Best Cell Phone Company to Use in Thailand

[TotallyOz]

I use 12Call. I have friends with DTAC. What do others have? What do you consider the better value? Better service? Does it vary between the cities? Rates for SMS?

[Guest fountainhall]

I sue 12Call

 

Can't be very good

[Guest]

Can't be very good

 

Sorry for the typo. I have changed it as I don't want anyone to think I am suing.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I use 1-2- Call. It was recommended to me when I first moved here by a long time resident.

[Guest lester1]

There is 12call and Dtac. Many of us disappear for three months back to home. One company allows you to keep your number and credit during this period and one will not.

Go with the one that allows you to come back, recharge your phone and find it works just like normal, the other one has some moaning bitch who will tell you that 'sorry, your account is no longer valid' as soon as you try and use it.

[Guest gay_grampa]

I use True Mobile (formerly Orange). It's very reliable.

[Gaybutton]

For those who reside in Thailand, if you wish you can open an account with DTAC and receive a monthly bill rather than having to deal with topping up your time with phone cards. It is also less expensive per minute than 1-2-Call.

 

The only problem is DTAC does not allow foreigners to open an account without a work permit. However, if you can find a Thai citizen willing to open an account for you then all he has to do is use your address for billing and give you the SIM card.

 

That's how I have been doing it for years. I receive a bill once a month and I can pay it online or at any DTAC shop. I much prefer it to use of phone cards. The service includes a one-click number to check the status of your bill at any time, so that you know how much to expect your bill to be.

[Bob]

I too use 1-2 Call while in Thailand. Seems relatively easy and inexpensive - especially the few calls I made back to the states.

 

I can understand the repeated hassle of topping off all the time....so I bought 1200 minutes that were good for a year (don't remember the price but I think it was either 1100 or 1200 baht).

[Guest lvdkeyes]

When I make calls to US or UK I use Skype. It's only .021 US cents per minute.

[PattayaMale]

I use AIS. Is this the same as DTAC? I pay by monthly bill at Carrefor in a shop next to the TT&T office. The service is in my name, so many years ago I guess they let me get it on my visa.

 

I want to start taking my computer to my Thai friends village. I know there is a DTAC cell tower right next door. I was thinking about getting a wi-fi card for my laptop (is that what they call the card you put into your laptop to receive the internet???).

 

Does anyone use on and what service is best around Korat?

 

Thanks

[Guest Astrrro]

When I make calls to US or UK I use Skype. It's only .021 US cents per minute.

 

Give Yahoo Voice a try; only 1 cent a minute, half the price of Skype.

 

As for the original question I use 1-2-Call. They SMS me about special promotions that I don't understand. Anyone know if their promotions are more cost effective than just topping up?

[Gaybutton]

I use AIS. Is this the same as DTAC?

AIS owns 1-2-Call.

[Guest jtrack33]

...and DTAC owns Happy. I now use DTAC/Happy because of the rate of Bht2 for the first minute and Bht0.5 for each subsequent minute, or Bht0.25 per minute for one designated callee..ie boyfriend. this rate only applies for DTAC-to-DTAC calls. Either of these pre-pay systems can be paid online via Bangkok Bank's webpage. To get the best prices, have a dual SIM phone and use DTAC to call DTAC and AIS to call AIS.

 

If you are going to take your computer into the sticks, you will need an Aircard...not wi-fi. An Aircard is a USB thingy that looks like a memory stick, but into which is inserted a Net SIM card. That is a SIM card that is specifically for internet use and usually costs about Bht100 for 30 hours from DTAC or AIS or True. It also is rechargeable(money-wise) just like an ordinary SIM card. The Net SIM card has it's own phone number and the computer uses that to automatically call the ISP and make the connection. It is not that fast, but good enough when compared to nothing much else.

The Aircard is available at many places but specifically at Power Buy in Central Pattaya for about Bht2,400. They have several types, but this particular one installs itself well. They are usable on laptops or PCs.

[Guest]

Does anyone know if Thailand now supports 3G? I heard that DTAC is testing but has anyone seen or heard anything else?

[Bob]

Give Yahoo Voice a try; only 1 cent a minute, half the price of Skype.

 

If (as the other poster said), Skype is .021 US cents per minute, you're math is a bit interesting...hehe.

 

If the receiver of your call is on the internet and has MSN (now called Windows Live Messenger), Yahoo messenger (or whatever that's called), or Google Talk (which has remarkable voice clarity), the price is even better: it's free (well, not counting your normal isp charge).

[Guest]

There is 12call and Dtac. Many of us disappear for three months back to home. One company allows you to keep your number and credit during this period and one will not.

 

Which is which?

 

 

Also, what's a good option for a tourist who wants to show up, buy a cheap PAYG SIM card to fit in a spare phone, use it just a handful of times for contacting "new friends" ?

It's preferable if the card still works 12 months later, although not a disaster if the quantity of money sank into the initial purchase is minimal. Overseas calls are irrelevant, as I can use SKYPE or speak to the folks back home upon arrival back there.

 

I guess permanent residents might want a different type of service.

[Guest Astrrro]

If (as the other poster said), Skype is .021 US cents per minute, you're math is a bit interesting...hehe.

 

Skype is .021 dollars a minute or 2.1 cents. 800 calls are free on both Skype and Yahoo Voice.

 

And yes, encourage your friends to get either Skype or YV so u can talk for free computer to computer.

 

If you're home and so is your friend, it's money down the toilet if you use 1-2-Call instead of the free VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) services such as Skype.

[Gaybutton]

Does anyone know if Thailand now supports 3G?

http://www.dtac.co.th/eng/news/3g.php

[fedssocr]

I seem to recall reading that DTAC is just testing 3G at the moment in a few locations around BKK like Siam Square, Chula, and a couple of other "youth oriented" places. Isn't there some sort of auction later in the year for 3G space that all the companies will be taking part in?

 

I think largely which one you pick depends on a number of factors. Including whether you live in Thailand or visit occasionally. Where you plan to visit depending on network coverage. Whether you also plan to travel in the region outside of Thailand...

 

I have been doing a bit of research recently on this topic as I intend to have a phone while I am over there for a month over October/November. It looks like the best choice for me is one of the DTAC Happy prepaid plans. I have an unlocked quad band phone so I plan to just buy a SIM when I get there. Since I will be in Vietnam for part of my trip DTAC appears to be a good choice since you can use their service there and the usage is not TOO expensive.

[Guest jtrack33]

Which is which?

 

 

Also, what's a good option for a tourist who wants to show up, buy a cheap PAYG SIM card to fit in a spare phone, use it just a handful of times for contacting "new friends" ?

It's preferable if the card still works 12 months later, although not a disaster if the quantity of money sank into the initial purchase is minimal. Overseas calls are irrelevant, as I can use SKYPE or speak to the folks back home upon arrival back there.

 

I guess permanent residents might want a different type of service.

 

The "bad" one is 1-2Call because your unused value has a relatively short expiry period and with no easy/cheap way to extend the period other than buying a lot of minutes. DTAC/Happy on the other hand lasts longer...seemingly to me at least...and is extendable at about Bht2/month either online or at a DTAC shop. Extend before you leave and it can be still available when you come back a year later...assuming you haven't lost the card in the meantime. But even if you have, you can still get a new card with the same number at a DTAC office.

[billyhouston]

The "bad" one is 1-2Call because your unused value has a relatively short expiry period and with no easy/cheap way to extend the period other than buying a lot of minutes. DTAC/Happy on the other hand lasts longer...seemingly to me at least...and is extendable at about Bht2/month either online or at a DTAC shop. Extend before you leave and it can be still available when you come back a year later...assuming you haven't lost the card in the meantime. But even if you have, you can still get a new card with the same number at a DTAC office.

 

I have used 1-2Call for some years and there is a (relatively) cheap way around the expiry period. It's possible to transfer not only credit, but also expiry to another phone and, as a result, there is a market in such things. I pay Bht50 per month for time or, sometimes, get 3 months for Bht100. This is at the Warorot in Chiang Mai but I imagine Pantip or MBK will provide the same.... perhaps even more cheaply.

[Bob]

As I noted before, 1-2-Call (or however you spell that) offers packages of time good for a year. I know, I bought 1200 minutes in February and still have about 800 minutes left.

Doing it this way eliminates the expiration period for most and the need to top off all the time (whether to extend minutes or otherwise).

[Guest]

So can I just roll up & buy a SIM card with cash & nothing more than a passport as ID?

[Gaybutton]

So can I just roll up & buy a SIM card with cash & nothing more than a passport as ID?

Yes. You don't even need the passport. Cash is your passport.

[Guest jtrack33]

.....The only problem is DTAC does not allow foreigners to open an account without a work permit......

 

This is no longer true. See this web page:

http://www.dtac.co.th/english/postpaid.html

 

Also on the front page of the Business section of Bangkok Post today, DTAC have an advert saying: "No work permit required for Postpaid services"...and "You don't have to be Thai to feel goood with DTAC".

 

True recently allowed me to have postpaid mobile service without a work permit. of course they asked, but accepted a long-term visa and, I believe, wanted direct debit.