along with two different Android Market Apps.

As stated, DTAC’s coverage is limited, for a number of political reasons but it is being expanded. You can take a look at their coverage here.. http://www.dtac.co.th/3g/coverage.php

[wpcoe]

Voice, text and data plans can be found here: http://www.truemove-h.com/en//prepay/prepay-topping.aspx [and click on the EN tab on the upper right]

Volume based data plans: http://www.ais.co.th...rnet-package/#2

Is that a typo on the AIS daily plans? "MB" vs "GB"? True's "Unlimited Daily Net" allows 140GB before shaping the speed, but AIS only allows 10MB to 140MB???

[lomatopo]

Voice, text and data plans can be found here: http://www.truemove-h.com/en//prepay/prepay-topping.aspx [and click on the EN tab on the upper right]

Volume based data plans: http://www.ais.co.th...rnet-package/#2

Is that a typo on the AIS daily plans? "MB" vs "GB"? True's "Unlimited Daily Net" allows 140GB before shaping the speed, but AIS only allows 10MB to 140MB???

Looks like a typo on the English page, on the TrueMove H Thai page it says 140 MB, the sames as the AIS plan.

[wpcoe]

Hahaha. Leave it to an old cynic like me to trip up with optimism and assume the True page with 140GB was correct!

[bobl]

You would have to get a new SIM from TrueMove H, or CAT/My. I guess you could port (MNP) your TrueMove number to a new SIM from TrueMove H if you wanted to keep the number.

CAT is way ahead on deployment; a ThaiVisa member was told to expect 3G on an old CAT tower by March, he had service a few weeks ago. You may aleady have service.

Not worried about porting the number... So I nipped out and nabbed a true-h chip to try. Popped it in my sgs2, it didn't work (roamed onto True with 0-1 bars)

Undeterred, I ventured out of the house and headed down to the main road. Within 1km, voila - H+ !! Well slap my thigh and call me Betty...

As soon as I turn off onto the sideroad towards my house - poof... No signal. 555... I really am in a communications blackhole...

Finally managed to get 1 bar and flopping between 3G and H+ by climbing on the roof, so hope is not lost. Now I just need to find a dongle & antenna, stick it up a pole and I think I might be good to go...

Long story short - yes, CAT seem to be ahead of the game... The tower off the 107 about 6km north of Mae Taeng does seem to have been done...

[4evermaat]

Ais seems to have 3g all over bangkok now. Including ekamai, near pattaya, all along sukumvit, south bus station, wong wien yai, rangsit (including the huge big budda). Did not have a chance to re-check rama 2.

"2nd best time to plant a tree is today." Sent from ThaiVisa app.

[lomatopo]

TOT has operated a 3G network, on 2100 Mhz, in metropolitan Bangkok for a few years. Over the past few months they have greatly expanded their coverage nationwide, with a reported 3,500 base-stations in 18 provinces (maybe by May, 2012), and plans to expand that to 15,000 over the next two years.

http://www.tot3g.net/GUI/Home.aspx

You can view TOT’s 3G coverage here; it uses Google Maps in English so that is handy, and if you hover on a cell tower it will give you some detail in the left-hand side box.

http://www.i-bkk.com/ilocation/viewer/

TOT sells direct to consumers, but primarily they use resellers, also called Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), to reach the mass market. Those resellers are:

iMobile 3GX (Samart) http://www.i-mobile3gx.com/main/

iKool (Loxley) http://www.i-kool.net/th/index.php

365 http://www.365.co.th/store/

IEC http://www.iec3g.com/web/home.php

Mojo (Mconzult) http://www.mojo3g.com/

These resellers, and TOT, offer both pre- and post-paid services. There is some talk that TOT is looking to drop some of these resellers and recruit new ones.

I am not sure what happens when you roam off-net? A certain number of customers apparently will roam onto AIS, and AIS data customers can roam onto TOT. There is not a lot of documented, public forum like experience that I’ve been able to find.

TOT launches 3G in Pattaya Note they are actually roaming onto AIS’s 900 Mhz network in Pattaya.

[hullupullo]

Can someone get this in english? 50% off from iPhone but only for trueonline or truevisions members who have been member 12 consecutive months. Have to sign 18 months deal? What else you can tell me?

http://www.truemove-...u-promotion.jpg

[hullupullo]

More details on truemove iPhone offer

http://iphone.mythailandblog.com/2012/02/true-offer-up-to-50-discount-on-iphones-in-thailand/

True Move have just made a bold, if not shocking announcement that they are cutting the prices of their iPhones starting from an amazing 50%. There are of course strings attached, but if you are in for the long term and don't mind paying up front for your data package, then this special offer could be very attractive.

The new prices are as follows:

iPhone 4 (8GB) 9,250 Baht

iPhone 4S (16GB) 13,500 Baht

iPhone 4S (32 GB) 17,200 Baht

iPhone 4S (64GB) 21,200 Baht

Here are the strings which come attached:

1. The offer is from 21 February until 12 April 2012
   
2. You must apply for the XL data package for 18 months
   
3. You must pay for 7 months upfront
   
4. You must be a customer of True Online or True Visions for more than 12 months
   

The XL Package is 899 Baht per month which gives you 500 minutes of talk time, 300 free text messages, 50 MMS messages and unlimited 3G+ and WiFi.

[lomatopo]

TrueMove H appears to be increasingly desperate to sign up new customers as they are far behind their publicly promised figures. This is just one of many fire-sale promotions they've been running over the past month or so.They had captive customers (TrueMove, CAT CDMA, Hutch CDMA) and been almost criminally irresponsible in efficiently transitioning those customers.

[siam2007]

Happy is the pre-paid brand name for DTAC. DTAC has nationwide GSM (voice, text and 2G data). They operate 3G on 850 Mhz, and have somewhat limited coverage compared to AIS/One-2-Call/TOT and TrueMove H/CAT.

http://www.happy.co.th/home_en.php

Happy has a decent offering of SIMs (data only, smartphone), calling plans and data plans. Their data plans have recently been re-priced/re-packaged, adding unlimited 384 Kbps above the plan ceiling on plans down to 1 GB/399 baht.

Take a look at the Invulnerable (Kong Kra Pun) SIM http://www.happy.co....emid=37〈=en

..which has 0.99 baht/min to all networks, 0.99 baht per SMS fee. This SIM has a rolling 43 day expiry, which is automatically extended each day you use it.

Note that Happy has daily, weekly and monthly plans.

http://www.happy.co....mid=368〈=en

DTAC/Happy have by far the best user account management offers, with a web-based eservices platform that is better than One-2-Call’s (TrueMove H doesn’t have anything), along with two different Android Market Apps.

As stated, DTAC’s coverage is limited, for a number of political reasons but it is being expanded. You can take a look at their coverage here.. http://www.dtac.co.th/3g/coverage.php

Lomatopo, Master of Broadband, could you please check the "HAPPY daily weekly monthly" - link ? it is not working.

thanks very much for your efforts

EDITED:

ah, ALL happy-links are not working now :-/

.

[lomatopo]

^ It looks like most/all of DTAC's websites are down currently.

[backstairs]

Thank you LOMA for all your work and advice here. Much appreciated. I am off to BKK tomorrow to get a NOTE. At present I use 1-2-call on my old phone and keep topping up at 7-11. Very tedious. I am hoping to transfer my 080 number to the NOTE [that is possible no?] but get one of the better deals you have highlighted. Any suggestions for someone in Phuket.?

[lomatopo]

^

AIS/One-2-Call have 3G coverage in Phuket, at least according to their coverage page.

The Samsung Galaxy Note (GT-N7000) is quad-band 3G so would work here with AIS/One-2-Call, DTAC/Happy and TrueMove H, all of which have coverage in Phuket.

You would simply insert your old One-2-Call pre-paid SIM into your Note and it would be activated. Now it is a matter of perhaps changing to a more effective calling plan, and layering on a data plan.

With a better udenrstanding of your usage and requirements we could identify a decent set of options.

Maybe a 1 Gb/350 baht 3G data plan would be a good start?

Do you know which calling plan you are currently subscribed to? Try *777, that might get you into the IVR system.

Once you get in to a rhythm you should only have to add value once a month. If you have a local bank ATM card you can add value at an ATM.

Calling promotions for NEW customers: would require you get a new SIM

http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/promotion.html

Current calling promotions:

http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/pro-Reccomended.html

scroll down to see this data plan which includes per min/SMS pricing:

3G Principal package 350 baht Net SIM 1 GB of 3G/EDGE/GPRS

3G 350 baht Net SIM with 1 GB of 3G/EDGE/GPRSMonthly fee is charged at 350 baht. Customers receive a maximum of 1 GB on 3G/EDGE/GPRS service. Overage is charged at 2 baht/MB.2 baht/SMS and 4 baht/MMSCalls to all networks are charged at 1.50 baht/minute for 24 hours. Monthly fee will be deducted every month on the date of purchase.In case of failure to deduct a monthly fee due to insufficient balance on your account, 3G/EDGE/GPRS usage is charged at 2 baht/MB.The balance can be accumulated up to 5,000 baht and the amount of validity date up to 365 days.The above service rates are limited to domestic uses only.

[4evermaat]

Thank you LOMA for all your work and advice here. Much appreciated. I am off to BKK tomorrow to get a NOTE. At present I use 1-2-call on my old phone and keep topping up at 7-11. Very tedious. I am hoping to transfer my 080 number to the NOTE [that is possible no?] but get one of the better deals you have highlighted. Any suggestions for someone in Phuket.?

You can top up with your debit card @ 1-2 call eService website OR your thai internet banking bill payment. You should receive SMS confirmation immediately after payment.

If you do it @ 1-2 call eService website, they sometimes have a promotion where you get 10% topup bonus. Wait for the popup window to appear and accept the bonus. Best to topup with a small amount (100-200 baht), because the subsequent popups will force you to add 100 baht to your topup to continue getting the bonus. So to "reset" this, you start from 100 baht topup (no bonus) and then go do another topup again with a larger topup (to get bonus popup window). See

[lomatopo]

Happy is the pre-paid brand name for DTAC. DTAC has nationwide GSM (voice, text and 2G data). They operate 3G on 850 Mhz, and have somewhat limited coverage compared to AIS/One-2-Call/TOT and TrueMove H/CAT.

http://www.happy.co.th/home_en.php

Happy has a decent offering of SIMs (data only, smartphone), calling plans and data plans. Their data plans have recently been re-priced/re-packaged, adding unlimited 384 Kbps above the plan ceiling on plans down to 1 GB/399 baht.

Take a look at the Invulnerable (Kong Kra Pun) SIM http://www.happy.co....emid=37〈=en

..which has 0.99 baht/min to all networks, 0.99 baht per SMS fee. This SIM has a rolling 43 day expiry, which is automatically extended each day you use it.

Note that Happy has daily, weekly and monthly plans.

http://www.happy.co....mid=368〈=en

DTAC/Happy have by far the best user account management offers, with a web-based eservices platform that is better than One-2-Call’s (TrueMove H doesn’t have anything), along with two different Android Market Apps.

As stated, DTAC’s coverage is limited, for a number of political reasons but it is being expanded. You can take a look at their coverage here.. http://www.dtac.co.th/3g/coverage.php

Just an FYI, for the DTAC/Happy Internet Package: 399 baht/1 GB "Unlimited" - the speed drops to 64 Kbps after you reach the FUP of 1 GB. Previously this was 384 Kbps. Once you get up to the 650 baht/2 GB package you get a FUP speed of 384 Kbps.

http://www.happy.co....mid=368〈=en

[farang000999]

I have TrueMoveH Aircard 1390 purchased from True Shop Big C Rama IV

with

True Move 3g Sim Card

I have plan, unlimited, with tax 850b/month

I am in Thong Lo Bangkok

After several tests with speedtest.net i am getting about 3mb/3mb

I will post back about disconnections and speed updates.

Maybe I picked the wrong sim card company though if others are getting 6mb

[farang000999]

Can someone please clarify though if my plan is truly unlimited or will my speed be downgraded like others above are alluded to?

And are the limits based on your downloading or uploading? in my true aircard software is shows "statistics" and lists both uploaded and downloaded. thank you.

[lomatopo]

I think your plan has a 3 GB fair-use limit, but this is just as a guess as you have not provided enough information to determine this limit. I guess you could get this detail?

After uploading and downloading a total of 3 GB your speed will be reduced to 384 (or perhaps 128, see below) Kilo-bits per second until your monthly plan expires/renews.

Not sure why this is so complicated to comprehend as it has been covered several times in this thread, and in several others to which many here have posted.

Perhaps the only unknown is the current fair-use speed limit as there seems to be some conflicting information on the TrueMove H Thai and English websites, with the Thai website stating a 128 Kbps fair-use limit while the English web-site says 384 Kbps. My best guess: they changed the fair-use speed limit to 128 Kbps but forgot to update the English website. Perhaps it would be best to contact TrueMove H directly to determine the actual, current fair-use speed limit?

[bobl]

Perhaps the only unknown is the current fair-use speed limit as there seems to be some conflicting information on the TrueMove H Thai and English websites, with the Thai website stating a 128 Kbps fair-use limit while the English web-site says 384 Kbps. My best guess: they changed the fair-use speed limit to 128 Kbps but forgot to update the English website. Perhaps it would be best to contact TrueMove H directly to determine the actual, current fair-use speed limit?

Having recently renewed my monthly package and consumed its' data allocation, I can confirm that it's still 384Kbps (this for 5Gb package, can't answer for the smaller ones).