Ais Data Plans: Is It Possible To Prevent An Expired Data Plan . . .

[Sam Drucker]

I'm about to switch the g/f over to her first smart phone, an Android HTC Wildfire. She's not big with the internet, but can use it. If I sign her up for an AIS data plan (like the 150MB or 1GB plans,) I know it will be an issue if that thing expires and she doesn't have enough balance to re-subscribe. If that happens, then AIS automatically reverts to the standard time-based data plan that will suck down your remaining calling credit in no time. Is there a way to prevent that from happening? A network setting or such?

I know she's not going to know to turn off the "Mobile Network" setting under "Wireless & Network". Thus I ask if there is a way to prevent AIS from automatically switching to the time-based plan?

[Satcommlee]

Best call them, they are quite helpful and never had any problems with their English.

There are codes to switch off Mobile Data for this very reason, my Mrs kept using her credit up on her iPhone when off wifi, but I don't know how that would affect any package that has been applied.

But when the good lady asks for top-ups, she only gets 50 baht at a time ;-)

[bobl]

If you get her the right package you'll never have to worry about it reverting to "per megabyte" pricing. It'll simply throttle her bandwidth (if she uses up the 1gb allocation) until the month is used up then, renew itself.

Same goes for Satcommlee - if you put her on a proper bundle you wouldn't need to fart around with switching 3g data on and off...

Otherwise, there are Android apps that can watch the data usage and alert you when it reaches a threshold for this very reason - in many countries they WILL dump you back into their arm-and-a-leg per megabyte pricing as soon as you go a byte over your package (although in fairness I should say usually not without warning you with a few sms's first)

[lomatopo]

If you get her the right package you'll never have to worry about it reverting to "per megabyte" pricing. It'll simply throttle her bandwidth (if she uses up the 1gb allocation) until the month is used up then, renew itself.

With AIS-One-2-Call the minimum "unlimited" plan is 799 baht (855 baht with VAT) for 3 GB, fair-use speed limit is 384 Kbps.

With an AIS/One-2-Call "LIMITED" volume-based plan the overage charge is 2 baht/MB.

DTAC/Happy have a 1 GB "unlimited plan at 399 baht (427 baht with VAT) with a fair-use speed limit of 64 Kbps.

I am not aware of any "automatic limiter" network-based feature. As mentioned there are many, many Android apps which can monitor, and perhaps take automatic action based on reaching some % of allotment usage: https://play.google....roid.g3watchdog

Edited March 25, 2012 by lomatopo

[bobl]

With AIS-One-2-Call the minimum "unlimited" plan is 799 baht (855 baht with VAT) for 3 GB, fair-use speed limit is 384 Kbps.

Well spotted, yes when I said " the right package" I meant any of the "unlimited" plans but I didn't make that clear...

[edwinchester]

There is a good app, juicedefender, that saves your battery but also switches off the internet connection when it recognises your phone is idle.

I am always forgetting to switch off packet data when I have finished browsing on my phone so having it switch itself off is very useful for me.

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[4evermaat]

how much data will she use? maybe just choose a smaller package, and just check the usage occassionally *139#. i doubt she will use more than a few mb. ais send 2-3 sms when MB balance is low. if her usage is very small, maybe smartphone package will suit? 200MB + 100sms + 50mms + 1 bt/min phone calls 199 baht.

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