Best Sim Card With Some Data?

[TheHelper]

Hi Guys,

I am looking for some advice on which service provider to choose who can give me regular phone+sms and also a bit of data that I can check email, lookup something on this forum, possibly browse Facebook, etc. Don't need to do any serious downloading or anything, just small simple stuff.

Thanks in advance!

[Fatdog]

Hi,

I use 1-2-Call, and find it to be quite good.

Usually top up every day for 15 Baht, gives me 3G and Edge, I get 20MB. that is usualy enough for checking e-mail and Facebook and having a look at various sites.

If you need more than 20MB there is another daily package that gives 140MB of 3G and unlimited Edge, this will cost 49 Baht per day.

FD

[CharlieH]

Your Location will dictate which is the best option as all the carriers have various package options but not all work in all areas with equal efficiency.

[TheHelper]

Your Location will dictate which is the best option as all the carriers have various package options but not all work in all areas with equal efficiency.

Sure, thanks! It will be used mostly around the Banglamphu / Khao San Road area...

Edited May 9, 2012 by TheHelper

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Equally important is the equipment that you intend to use. Useless buying an AIS SIM, only to find that your phone/USB modem doesn't utilise their frequency.

[TheHelper]

Thanks! I have an iPhone. Any other suggestions guys? Anyone here successfully using a particular network with their iPhone and able to use a little bit of data for email, etc? Thanks again.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

iPhone SIM - TrueMove H

[Jiu-Jitsu]

If you are staying for longer than a month; Happy Smartphone SIM

Though you should check beforehand as the the availability of 3G in your area. Should be fine.

[Gary A]

I live out in the boonies of Loei province. I have used AIS for my regular phone calls for many years. Sometimes the EDGE for the Internet is very slow. I also have a Dtac SIM that is/was normally much faster for the Internet. Since I now use an Android smart phone, I was planning on trying to change my AIS number to Dtac. I'm glad I didn't. Dtac seems to have developed major problems and AIS is now better for the Internet. True is a non starter because there is no signal here.

ADDED - At this point there is no 3G service here.

Edited May 15, 2012 by Gary A

[lomatopo]

Thanks! I have an iPhone. Any other suggestions guys? Anyone here successfully using a particular network with their iPhone and able to use a little bit of data for email, etc? Thanks again.

3GS? 4? 4S?

There are many, many, many different options available, and a similar number of individual requirements (budget, equipment, location, voice: domestic/int;'l, text, MMS, data, etc.) so it can be challenging to recommend a single service provider, SIM and plans.

One-2-Call is the only full-service provider which has a pre-paid "bundle: http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/pro-SmartPhone.html The operate 3G on 900 Mhz so if you have a 4/4S you can use their 3G network.

The other two full-service providers: TrueMove H and Happy, which operate their 3G on 850 Mhz so any iPhone version will work on these 3G networks, and require you to build/layer a plan which might include voice, text and data. So you might get a specific SIM, which includes a pay as you use rate for voice (typically now 1 baht/min) and text, and then you can layer on a daily, weekly (Happy only) or monthly data plan. (Both do offer PAYG bundles but the data price ( 2 baht/MB) may be more than you should pay.) A volume-based plan is strongly suggested.

http://www.truemove-h.com/en/prepay/sim/prepay-sim-iphone.aspx

http://www.truemove-h.com/en/prepay/prepay-topping.aspx

http://www.happy.co.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=3&Itemid=66〈=en

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

[MaxwellsDemon]

+1 for DTAC's Happy Smartphone Prepaid SIM.

I use it with my iPhone (a 3G, and now a 4) with no problems. Rates are alright; 1 baht a minute for calls, 2 baht per text, 8 baht for an international text.

But TWO BAHT A MEGABYTE.

I don't know if that's normal here, but back in Canada you get charged FIVE DOLLARS if you go over your plan limit. That's 150 baht. This is 2 baht.

I didn't do any research when I chose them, I've just always liked their customer service (they've replaced my lost SIM card and whatnot at least 6 times now >.<). I always hear about TRUE this TRUE that but truth be told (hah) I haven't had any issues. I even got 3G signal on the whole boat ride from Surat Don Sak to Koh Phangan. All the backpackers were bored while I was cruising the Internats in the middle of the gulf.

Also had great connection most of the path from Chiang Mai to Ubon, and places around there.

[lomatopo]

+1 for DTAC's Happy Smartphone Prepaid SIM.

I use it with my iPhone (a 3G, and now a 4) with no problems. Rates are alright; 1 baht a minute for calls, 2 baht per text, 8 baht for an international text.

But TWO BAHT A MEGABYTE.

I don't know if that's normal here, but back in Canada you get charged FIVE DOLLARS if you go over your plan limit. That's 150 baht. This is 2 baht.

I didn't do any research when I chose them, I've just always liked their customer service (they've replaced my lost SIM card and whatnot at least 6 times now >.<). I always hear about TRUE this TRUE that but truth be told (hah) I haven't had any issues. I even got 3G signal on the whole boat ride from Surat Don Sak to Koh Phangan. All the backpackers were bored while I was cruising the Internats in the middle of the gulf.

Also had great connection most of the path from Chiang Mai to Ubon, and places around there.

Note that 2 baht/MB is the default rate. You can do a lot better if you want by adding a volume-based data plan, assuming you use more than 175 MB of data. For example, with DTAC/Happy an unlimited (note that the fair-use speed limit on this single plan is pitiful 64 Kbps, other unlimited plans have a fair-use speed limit of 384 Kbps; with an unlimited plan you do not pay any extra per MB surcharges, but your access speed is restricted) 1 GB monthly plan is 350 baht (exclusive of 7% VAT). Using the default rate you would pay 2,048 baht for 1 GB (2,192 with VAT) vs. 375 baht (with VAT).

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

You can also change plans, maybe to something like this: http://www.happy.co.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89&Itemid=37&lang=en which offers 0.99 baht/min and 0.99 baht/SMS.

By years end everyone will have to offer 1 baht/min flat rate calling, except True, if current rules end up being enforced.

Edited May 16, 2012 by lomatopo

[thaivice]

hi,. i visit bangkok twice a year. i have an ais 1,2,call sim card that provides data connection for a couple of years now. my problem is that it keeps on expiring, and i have to reactivate it for 100baht for voice and around 350bht for data.

is there a better option? mostly staying in bangkok i am using a phone that supports GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

[lomatopo]

hi,. i visit bangkok twice a year. i have an ais 1,2,call sim card that provides data connection for a couple of years now. my problem is that it keeps on expiring, and i have to reactivate it for 100baht for voice and around 350bht for data.

is there a better option? mostly staying in bangkok i am using a phone that supports GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

How long do you stay during your two annual visits?

Assuming you stay for say fewer than 90 days each time and retaining a number is not a priority, I'd submit it may be less expensive to purchase a new SIM for each visit as SIMs are ~ 49 baht, and then subscribe to a monthly data plan, maybe from One-2-Call who operate a 900 Mhz 3G network?

There are ways to extend expiration dates, which would allow you to retain a number, although we are entering a period of number shortages so numbers are being re-cycled more rapidly and service providers may be enforcing the 90-day usage rule more stringently?

[thaivice]

i stay a couple of weeks max. i don't really need to retain my number. would you know if the counter in the subra*ni airport charges the same price for the sim card, or is it cheaper in 7-11? can i buy the by mobile volume plan instead of the monthly plan? i need this to tether to my laptop as hotels seems to charge ridiculously high prices for internet.

BTW, do you get charged for incoming calls?

Edited May 21, 2012 by thaivice

[lomatopo]

No, you do not get charged for incoming calls here.

It may be easier to buy SIMs at a mobile phone shop; there are literally a million of these in almost every mall. You can walk around the 4th floor at MBK and see hundreds of counter shops with boxes and boxes of SIMs. Maybe just buy 4 or 5 at one go? They do not go bad. Then you have one when you land.

Volume-based plans, as well as time-based plans have a duration measured in days, weeks or a month. You can subscribe to the plan which meets or exceeds your total upload/download requirements in GB. If 3G is desired then you need to match your equipment to the provider, in many cases. Happy (DTAC) do have a weekly plan, otherwise you can choose a plan which lasts for a month.

[BB1950]

They do not go bad. Then you have one when you land.

Yes I once thought the same. I once bought a spare AIS SIM for that reason. Later I went to activate it. I found it couldn't be activated. Seems the unused unactivated SIM had to be activated within 90 days. There is a date on the package which shows the date when it expires.

[lomatopo]

They do not go bad. Then you have one when you land.

Yes I once thought the same. I once bought a spare AIS SIM for that reason. Later I went to activate it. I found it couldn't be activated. Seems the unused unactivated SIM had to be activated within 90 days. There is a date on the package which shows the date when it expires.

OK, thanks. So maybe don't buy any SIMs which will expire after your next arrival? I have a few SIM packages left over and the expiration date(s) seem more like ~ 14 months, from the date I purchased these. I know I activated one of these ~ 6 months after I purchased it so not sure how universal this 90 day limit is?

[thaivice]

thanks for the advice on this. i managed to buy 1 from ais @49bht, then topped up 150baht for 150mb. do note that prices are before VAT, so don't go around accusing them of ripping you off. speed was super in the silom area. 95% of the time i got HSPDA signal so that's like what they advertised at 42mbps. the problem though was that windows decided to download an update. So after a day, i was down to 40mb left.

good thing their refill cards are easily available in 7-11. bought a 300bht refill, called their call center as the volume based option was not an option in their automated voice system (1175). upon speaking to their english speaking operator, i learned that i have to finish the 40mb load left before they could load another data plan. they also told me that the time based plan actually offers a slower speed at 300+kbps.

overall ais is recommended. btw, when i bought the 49bht sim cards, i checked all the cards that they brought out, all had an expiry of july this year.so after a few days, i went to another shop, this time they have a 99baht sim card with 99mb free data plan, and expires december this year. i got one, just hope it wont expire on december first.