Best data/phone service plan?

[chris1dna]

Hi all,

Im arriving in Bangkok in mid feb. I have an unlocked iphone 4s. I have previously to baught and used a DTAC sim and seem to endlessly have to top up the sim for all the data I use. I will be in country for approx 30 days. Is there a way to buy the sim at my local 7-11 and get an high data smartphone service of some sort for a month and save some money from using the top up methode? Sorry but I've searched the other topics on this and found nothing too specific for my circumstance. I would prefere to use dtac also as it seems to have the best coverage for the areas of Thailand I visit. Any specific instructions on what to do would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help on this.

[Rooo]

Moved.

[lomatopo]

All three major service providers here: AIS, DTAC and TrueMove H offer similar monthly data plans.

Maybe best to start with TrueMove H: they have a lot of coverage on 3G/850 MHz through their reseller agreement with CAT, and very few customers so in theory they might have the best solution for you?

Buy a TrueMove H SIM, add value, subscribe to a daily plan for 49 baht...if it proves acceptable for your application subscribe to an unlimited plan. If not, try AIS and/or DTAC.

For example, you can get a 5 GB/30 day recurring plan which offers unlimited internet usage, full speed up to 5 GB, 128 Kbps after you reach 5 GB, for 899 baht.

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/3g/sim-truemoveh/prepaid/all

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/3g/toppings/iplay/entry/654

http://www.ais.co.th/3g-one-2-call/th/sim-detail.aspx?id=20

http://www.ais.co.th/mobileinternet/internet-package/#2

http://www.dtac.co.th/en/prepaid/products/newsimple.html

http://www.dtac.co.th/en/prepaid/products/Happy-internet-package.html

[lopburi3]

Below are the various DTAC plans to avoid the every minute internet usage fee. Last link from above. Only requires dial of number to activate.

http://www.dtac.co.th/en/prepaid/products/Happy-internet-package.html

[dddave]

AIS has a decent tourist package available at the AIS kiosk in the Survanabhumi Airport arrivals level 2. DTAC & TRUE both also have kiosks nearby so you can compare plans and decide for yourself what best fits your needs.

[Guitar God]

I spend most of my time in Thailand in Bangkok or Ubon and when I first arrived I got an AIS prepaid sim. I wasn't happy with the coverage or connections (lots of Edge and celldata speed connections) so I got a Dtac sim. I went with the 899/m "Unlimited" internet but I used up the 5GB limit after 3 weeks and spend the last week of the month with turtle-speed data transfer. I switched my prepaid to an account where I'm billed monthly and so far it's more convenient and according to the sms's I receive, I've never been downgraded to slower speed yet but I'm still seeing a lot of "E" instead of 3G connections and even some areas (Loie,spots outside of Ubon, my man-cave) where I have no service.

My Thai poosslq switched to True and she seems to have better coverage and better connections so I was tempted to switch to True but the other day in Ubon we both did a speed test and her True connection gave a 11MB DL and 1.5 MB UL while my Dtac was 15MB DL and 3.9MB UL so I decided to give Dtac a little more time before I switch again. Your milage may vary.

Most providers require you have a non tourist visa if you want a monthly, non-prepaid account.

[thailandbeachisland]

Aren't they all almost the same thing ? Why choosing, take 1 of each and it will cost you only 900 thb maximum for each package.

People have weird questions sometimes...

[chris1dna]

Thanks all for the helpful tips. So can I just ask nicely for one of the helpful 7-11 clerks to set up for me or is more complicated than that?

And to the fellow who thinks my questions are weird. I suppose if it seems so weird to you them why bother with the snarky response? Seems like it would be easier to just not say anything but some are just weird like that I suppose.

Thanks again all. I'm probably just overly slow on this kind of stuff because I'm not familiar with it yet. Surely once I've done it once it will all make sense.

Cheers.

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[Guitar God]

7-11's are fine for refills but I've always gone to one of the phone company shops in the malls. Most larger malls all have Dtac, True and AIS stores.

[dddave]

7-11 clerks are pretty busy. They'll politely try but chances are they'll be rushed and you might not get set up as you would like it. if you go to a carrier kiosk such as AIS or DTAC or a Televiz shop in most malls, they will set you up properly, for instance with English confirmation and info texts. If you plan on visiting someone in an outlying area, ask that person or hotel what provider has the best coverage in that area.

[chris1dna]

Now those are great ideas! Duh! Sounds so simple once it's explained. I get so mystified by this probably because my brain is in Thailand. Of course go to carrier location! It's what I would do at home. Thanks you guys. Much appreciated.

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[MW72]

Aren't they all almost the same thing ? Why choosing, take 1 of each and it will cost you only 900 thb maximum for each package.

People have weird questions sometimes...

That's a great solution to the problem. Buy 3 different SIM cards for one phone. How would you suggest the OP rotate the usage? Do you think he should swap the SIM daily, every 8 hours or even on an hourly basis? Maybe he should buy 2 new phones so he can use all 3 SIMs at the same time.

And you think the OPs question is weird.....

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[thailandbeachisland]

Aren't they all almost the same thing ? Why choosing, take 1 of each and it will cost you only 900 thb maximum for each package.

People have weird questions sometimes...

That's a great solution to the problem. Buy 3 different SIM cards for one phone. How would you suggest the OP rotate the usage? Do you think he should swap the SIM daily, every 8 hours or even on an hourly basis? Maybe he should buy 2 new phones so he can use all 3 SIMs at the same time.

And you think the OPs question is weird.....

Sent from my KFTT using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes, it's not difficult and expensive to have more than 1 phone nowadays and people who know something else but Iphone and Samsung buy phones that work with 2 sim cards.

I love people who keep looking for problems when I cannot see any and then they think that their life is complicated <3

[chris1dna]

.

Edited January 31, 2014 by chris1dna

[chris1dna]

Aren't they all almost the same thing ? Why choosing, take 1 of each and it will cost you only 900 thb maximum for each package.

People have weird questions sometimes...

That's a great solution to the problem. Buy 3 different SIM cards for one phone. How would you suggest the OP rotate the usage? Do you think he should swap the SIM daily, every 8 hours or even on an hourly basis? Maybe he should buy 2 new phones so he can use all 3 SIMs at the same time.

And you think the OPs question is weird.....

Sent from my KFTT using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes, it's not difficult and expensive to have more than 1 phone nowadays and people who know something else but Iphone and Samsung buy phones that work with 2 sim cards.

I love people who keep looking for problems when I cannot see any and then they think that their life is complicated <3

.

I am using an iPhone 4S. Are you suggesting I "BUY" another iPhone or some other smartphone? I have a spare dumb Thai phone with a Thai SIM card. But that's not what i asked about. Do you think this is a viable solution to my query? How does this answer my original question? I think I'll take the suggestion of another poster and seek a DTAC kiosk, perhaps at the airport and just pop in a sim with a proper data plan instead of recharging all the time. I already have an iPhone after all.

Seems like the simplest way to go to me. Thanks all. Well, not quite all.

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[thailandbeachisland]

I suggest that you quit using ridiculous iphone as all these people who know nothing and use a mobile that can accept 2 SIM cards as all smart people do !

[chris1dna]

I suggest that you quit using ridiculous iphone as all these people who know nothing and use a mobile that can accept 2 SIM cards as all smart people do !

Nice. As you may not be aware that you come off as a snobby prat with all these ideas you have. I have tried to be as cordial as I can givin the smugness of your "suggestions".

May I suggest that my iPhone suits me just fine and since you seem to favor another device perhaps you could offer your drivel in another thread.

I'm not particular to buying another smartphone or device. I have my 4s and and iPad mini. These are the device's to which I have asked about in my OP. Smart people would realize that by now.

Have a nice day.

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Edited February 4, 2014 by chris1dna

[chris1dna]

Well that was easy. Went to DTAC counter just past customs screen at swampy airport and the took care if everything. Thank for the tip!

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