Frankie26 Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 What phone would you recommend for traveling (especially one that relatives could reach you on in case of an emergency)? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_smith237 Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 Possibly the most vague question to date on ThaiVisa.com along with What job can I get in Thailand !!! You need to be much more specific with your question.. Provide your requirements.. i.e. smart phone or simple phone ? Do you need Maps, internet, e-mail, music, camera, Video, Games ? (iPhone / Samsung Galaxy III) OR is it solely for emergency contact: i.e. long battery life - can make and receive calls and SMS only but no fancy stuff ? (Basic Nokia) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikster Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 (edited) unlocked iphone, stick a sim in it and enjoy google maps and internet access, both are really very helpful when traveling to unknown places. for relatives in an emergency, yes, get a 1000 baht nokia phone with a local sim card. or get the 500 Baht Samsung rip-off of said Nokia phone, it's just as good. And works the same way too. Got one for my mom when she was visiting, 450 baht on special at Tesco Lotus, worked perfectly. It even has a feature that the iPhone doesn't have: You can fake an incoming call, in case you want to get out of a meeting or something. Edited February 22, 2013 by nikster 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post WinnieTheKhwai Posted February 23, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) If it's just for people to be able to call you in emergencies then no need to look further than an 800 Baht Nokia 100. As a phone, they work just fine. Better than many smartphones actually, as they're loud, have buttons that you can actually feel and see even in bright sunlight, and it will still have plenty battery life left when really needed. Also if you drop it accidentally into the ocean it won't matter much, and backpacker scum won't steal it. It's only when you want to do e-mail, browse the web, get GPS/maps, read books, take pictures and video, make Facebook updates, do Skype calls, play Temple Run and Instagram all your food that this topic becomes something that might require thought & debate. But cheap Nokia's are so good at just being phones that even if you have the above requirements you might STILL just get the cheapo Nokia, and then some small tablet for the fancy stuff. Edited February 23, 2013 by WinnieTheKhwai 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneZero Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Winnie hit the nail on the head. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celcius Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) WTK has got the right idea and if you want the other end of the spectrum I am going to suggest the Google Nexus 4.A flagship unlocked phone at a reasonable price (when it comes to flagship unlocked phones) Prices start at $299 US (while an unlocked iPhone 5 starts at $649 US - yikes!) Edited February 23, 2013 by Celcius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacks Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I brought my HTC Evo 4g from the states, only to find out it doesn't have a sim card!! (bummer) Cheap i-mobile and local sim has done me right so far. Found out today that the maps on my Evo work off the cell towers even though I don't have service.. Score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Possibly the most vague question to date on ThaiVisa.com along with What job can I get in Thailand !!! You need to be much more specific with your question.. Provide your requirements.. i.e. smart phone or simple phone ? Do you need Maps, internet, e-mail, music, camera, Video, Games ? (iPhone / Samsung Galaxy III) OR is it solely for emergency contact: i.e. long battery life - can make and receive calls and SMS only but no fancy stuff ? (Basic Nokia) According to OP: "especially one that relatives could reach you on in case of an emergency" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xen Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 (edited) I bought a Nokia 1200 in Tuk Com quite a few years ago - about 700 thb i think it was . No useless crap on it so it has long battery life. It is designed for villagers in "third world " situations and it just phones and messages. No camera. no inaccurate maps to assist in getting you lost, no fancy ring tones or other crap that 13 year old girls and boys want. Makes the choice of colour easy too so you don't need to stand in the stall debating with yourself what colour you should get. Comes in black with silver trim. What it does, it does well unlike many "smart phones" that do a lot of things but nothing quite as well as a dedicated item. WinnieTK is spot on . Buy a tablet or net book for for yr e-mails and browsing and your phone for phone calls. Edited February 24, 2013 by xen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rene123 Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 I'm another that agrees with Winnie. Simple is better when it comes to phone calls. The other stuff are just gadgets. If I want a camera I'll choose the camera that suits my needs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickyknee Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 Travelling where? To the 7/11, Thailand, SE Asia or the world? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackJack Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 my nokia has gpsa and this does maps and voice direction without connecting to the internet via wi fi it is symbian os and so on its last leg what else is there on the market that does the same ie android? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_smith237 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Possibly the most vague question to date on ThaiVisa.com along with What job can I get in Thailand !!! You need to be much more specific with your question.. Provide your requirements.. i.e. smart phone or simple phone ? Do you need Maps, internet, e-mail, music, camera, Video, Games ? (iPhone / Samsung Galaxy III) OR is it solely for emergency contact: i.e. long battery life - can make and receive calls and SMS only but no fancy stuff ? (Basic Nokia) According to OP: "especially one that relatives could reach you on in case of an emergency" Did the bold and highlighted font improve your reading skills Semper ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 my nokia has gpsa and this does maps and voice direction without connecting to the internet via wi fi it is symbian os and so on its last leg what else is there on the market that does the same ie android? Out of the box: Current Nokia Windows 8 Phones. These are worth looking at, the latest Windows Phone is really (REALLY) well desgined. And Nokia versions come with the excellent Nokia Maps. Higher end models also have a very good camera. But also for Android (and iOS) devices you can download apps that have off-line maps. And of course Android and iOS have loads more general apps available compared to Windows Phone, which is relatively new in this incarnation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celcius Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 my nokia has gpsa and this does maps and voice direction without connecting to the internet via wi fi it is symbian os and so on its last leg what else is there on the market that does the same ie android? Out of the box: Current Nokia Windows 8 Phones. These are worth looking at, the latest Windows Phone is really (REALLY) well desgined. And Nokia versions come with the excellent Nokia Maps. Higher end models also have a very good camera. But also for Android (and iOS) devices you can download apps that have off-line maps. And of course Android and iOS have loads more general apps available compared to Windows Phone, which is relatively new in this incarnation. Google Maps on Android has offline maps built in, but for some reason, it doesn't work in Thailand. Must have something to do with some laws or regulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Can't be regulation; plenty apps have downloaded maps; either as a single big download, or through caching of content already downloaded. MapQuest (yes, they're still around) has an app that caches maps and will do turn-by-turn navigation. Free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rene123 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Google Maps on Android has offline maps built in, but for some reason, it doesn't work in Thailand. Must have something to do with some laws or regulations.A LOT of things don't work in Thailand. I guess reputable companies don't like countries that copy their products and sell them on the black market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuang Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Just bought an i-mobile IQ6a for 8590 baht at Central KSK....cant find it anywhere not even in BKK....a great phone..normal selling price 8490 Baht.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRS1 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 (edited) If you send a lot of text its nice to have an internet capable phone. Using the app 'whatsapp' will save a ton of money in place of normal sms charges. You can also use a smartphone to make internet phone calls abroad to save more money. A phone with wi-fi will also allow you to get on the internet if you are not subscribed to an internet service... if the area you are in has wi-fi. Id consider a travel phone one that can do many things to lighten carrying weight, it can take both still pictures and videos and can be used as an mp3 player also (both music and video), and as mentioned the Nokia comes with Nokia maps, it also has a radio, and i can check emails with it. Cell Phone cameras are actually pretty good, some also have built in flashes now. All i use is my phone to take pictures now.Just cant take them in total darkness-no flash. You can also download apps like currency convertors, star maps and a bunch of other stuff, and play games when youre bored. I tried to stay with my dumbphone for the longest time, but smartphones really are useful and a great convenience. The major set back is battery life, youd need two if you cannot get to a plug every other day, or you can turn off mobile data(internet) and the battery will last longer. I use a Nokia 311 that cost 3700 baht, and it is compact enough not to be a nuissance, its about as big as a pack of cigarettes but half as thick, and i no longer need to take my laptop with me to check emails when i travel. Its also a quadband and can be used with various SIM cards from many carriers. Edited March 5, 2013 by KRS1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoorSucker Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Nokia 105. One month battery time. Price: €15 or $30 http://www.gizmag.com/nokia-105-mobile-phone-month-long-battery-life/26413/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot1988 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 get a simple terrestar genus hybrid sat phone with their prepaid plan. its not as expensive as many would imagine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now