True 006 - Be careful there are TWO options

[CharlieH]

I was under the assumption that for "cheaper" calls (in this case to the UK) that you prefixed the number required with 006, (+44 etc)

However, after studying the bill recently this is NOT the case, 006 (to the UK) will result in a charge of 5 baht per minute which is neither cheap nor the best rate from True

To get the lower rate of just 2 baht per minute you need 006 00 +44 etc

Clever marketing and I am sure I wont be the only one caught by this.

[mtls2005]

You used to be able to check the rates with USSD codes:

00600 *600*CC# SEND, where CC = country code, so for the UK, *600*44# SEND

006 *006*CC# SEND

Not sure if these work now? There is an 006 web-page: https://www3.truecorp.co.th/idd006/en/index.html

Rates to mobile numbers are typically higher than to fixed lines, within each service category, but this varies by country. For the U.K. it is 5 baht to fixed lines and 7 baht to mobiles (without VAT).

Haven't seen a lot of promos on 00600 recently.

AIS has 005 and 00500 services while DTAC has 004 service.

[CharlieH]

You used to be able to check the rates with USSD codes:

00600 *600*CC# SEND, where CC = country code, so for the UK, *600*44# SEND

006 *006*CC# SEND

Not sure if these work now? There is an 006 web-page: https://www3.truecorp.co.th/idd006/en/index.html

Rates to mobile numbers are typically higher than to fixed lines, within each service category, but this varies by country. For the U.K. it is 5 baht to fixed lines and 7 baht to mobiles (without VAT).

Haven't seen a lot of promos on 00600 recently.

AIS has 005 and 00500 services while DTAC has 004 service.

Both those codes result in the same info : 5 & 7 baht.

Talking to their Customer service 006 is 5 & 7 baht but 00600 is 2 baht apparently. Hard to know which one is actually correct until the next bill arrives, after all TIT

[KhunBENQ]

Seems like a popular confusion.

AIS has 005 and 00500

[mtls2005]

The old published charts had 1 baht to fixed lines, and 6 baht to mobiles for the U.K. using 00600, but those also had 3/6 baht using 006, so not sure what they might be today?

Often local regulations determine the termination fee, which is often fixed based on agreements, and it looks like that might be 6 baht for mobiles, regardless of the LD transport used?

TrueMove H is still promoting 00600 on their "Tourist" SIMs.

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/international_service/visit_thailand/en

[Cirencester]

Was still only 1 baht plus Vat using 00600 to landlines (not mobiles) in April and has been for as long as I can remember

[wpcoe]

Sometimes, though, when using 00600 to call the USA the call quality is poor. If I hang up and re-dial 006, the quality is much better. But, about 75% of the time the 00600 quality is good enough.

[casualbiker]

The other option to landlines is Skype World Call $13.99 a month for pretty much unlimited calls. Can also be used in Thailand to landlines and mobiles.. a few long calls home and it's cheaper also call quality is excellent (presuming decent WiFi or 3G/4G connection) I generally use Wi-Fi myself.

Edited June 26, 2016 by casualbiker

[wpcoe]

If you sign up for Skype and have an assigned phone number, say, in the USA. If you don't open the Skype app, does Skype notify you (by e-mail?) if you've had missed calls and/or messages?

[casualbiker]

If you sign up for Skype and have an assigned phone number, say, in the USA. If you don't open the Skype app, does Skype notify you (by e-mail?) if you've had missed calls and/or messages?

no idea.. my Skype is open all the time the phone is on. You could check with Skype.

[2008bangkok]

The difference is that 006 is still going through the network over traditional lines where 00600 is routed through VOIP so may stutter a bit

[mtls2005]

I believe 006 (and 004/005/008/009) all take advantage of various lower-cost LD transport, including compression/channel aggregation and VoIP.

I have to say that during a recent trip to the U.S. I used LINE (on WiFi or 4G/LTE) for free voice calls from/to Thailand and the call quality, clarity was simply amazing - no jitter/delay - much, much better than local calls. Of course, both parties need the app. and need to have data.

For those wishing a virtual presence in the U.S., it may be easy to get a free 10-digit telephone number from the likes of Google Voice or Talkatone. I've been using both for quite a while. I have two GV lines provisioned on my oBi200, but they also ring through to all my Android devices,

Edited July 7, 2016 by mtls2005