crellston

I am looking to acquire a pre-paid SIM card for an unlocked BlackBerry for our visit to Northern Thailand and Bangkok. I need decent data download limits, local calls but will only make a handful of international call. DTAC seems to provide the best coverage - any recommendations would be much appreciated.

Hanuman

AIS have the widest coverage especially outside of Bangkok. Here's a link to their Blacberry page: http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/pro-b...y_package.html

I suggest you go to a AIS, telewiz or Seranade shop(all belong to AIS) available in most malls and they can fix you up.

MaryW

I picked up a True sim this July for just phone use only in Bangkok. Usually I've used others. It was terrible even in Bangkok. We stayed across the river in Thonburi and couldn't keep a connection at all. I blamed the phone so unlocked another one and it still didn't work. It worked fine in the city centre -chitlom etc.

Hanuman

Mary you are right as True is only good for the city. Outside of Bangkok AIS is the best.

kikiv

Hanuman When I visited Indonesia and India I purchased the most basic mobile phones and prepaid calling cards. I found it more convenient and less expensive than taking an unlocked phone with me that might not work. Would you recommend that I do this in Bangkok or should I take an unlocked phone with me?

Hanuman

kikiv,

I think that's a personal choice but for me I take my unlock phone with me everywhere I go. I use my phone(iPhone) as an alarm clock, receive & send emails, access the web, GPS map function, calculator, currency converter etc...

rhkkmk

we have just a regular telephone but i buy whatever 7/11 sells and find it works perfectly both in bkk and outside.

this year i also used skype pre-paid telephone a lot for almost no cost.

darrenmike99

@kikiv

Just check if the operators in BKK have the same frequency band as your phone supports. Otherwise the latter idea is better, i.e., purchasing a cheap mobile in BKK.

kikiv

Thank you all for your suggestions. I need to look into the skype pre-paid option as well.

khunwilko

Bear in mind that Thailand only has patchy 3G coverage.
Bkk, Chiang Mai and parts of Chonburi.

True 2G is national as are AIS and Dtac.
I've found DTac and AIS to be best in poor coverage areas.

You might want to check out a 2G internet package to run parallel with your phone package, this will top up automatically from your phone balance. Otherwise your internet fees will be exorbitant.
as your Blackberry has wireless you might also check out the 3BB wireless hotspot net work which can also be paid for via your phone balance.


Although top up o is usually via a scratch-card 7/11 etc., it is very easy to set up your Thai bank A/C to do this as and when by SMS - much more convenient. (serve isn't available 24 hours)

MaryW

true were handing out sim cards at the airport so I thought I'd try it and it would save me going to buy one. Serves me right for being lazy. I've use Happy 123Go and they've been fine even up around Vientiane but if I wanted data as well then I'd definitely do as Hanuman says and use AIS.

I use my iPod to Skype and email via wifi.

crellston

Many thanks everyone. Seems like nothing is ever straightforward in the mobile comms industry!!

I think I will go with AIS as suggested by Hanuman and KW. It look like they have shops at both Bangkok and Chiang Mai airports so I will try and sort it out upon arrival.

kuranosuke

i have used ais for years on my old moto cell phone. even used the phone in germany with local sim card.

i go to the ais outlet at siam paragon while i'm shopping for dinner.

khunwilko

AIS don't actually have as many shops as true or Dtac. They use "Telewiz" shops to handle their stuff. THe problem with this is Telewiz staff can be pretty ignorant of the more "obscure" services offered by AIS. I've had one hell of a time trying to top up my 3G air card. This works on both 3G where available and Edge/2G elsewhere, but they are not usually clued u on topping up outside a 3G area. It's a different set-up to the standard @G internet package.......curiouser and curiouser..........It can be done online - but I'm buggered if I can work it out - last time I topped up 150 baht instead of the 350 I'd prepaid.....

goyal_ril

hi guys, i am having a DTAC sim. i recharged it from 7/11 store for 500 thb and got the balance of 550 thb. on calling to india i was charges 28 thb per minute. please help me out to choose a desent sim to call to india. i am calling to india by adding the international code +91 to the no. is there any other method to call. please reply guys. i am in krabi

khunwilko

to make a cheaper international call DON"T use the "+" (plus sign)!
DON"T use ooh one for an international line either.
Use one of the following

004, 005, 007, 008, 009.....these all offer cheaper rates when making international calls.