Cell Phone in Thailand

[Tee Kay]

Hi all,

 

I'm moving to BKK soon and am wondering what to do about my cell phone. I currently have an iPhone and am on my family's data plan with AT&T. If my phone is unlocked, can I simply get a SIM card in Thailand and remain on the same data plan? How have all of you handled the cell phone situation upon moving to Thailand? 

 

Thanks!

[Don Mega]

You want to use a Thai sim card but stay on the AT&T data plan ?

[Langsuan Man]

2 hours ago, Tee Kay said:

How have all of you handled the cell phone situation upon moving to Thailand? 

 

Well we certainly have not used roaming for data, the cost would be prohibitive

 

IF your phone is unlocked then you should get a Thai SIM card and investigate the various voice / data plans available from DTAC, AIS, and True

[dddave]

If you own the phone, you can request AT&T to unlock the phone before you come here; sometimes they agree to do it, sometimes not, depending on the terms of your contract.

You can get your phone unlocked in Bangkok.

 

I assume you'll arrive at BKK airport.  All three major carriers have kiosks in the Arrivals Hall and each have various packages available.  Try to formulate an idea on how much data you will need before you buy.  I find that 3gb easily last me a month but I rarely watch videos or play online games.

[FritsSikkink]

your AT&T plan would be terrible expensive because of roaming. probably best to pay it off and don't use anymore.

get a sim card at the airport AIS or DTAC either pre paid or with a monthly plan. you need to show your passport to register the sim.

[Dipterocarp]

First drop the cell phone thing. It is purely an Americanism. Most on this forum use British English as a matter of course also in Thailand and around the world they are called "mobile" phones. If you talk about "cell phone" in a shop they might think you want to sell your phone . By the way I'm American.

 

[oldcarguy]

People have had $1000 phone bills from AT+T for roaming data only , before you get off the plane pull the AT+T sim out of your cell phone and get a local Sim at the airport......

 

All 3 cell companies have "shops" at the Airport and can sign you up :)

 

 

 

[Tee Kay]

27 minutes ago, Dipterocarp said:

First drop the cell phone thing. It is purely an Americanism. Most on this forum use British English as a matter of course also in Thailand and around the world they are called "mobile" phones. If you talk about "cell phone" in a shop they might think you want to sell your phone . By the way I'm American.

 

Duly noted

[NanLaew]

Ditch the AT&T family crap and switch to T-Mobile a soon as possible. They have a quite generous international roaming package. If your phone has dual-SIM capability, then all you need is a local SIM/number and your T-Mobile SIM/number to keep in touch while keeping the costs down.

[FritsSikkink]

7 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Ditch the AT&T family crap and switch to T-Mobile a soon as possible. They have a quite generous international roaming package. If your phone has dual-SIM capability, then all you need is a local SIM/number and your T-Mobile SIM/number to keep in touch while keeping the costs down.

NEVER use international roaming it is way to expensive. get a Thai sim for local calls and use messenger, line or WhatsApp for international calls. 

[NanLaew]

12 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

NEVER use international roaming it is way to expensive. get a Thai sim for local calls and use messenger, line or WhatsApp for international calls. 

Data roaming? Now yes, I agree that's prohibitively expensive but if an American has friends and family that find dialing internationally a major issue or are somewhat challenged in the chat apps and smartphone world, then T-Mobile is the one to switch to.

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

Data roaming? Now yes, I agree that's prohibitively expensive but if an American has friends and family that find dialing internationally a major issue or are somewhat challenged in the chat apps and smartphone world, then T-Mobile is the one to switch to.

It isn't rocket science to download an app, add your friends just like you would with your normal phone and to push the phone button.

[NanLaew]

32 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

It isn't rocket science to download an app, add your friends just like you would with your normal phone and to push the phone button.

 

Quote

... friends and family that find dialing internationally a major issue or are somewhat challenged in the chat apps and smartphone world...

 

What part of this is too hard for you to comprehend?

 

You can download and install all the chatty smartphone apps you want but if mom and dad and cousin Abner don't have them and rely on a dialup...

 

T-Mobile US is the OP's friend until the training wheels come off.

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

 

What part of this is too hard for you to comprehend?

 

You can download and install all the chatty smartphone apps you want but if mom and dad and cousin Abner don't have them and rely on a dialup...

 

T-Mobile US is the OP's friend until the training wheels come off.

What about that mom and dad and cousin will install them so they can talk to their family at low cost. I know 89 year olds who can use them. Why should he pay for very expensive roaming because others want to live in the stone ages.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

What about that mom and dad and cousin will install them so they can talk to their family at low cost. I know 89 year olds who can use them. Why should he pay for very expensive roaming because others want to live in the stone ages.

 

I see you're lonely and feel the need to blather away about a specific US carriers quite economical global roaming fee structure that you know absolutely bugger all about. One last time... IT IS NOT VERY EXPENSIVE.

[FritsSikkink]

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

 

I see you're lonely and feel the need to blather away about a specific US carriers quite economical global roaming fee structure that you know absolutely bugger all about. One last time... IT IS NOT VERY EXPENSIVE.

The other options are FREE