Thais hunting for 'lucky' mobile phone numbers

[webfact]

Thais Hunting For 'Lucky' Mobile Phone Numbers
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The price for phone numbers starting with "09" are increasingly expensive, as many Thais believe the number would provide them with divine fortunes in lives.

Vast majority of the mobile phone numbers in Thailand start with 08, but the 09 series are also starting to appear in the market.

The number is associated with good luck by the Thais as 9 (gow) sounds like "step", so any serial number starting with 9 is equivalent to "taking a step forward"(gow nha). Such obsession with number 9 is found in vehicle license plates, banknotes, and other objects.

The numerology also helps reinforce the semi-god status of His Majesty the King - the 9th monarch of Chakri Dynasty - in the perception of many Thais.

Although the 09 mobile phone number series emerged several years ago, it has recently become popular due to many celebrities who express their belief in the "good luck" phone numbers to the press, Prachachart has reported.

Customers who already have other numbers are buying new simcards in order to enjoy the benefit of the divine number. The promotion of the superstitious belief via social media by the celebrities also helps raise the price of the good-luck-numbers simcard.

While the general starting price is around 1,000 baht, some specific numbers can raise up to 100,000 baht, depending on the interpretation of the serial numbers.

It should be noted that these 09x-xxx-xxxxx numbers are provided by "Truemove-H" as part of its product campaign To-Yok-Guan ("Chatty Gang"), which allows the users to acquire the number by exchanging discount "stamps" issued by 7-11 convenience stores for a simcard.

The trend had caused many simcard retailers to search for particular numbers. Some had gone as far as phoning the number owners and offering to buy the simcards.

However, in near future Truemove-H will no longer enjoy the monopoly of mystical numbers, as a rival company i-Mobile recently announced plan to sell them under its campaign "Lucky Numbers With Positive Force For Your Life"

i-Mobile, with the collaboration of Mr. Karin ′Man′ Satayu, an actor who also offers horoscope services, will provide its users a simcard with numbers "certified" as "lucky" by horoscope experts at the price of 199 THB. But it remains to be seen whether those numbers would be as highly sought-after as the 09 series.

Another source told Prachachart that there are approximately 20 major dealers capable of selling the 09 lucky numbers at expensive rates, due to the fact that the business needs large amount of money to cover its turnover rate. Generally, the dealer must spend at least 100,000 THB to buy a lucky simcard, before reselling it at a higher rate.

"It works like the amulet market", said the source.

Prachachart reports that by now, many numbers starting with 095-4xx-xxxx are already in the hands of these major dealers. Statistically, lucky numbers appear at the ratio of only 20 per 10,000 numbers.

Nevertheless, there is still a chance for other 500 minor dealers to compete with the major ones, as National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is expected to release another set of 099-xxx-xxxx numbers in the near future, which is bound to fuel the dynamics of the market yet again.

Mr. Korkit Danchaiwichit, Deputy Secretary of the NBTC, said that organisation is trying to manage the numbers to be sold in orders to prevent the waste of inactive numbers, namely the numbers considered undesirable by superstitious customers, which could lead to the dramatic change to 11-digits system.

The decision could mean that network providers will no longer be allowed to choose the numbers, and hence took advantage of the perceived lucky charms.

NBTC additionally requires network providers to return 2G numbers to be reused as 3G-capable numbers. Users of 2G simcards are aslo allowed to transfer to 3G network under the protection of Mobile Number Portability Act.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE1EZzVOVFkwT1E9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-10-05

[Chang_paarp]

So are they going to use these numbers or hang the sim card around their neck with the amulet and any other good luck charm?

[poohy]

What utter Bolleux!................................. as I believe they would say in France!

[JoeThePoster]

The number is associated with good luck by the Thais as 9 (gow) sounds like "step", so any serial number starting with 9 is equivalent to "taking a step forward"(gow nha).

Sounds like "cow dung" to me.

[Cuban]

There are some numbers I would like - I keep meaning to call them and see if they will sell.

[Bpuumike]

Just go to any AIS shop if you feel the need.

[thhMan]

I suppose that doing a good job, raising the kids to have a good education and knowing right from wrong doesn't matter as long as you have a "lucky sim card"

[dontejo]

My telephone number is: 00909979 (one to call). This must be a very lucky number! But I dont (cannot) use is it because bad connection to our place.I think that's why I 'm very unhappy, I have to use true move. (LOL)

[BigBadGeordie]

Sorry but another bit of Bull! Just as a side issue I have well over 100 contact on my iphone, none of I know the number of? Who "dials" a number now?

Sent from my KG1517-Max using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[JulesMad]

I bought the other day a new SIM ("09-xxx") for just 50 THB

Anyway, who knows a number?!? Normally people assign names to the numbers, so for me a number is just an identifier. Nothing more, nothing less. I can not imagine to pay 100,000 THB for just a number, but they are stupid (and rich) people everywhere

[bangon04]

There are some numbers I would like - I keep meaning to call them and see if they will sell.

So a lucky number has the added benefit of frequent nuisance calls from random people....

[A1Str8]

That's amusing. That's a fact that everything in this world is constantly flowing energy and numbers represent different types of energies. It's also not a coincidence that certain individuals attract different numbers depending on which energy level they resonate on. But it's unfortunate that people always try to twist everything and they think that acquiring a certain number or license plate will change anything. It's us who have the power to change things for the better but still we push this silly nonsense that the things around us have power over us.

[sarathjay]

I have a very lucky 09 number... 0923958..... I have a roof over my head and sufficient food to eat and 8 Baht to pay my fare when I board a bus. Now I know that this is because of my number. The biggest crap I have heard!!! Who wants it? We can negotiate a good price!

[Sydebolle]

Reminds me of car tags. When I purchased my latest car some five years ago the dealer offered to get a "lucky number". Well, you should have seen the face when I said, it is absolutely irrelevant. I ended up with 3026 and upon picking up the plates the dealer was relieved, as 3+0+2+6 results in 11 which is ..... after all .... still a lucky number. Maid bought a lottery ticket based on 11 and ... walked with THB 200 winnings.
Welcome to Thailand and yes, sometimes the gods of lucky numbers mean really well with numbering-infidels like me!

[thhMan]

The only lucky number is 0

Thats the amount of times I go out and dont get run off the road on my scooter, dont get extra falang prices when I visit attractions or get the runs at least once a month from Thai food.

Its a very rare number indeed

[Cuban]

There are some numbers I would like - I keep meaning to call them and see if they will sell.

So a lucky number has the added benefit of frequent nuisance calls from random people....

...hey but just think of the phones I could sell them !

[tingtongteesood]

Surrounded by idiots !!!!!

[Cuban]

What do they say about judging a person by the company they keep?

[phitsanulokjohn]

Can't speak about the Thai guys, but i know the Thai ladies love the number 9 so long as it has a 6 in front of it.

[BwindiBoy]

My number has 666 in it and I'm happy with that...