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Buying A Sim Card Before Going To The Us


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Posted

Hi there, I wil be travelling to the US in a week and would like to get a Sim card for my phone that can be used in the States.

Does anyone know a place that sells these in Bangkok? It will be used for a month and prefer it to be prepaid. I would like to purchas one here so that the moment I land in the US I can make a few phone calls.

Thanks in advance!

Posted

You cannot buy these in Thailand. You will have to make your calls from a pay phone and then go into a mobile company like AT&T to get a sim card.

Posted

How far in the future can we be that the technology is not transferable between countries. All these hundreds of dollars people are spending on the fancy phones, and they can't go across the border with out buying something else additional?

Posted

Technology has been here for a while...don't even have to buy another SIM....it's called Roaming Fees...just be sure to have a large bank account to pay those roaming fees.

  • Like 1
Posted

Purchase an inexpensive disposable prepaid phone at any pharmacy/discount store. Starting price app $10.

Another alterantive for malking International calls - from land line- is an international prepaid telephone card. Available at news agents in major cities.

Posted

the US has-as it has in most things technics, a DIFFERENT band or so-not quite so compatible with the more universal Thai standd. They also do still with miles and pounds and that nonsense.

As above; it is as such not so much if it can be done, but the COST-and any Thai SIM used out of the country (if they even allow it-many do not or want you to adapt it specifically first, certainly for unsubscribed) which can easily run into the 100s of $$ or 1000s of THB. Surely the family can wait 5-10 mins till you purchase a US-calling card? Mayeb youre plane is 30 mins early in anyway.

Posted

Get yourself a TracPhone, available at almost every 7-11, pharmacies, and other shops. The phone will be a simple one and will work on various networks, since TracPhone pay the carriers to use their networks so there is always one available wherever you are

The phone will be activated wherever you buy it and will have a set number of minutes and if you need more then you can just buy more minutes. A perfect solution since the US carriers primarily deal with post paid plans and contracts

See this for information:

http://www.tracfone.com/

Posted

Can't you get a friend in the US to send you a prepay SIM? In the UK we can get free SIMs from all the mobile companies just by asking for them.

Posted

Major US carrier tend to lock phones and control SIMs. They don't just give out SIMs like they do in Thailand. The pre-paid phones may be your best option as others have suggested. 7-11s are common, although not on every corner as in Thailand.

Posted

Almost any 7-11 or mom and pop store will have a use and throw away phone. They usually cost around $10.00 and have around 100 minutes. they can be recharged with time, but will not work by changing the sim card. I would check at a store in the airport where you land in the states, but expect a much higher price if bought there.

Posted

I have the same problem when I travel back home. At the airport the two best options are to use something like this:

http://www.enjoyprepaid.com/

Where you just dial an "800" number in the pay phone, punch in your pin and then you can dial your party. Also very cheap rates for calling back to Thailand if you need.

Or, you can see if they have free wifi and use something like Skype. Not all airports have free wifi. And of course you'll need credits in Skype to make calls.

As mentioned, you can get a sim card from here and use it in roaming mode. It's quite expensive, but OK if you just need to make a few quick calls before getting a sim card for your phone.

Make sure your phone supports the band used in the US. This article should help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_frequencies

As I'm only there for a month or two, and don't use the cell very much, I just get a pre-paid phone. Usually costs $20 and up. Here's an example of some:

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=pre+paid+phone&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0

Posted (edited)
Hi there, I wil be travelling to the US in a week and would like to get a Sim card for my phone that can be used in the States.

Does anyone know a place that sells these in Bangkok? It will be used for a month and prefer it to be prepaid. I would like to purchas one here so that the moment I land in the US I can make a few phone calls.

Thanks in advance!

Can you share any details re: your current phone, exact make/model is preferred.

There are a lot more options these days, especially for 30 days, than in the old days. There are a ton of MVNOs now operating on both T-Mo and A T T's networks. And the fees are quite reasonable: ~ $45 - $50 for unlimited calling, text and even nG data. Note that in the U.S. you have to pay for both incoming and outgoing calls if paying by the minute.

With only a week to go there is not enough time to order so maybe you will have to wait until you arrive?

I do keep some unactivated A T T pre-paid SIMs on hand here but I need these for colleagues/friends. I guess you could have a Thai friend troll the Thai forums as I am fairly certain someone has SIMs for sale, albeit at a bit of premium. Often these have to be activated from within the U.S. although one can manage the account after activation on-line easily with a credit card.

The phone model is critical for further recommendations.

If you have a Thai SIM you may be able to enable international roaming, while prohibitively expensive ( ~ 60+ baht/min for calling within the U.S.), will offer connectivity upon arrival.

Edited by lomatopo
Posted

net10 phones ( net10.com ) seem the best of the cheap ones I've tested. I got one at Radio Shack last year and have no complaints. They are around 15 - 20 dollars.

Posted

I seem to recall Thai pre-paid SIMs cannot be used for roaming, where-as Thai SIMs on account can be used. Either turn roaming on from your phone if you have had it before, or contact your carrier to turn it on before you leave.

Be-careful to turn your data off, or purchase an additional monthly roaming data package before you leave, otherwise you could get stung for a really hefty bill on return.

In my case, the wife used her phone everyday, and data when overseas recently. Phone bill on return was a whopping 25,000B, as opposed to mine, only used very occasionally, only 500B more than the package I am currently using.

Posted (edited)

I seem to recall Thai pre-paid SIMs cannot be used for roaming,

I believe your recollection is incorrect. I have both a One-2-Call (AIS) and Happy (DTAC) SIM pre-paid obviously, and both are enabled for international roaming. I think for One-2-Call I had to request this service, which I did via email. For Happy I did this via the Happy eservices web-based platform. Easy peasy. One does not incur any charges unless one originates/accepts voice calls or originates/sends SMSes. One is not allowed onto a data network without pre-subscribing.

Once you power up your phone, and get registered with a network you will receive one or more SMSes detailing usage and rates based on your locale.

I think post-paid service providers here require pre-approval for international roaming, and may also set up some limits to avoid sticker-shock when returning to Thailand.

As an aside, with a 3G 2100 MHz capable phone, and many are, one can roam onto voice networks in Japan (like Softbank)!

Edited by lomatopo
Posted

Many thanks to all posters who offered valuable information. Ive decided to use a friend's Sim card in the US as he was kind enough to lend it to me for the time being.

Posted

Many thanks to all posters who offered valuable information. Ive decided to use a friend's Sim card in the US as he was kind enough to lend it to me for the time being.

Sounds good. May I ask what make/model phone you have? And the SIM is from which provider?

I only ask to verify that it will work for you, and/or offer potential plan options. For example, now T-Mo and AT&T offer daily plans which are pretty handy. You only pay if you use it that day, and you can switch back/forth every day. Lately I have been using the T-Mo $2/day which gives unlimited calling, text and 2G data. But then my trips only last for 6 days.

There are so many options now it is just amazing, even for iPhone users.

I did find a local person selling AT&T pre-paid SIMs: 250 baht for a regular SIM and 300 for a uSIM, with 50 baht EMS. That was just the first hit I got on a search so I imagine there are many others?

Posted

I seem to recall Thai pre-paid SIMs cannot be used for roaming, where-as Thai SIMs on account can be used. Either turn roaming on from your phone if you have had it before, or contact your carrier to turn it on before you leave.

Be-careful to turn your data off, or purchase an additional monthly roaming data package before you leave, otherwise you could get stung for a really hefty bill on return.

In my case, the wife used her phone everyday, and data when overseas recently. Phone bill on return was a whopping 25,000B, as opposed to mine, only used very occasionally, only 500B more than the package I am currently using.

OMG. I've heard of stories like this. My friend has a trick where he uses his smart phone to connect with wifi and then uses skype for calls. Quite cheap then, but have to find the wifi....

Posted

Many thanks to all posters who offered valuable information. Ive decided to use a friend's Sim card in the US as he was kind enough to lend it to me for the time being.

Sounds good. May I ask what make/model phone you have? And the SIM is from which provider?

I only ask to verify that it will work for you, and/or offer potential plan options. For example, now T-Mo and AT&T offer daily plans which are pretty handy. You only pay if you use it that day, and you can switch back/forth every day. Lately I have been using the T-Mo $2/day which gives unlimited calling, text and 2G data. But then my trips only last for 6 days.

There are so many options now it is just amazing, even for iPhone users.

I did find a local person selling AT&T pre-paid SIMs: 250 baht for a regular SIM and 300 for a uSIM, with 50 baht EMS. That was just the first hit I got on a search so I imagine there are many others?

Im currently using an unlocked Iphone 4S bought here in Thailand, and will be using a AT&T Sim with the 2$ per day for unlimited calling plan (from what I have bee recommended)

However, if you do know someone who sells the prepaid Sims I would be very happy to buy one for myself so I dont have to borrow =)

Posted

Or, you can see if they have free wifi and use something like Skype. Not all airports have free wifi. And of course you'll need credits in Skype to make calls.

Very useful. I use Skype almost exclusively on my netbook when I go to the US and don't really need a phone. Most of my friends have wifi--and of course the coffee shops, bars, restaurants etc. At the airport I just hit one of the latter.

Posted (edited)

Im currently using an unlocked Iphone 4S bought here in Thailand, and will be using a AT&T Sim with the 2$ per day for unlimited calling plan (from what I have bee recommended)

However, if you do know someone who sells the prepaid Sims I would be very happy to buy one for myself so I dont have to borrow =)

As long as the SIM has been previously activated, it requires a non-iPhone to activate, you should be able to use the SIM in your phone. You will not be able to activate a new AT&T pre-paid SIM with an Phone, but you can use it in an iPhone after it has been activated.

Maybe have a Thai person search the Thai forums for you? Just Google AT&T SIM in Thai language and region. But again, these SIMs need to be activated in the U.S. with a non iPhone.

http://getapple.net/...16&t=133765

Also, turn off data or you'll be paying $0.01/KB (one U.S. penny per Kilo-Byte).

Edited by lomatopo
  • 3 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Some years ago, I was able to use my AIS 1-2 SIM from the US to contact Thai numbers. Last year I was not able to use my AIS 1-2 call SIM from the US. Last year I was there and could not even get a signal. I am currently in Japan and the same thing happened -- not even a signal. It would have been nice to be able to keep in touch from here, but no dice. Anyone know for sure why this is?

Added - From Mod.

Please check your browser Encoding settings, and make sure you are not using foreign language sets such as Japanese to avoid the above look.

Thank-you.

Edited by soundman
Note added for member.
Posted
 Anyone know for sure why this is?

Assuming your One-2-Call SIM is active and in good standing, and you have international roaming enabled, then your SIM should work in both the U.S. and even Japan, provided your phone supports GSM 850/1900 (for roaming onto AT&T, or T-Mobile in the U.S.A.) and 2100 MHz 3G for roaming onto Softbank in Japan. (Note that mobile providers in the U.S. do not have ubiquitous coverage so it is possible to be in locations where there is no coverage.)

Any calls and SMSes will be quite costly - calls ~ 80 baht/min, SMSes 10 baht (maybe more) each.

Can you tell us the exact brand and model of your phone?

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