Using AIS for overseas calls: 003 vs 00500?

[wpcoe]

I just switched from TrueMove to AIS. At True, there were two prefix options for overseas calls:

006 = premium price, supposedly higher quality

00600 = lower price, possibly lower quality

I would always dial with 00600 and most of the time had a clear connection to the USA. The few times where it wasn't a clear connection I would re-dial using 006 and get a clear connection.

At AIS there are two options: 003 and 00500, but they do not seem to parallel the True offerings.

I called 1175 to enable overseas calling (which required a trip to the AIS shop) and was advised that 003 was a replacement to 00500.

In the AIS shop, the gal there said a call to the USA would be THB3/minute using 00500, but THB2.5/minute using 003. Is that correct?

ISTR reading here someplace that the 00600 calls on True were VoIP calls. What's the deal with AIS?

[stubuzz]

Ais try 009

[wpcoe]

Oh, lordy. Another choice? Do you know how 009 compares with 003 and 00500 -- price-wise and quality-wise?

[Billy Bloggs]

Only one question why are people still using phone lines to call overseas, you can call on messenger from your phone and not pay for the call only use a tiny fraction of your data allowance.

[mtls2005]

http://www.ais.co.th/003/index.aspx?language=en

http://www.ais.co.th/005/en/

http://www.ais.co.th/00500/en/

CAT bypass is 009 http://www.cattelecom.com/site/th/list_service.php?cat=181&subcat=248

TOT bypass is 008 hard to find a decent TOT web page

Local calling cards may offer the lowest rates.

Rates vary by service, country, calling fixed or mobile. Very generally speaking the cheaper the rate, the lower the quality. Calls can be routed over many different paths, including VoIP.

There have been a bazillion threads here over the years on these low-cost calling options.

[cracker1]

I think you going to have to do the "timed" call test from each number to find out the cost differential ?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Mtls above posted a link to an AIS 03 website that allows you to check their calling rates by country....

Right now, it's showing the 2.5 baht per minute rate to the U.S. as a promotion thru the end of 2016.

http://www.ais.co.th/003/en/service-rate.aspx#tips

[Thunderbirds20]

That is correct! I just activated my overseas calling with 003 at AIS. I call to Canada for 2.5 baht a minute but one important fact !!!! - you must manually dial the call. If you have it programed in to your phone and just click on that, ...you are charged premium rate. So, ... manually dial each overseas call!

[Jimi007]

Ais try 009

009 is what I always used with AIS. But I can call for free to the US with Google Voice. I used to use the free app Magic Jack , but now they charge a yearly service change that is still pretty cheap. You need WiFi for either one though.

[HerbalEd]

That is correct! I just activated my overseas calling with 003 at AIS. I call to Canada for 2.5 baht a minute but one important fact !!!! - you must manually dial the call. If you have it programed in to your phone and just click on that, ...you are charged premium rate. So, ... manually dial each overseas call!

What exactly do you dial? Do you dial 003, then the country code, and then the phone number?

[mtls2005]

If you call the U.S. a lot, and want people in the U.S. to be able call you - all for free, then maybe a Google Voice number is in order? These are free - but you'll have to use a VPN to sign up - and you can choose an area code/local exchange of your liking. Then you can use the Android or iOS Hangouts app. Pretty easy to set up. Just be sure toggle on "Incoming phone calls", and tick Forward calls to Google Chat.

I also use an OBiHai 200 (can support up to four different GV numbers) at home for my two GV numbers. A nice bit of kit. I don't use my magicJack much anymore.

Talkatone offers a similar service, but maybe not quite as feature-rich.

[Jonmarleesco]

I use 009 with AIS, and have done for years. U.S., I have no idea, but to the U.K., it works well enough, and is B5.00 to a landline, B7.00 to a mobile.

[mtls2005]

I use 009 with AIS, and have done for years.

You can use 009 with any mobile provider. This is the CAT bypass.

You can look up the rates here: http://www.cattelecom.com/site/th/list_service.php?cat=181&subcat=248

2.5 THB per minute to fixed or mobile in the U.S.

To me, it looks like tariffs to the U.K. are fixed owing to termination agreements via regulators in the U.K. at 5/7 THB? A calling card would likely save money - free local access or call-back: 2 THB to UK fixed, 6 THB to UL mob, with a CAT calling card, for example. There may be better rates out there?

[wpcoe]

On 7/29/2016 at 3:13 PM, mtls2005 said:

If you call the U.S. a lot, and want people in the U.S. to be able call you - all for free, then maybe a Google Voice number is in order? These are free - but you'll have to use a VPN to sign up - and you can choose an area code/local exchange of your liking. Then you can use the Android or iOS Hangouts app. Pretty easy to set up. Just be sure toggle on "Incoming phone calls", and tick Forward calls to Google Chat.

I also use an OBiHai 200 (can support up to four different GV numbers) at home for my two GV numbers. A nice bit of kit. I don't use my magicJack much anymore.

Talkatone offers a similar service, but maybe not quite as feature-rich.

I've been meaning to pursue getting a Skype or similar assigned U.S. phone number.  I'm not familiar with Google Voice.  How are you notified if you had a "missed call" while your computer was off?  Do you need to always have Google Chat (or some other app) running in the background?

[mtls2005]

"How are you notified if you had a "missed call" while your computer was off?"

 

Well I think most people would use Hangouts on an iPhone or Android device, so calls to your GV number would ring through to those, or you could make calls on your mobile using Hangouts/GV. No need for a PC at all. You can choose to send missed calls to your inbox, and/or to email.

 

But you can set up dozens of parameters in GV: SMS, email to SMS, sms to email, call forwarding, voicemail, missed calls, etc.

 

Maybe read up on GV or watch some Youtube videos. It's an insanely powerful tool.

 

https://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleVoice

Edited August 6, 2016 by mtls2005

[wpcoe]

Thanks.  Having missed calls sent to e-mail would work well for me.

[wpcoe]

Rats.  Just watched a couple Youtube videos and went to google.com/voice and apparently you have to be in the USA to set up Google Voice since it needs to call a USA telephone and you enter a verification code on that phone.

 

Am I missing any quick & easy workaround to set up Google Voice without getting on a plane and flying to the USA?

[Rob13]

Never had any trouble calling the US with 00500