Voice/Data Sim For Iphone 3Gs And Where To Buy It

[tm8747a]

Hi all,

I just arrived in Bangkok yesterday and will be here for about 3 months. I have an unlocked iPhone 3GS and am looking for a voice/data SIM card. I don't need that many minutes, I don't expect to be talking that much on the phone and have no need for international/long-distance calling options. For data, I don't need anything unlimited (this is not to be used to tether to a laptop as an ADSL replacement), it's just so I can use Skype, maps, email etc. on the phone, so say the data can only be used 30 days, then 1GB should be plenty I think.

Secondly, is there a good place to buy such a SIM card as far as communication goes. I saw a plethora of shops at the MBK today, but unfortunately it's difficult to find a place where people speak english. Is there any place where it's more common for the sales people to speak english? Would make it easier to figure things out even if I wasn't looking for a specific plan as I could just ask what the plans are or tell them what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[lomatopo]

As your phone supports 850 Mhz 3G, local providers such as DTAC, Truemove and Truemove H may be the best options.

I might go further to specifically recommend DTAC/Happy:

Buy a Happy pre-paid SIM (49 baht), add value to it, then subscribe to a 3G data plan.

You can but this SIM anywhere/everywhere (~ 49 baht), along with a top-up card, then subscribe to the data plan with a service message.

[tm8747a]

As your phone supports 850 Mhz 3G, local providers such as DTAC, Truemove and Truemove H may be the best options.

I might go further to specifically recommend DTAC/Happy:

Buy a Happy pre-paid SIM (49 baht), add value to it, then subscribe to a 3G data plan.

You can but this SIM anywhere/everywhere (~ 49 baht), along with a top-up card, then subscribe to the data plan with a service message.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm not too familiar with any of this, so not sure I understand what would be done. Would the top-up card basically be a card with money on it and that money could be applied to a data plan by sending an SMS somewhere? Or something like that?

Also, would the plan be one of those mentioned on this page: http://www.dtac.co.th/iphone/plan/index.html (iPhone L, iPhone M, iPhone S)? If so, what do all the columns stand for? I'm guessing column 1 is minutes col 2 is amount of data, col 3 I have no idea, col 4 is number of SMS you can send, col 5 is number of MMS you can send, and col 6 I have no idea. I figure if I can understand/confirm all the info, I can just print this page and take it to wherever and point to whatever plan I want, it ought to be easy enough.

[lomatopo]

Those are post-paid, contract plans, which you do not want. You want a pre-paid SIM, service and data plan.

Step 1. Buy this SIM 49 baht http://www.happy.co.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=37〈=en

Step 2. Buy top-up cards (scratch off, send code, instructions on card) equal to 500 baht, or greater than the amount of your desired data plan (see Step 5. below).

Step 3. Insert SIM, wait for activation.

Step 4. Top up

(a typical counter shop in MBK can assist you with Steps 3 & 4 if challenged; you can buy SIMs and top-up cards at hundreds of thousands of retail stores, mobile phone kiosks, on the sidewalk, in any mall, convenience store, etc.)

Step 5. Select a 3G data plan http://www.happy.co.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=333&Itemid=368〈=en

Step 6. Activate a data plan, perhaps 1 GB/30 days/350 baht (excl 7 % VAT), by sending the subscription message: *104*27*9# SEND

[tm8747a]

Those are post-paid, contract plans, which you do not want. You want a pre-paid SIM, service and data plan.

Step 1. Buy this SIM 49 baht http://www.happy.co....emid=37〈=en

Step 2. Buy top-up cards (scratch off, send code, instructions on card) equal to 500 baht, or greater than the amount of your desired data plan (see Step 5. below).

Step 3. Insert SIM, wait for activation.

Step 4. Top up

(a typical counter shop in MBK can assist you with Steps 3 & 4 if challenged; you can buy SIMs and top-up cards at hundreds of thousands of retail stores, mobile phone kiosks, on the sidewalk, in any mall, convenience store, etc.)

Step 5. Select a 3G data plan http://www.happy.co....mid=368〈=en

Step 6. Activate a data plan, perhaps 1 GB/30 days/350 baht (excl 7 % VAT), by sending the subscription message: *104*27*9# SEND

So if I just write down "Kong Kra Pun SIM" on a piece of paper and show them, they'll know what I'm talking about? Also, if I get a 500 baht topup card and subscribe to the plan you mention at 349 baht, I'd have 151 baht left over to use for calling/SMS at 0.99 baht/minute or message, correct? If so, sounds like a perfect option for me.

I've done a bunch of searching on the forums and noticed you're very active in providing advice on all things mobile related (and possibly other things as well, though I've been primarily searching for mobile and internet). So many thanks again for all the help, it's difficult to navigate the seas of mobile options here without getting lost, your help is invaluable.

[lomatopo]

Many shops have boxes and boxes of SIMs on their counters, just look for the one I linked. I think it translates to "invincible" or "invulnerable", because the SIM always has 1,000 hours validity (~ 40 days), which gets extended by one extra day each day that you use it (calls, sms/mms, data). It has the cheapest per min and per SMS of the current crop of Happy promotions. Maybe print out the picture and look for it?

All prices are before VAT so a 349 baht plan will actually result in a charge of ~ 375 baht. So you'd have 125 baht left over, plus whatever is on the base SIM (~ 15 - 50 baht?).

If you think you will use more than 1 GB then activate a larger volume plan.

[tm8747a]

Many shops have boxes and boxes of SIMs on their counters, just look for the one I linked. I think it translates to "invincible" or "invulnerable", because the SIM always has 1,000 hours validity (~ 40 days), which gets extended by one extra day each day that you use it (calls, sms/mms, data). It has the cheapest per min and per SMS of the current crop of Happy promotions. Maybe print out the picture and look for it?

All prices are before VAT so a 349 baht plan will actually result in a charge of ~ 375 baht. So you'd have 125 baht left over, plus whatever is on the base SIM (~ 15 - 50 baht?).

If you think you will use more than 1 GB then activate a larger volume plan.

Just got my SIM and data plan today. It was quite simple with the instructions you provided, worked out great. Thanks again for all the help.