SIM CARDS

[mglaser]

We have just moved to Thailand from the US and have unlocked phones.  We want a good data plan for internet and good calling.  We bought a prepaid SIM from Truemove but not sure the "topping off" is best since we are living here for a while.  Any suggestions on the most affordable approach for good calling and internet use as far as a SIM card?  I have always had ATT in the USA. 

[joepattaya1961]

Just visit a Central in your neighborhood (or any other major shoppingmall) and you'll find DTac, AIS (TeleWiz), True shops.

Walk in and start to compare. 

 

Personally I'm using AIS 4G 10Gb postpaid @THB 488/month, but with a bit of creativity you can get it cheaper.

AFAIK the weekly top-ups of THB 99 at AIS give you 4Gb of data and a few minutes free voice-calls.

[mtls2005]

Quite an open-ended question.

 

Can you share any details on your expected calling patterns and data usage?

 

For the near term it might best to stick with prepaid, and simply subscribe to a mobile data plan, and add value to your account to cover the monthly recurring mobile data plan and your calling minutes.

 

Calling minutes are ~ 0.5 - 1 baht min, data is ~ 100 baht/GB. You could get a monthly data plan from TrueMove H like 4 GB/399 baht, but there are thousands of options.

 

You only pay for calls you make, incoming calls are free. The calling party pays.

 

Post-paid plans may represent a value, but not always. I pay 599 baht for 300 minutes plus 8 GB of data (with rollover to 16 GB).  

 

 

[mglaser]

4 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Quite an open-ended question.

 

Can you share any details on your expected calling patterns and data usage?

 

For the near term it might best to stick with prepaid, and simply subscribe to a mobile data plan, and add value to your account to cover the monthly recurring mobile data plan and your calling minutes.

 

Calling minutes are ~ 0.5 - 1 baht min, data is ~ 100 baht/GB. You could get a monthly data plan from TrueMove H like 4 GB/399 baht, but there are thousands of options.

 

You only pay for calls you make, incoming calls are free. The calling party pays.

 

Post-paid plans may represent a value, but not always. I pay 599 baht for 300 minutes plus 8 GB of data (with rollover to 16 GB).  

 

 

I won't be having too much heavy internet use... really it will be for GPS use getting around here as we have no clue where the layout of everything is at the moment.  I have been topping off 100baht here, 50 baht there and it keeps sending me SMS stating how much data I keep using... like 2 or 3 times a day.  I don't see any True stores either around Pattaya when I google search... 

[mtls2005]

Without subscribing to a specific data plan, and there are plans of all sizes and shapes, you may be paying per minute fees, which can quickly deplete an account. You'd be much better off subscribing to a plan.

 

No need to go to a shop, everything can be done remotely. Adding money. subscribing to a plan, managing your account. 

[mglaser]

43 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Without subscribing to a specific data plan, and there are plans of all sizes and shapes, you may be paying per minute fees, which can quickly deplete an account. You'd be much better off subscribing to a plan.

 

No need to go to a shop, everything can be done remotely. Adding money. subscribing to a plan, managing your account. 

So even though I purchased a prepaid SIM... I can put enough baht and then purchase a monthly plan?  I heard they ask for passports, etc. for subscriptions.  I can seem to find the correct link to do this on True's website and the customer service never returns calls. 

[mtls2005]

They should have asked for your passport when you purchased the SIM; this is commonly referred to as "registration". After that there is no need to provide identification, unless you want to switch to a post-paid account. Then they may ask for all sorts of additional information, and may require a residency test (e.g: work permit).

 

So yes, you can add value to your SIM anywhere: top-up machines, ATMs, convenience stores, etc.

 

https://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/topup?ln=en

 

Once you decide on a mobile data plan you can subscribe using a code you send from your phone, or you could go in a 7/11 where they have a rack with bar-codes for all the plans, pick one out, go to the cashier, give them your number and some cash.

 

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/package

 

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/upgrade_option/prepaid

4 GB/4G/20 days/399 baht (428 with VAT), use code *900*8818# SEND