Mobile Phone for Visitors

[Strummer 0]

I am really happy having an AIS number for many reasons. Ok, the social aspects are obvious. It is much cheaper to call overseas, much cheaper to make local calls and the info from AIS is really good. Earlier this year there was a promotion that allowed me to call the US at 8 bath per minute! It costs me 60 baht per minute to call across a bar room using my US cell phone whil roaming in Thailand!

[Fr. Lust 5]

What is AIS, how/where do you access it & is there a website dealing with the service?

[Babepecker 0]

AIS is one of the mobile phone network (gsm) operators in Thailand.

 

Try this link:

 

http://www.ais900.com

 

or, if it won't load, this:

 

http://www.ais900.com/thai/intro_blue_green.htm

 

 

Other GSM-providers in Thailand:

 

http://www.orange.co.th/english/index.jsp

 

http://www.dtac.co.th/

 

 

Useful link page:

 

http://www.nist.ac.th/bangkok/bangkok.html

 

 

Shinawatra Corporation (some interesting news in there):

 

http://www.shinawatra.com/

 

 

[cybers1b 8]

What is AIS, how/where do you access it & is there a website dealing with the service?

There are some links to the prepaid packages of the GSM provider in Thailand. Just get a SIM and use it with any GSM (900 or 1800) phone.

 

Prepaid Services:

 

One-2-Call (AIS)

http://www.one-2-call.com/One2Call/otc/e/products_tariff.jsp

(i know, they don't have a link to the english site from the start site - kinda user unfriendly)

 

Happy Dprompt (DTAC)

http://www.happydprompt.com/en/what_happy_is/tariff.html

 

Hutch

http://www.hutch.co.th/say/prepay/prepay_main_prepay_en.htm

 

Orange

http://www.orange.co.th/english/join/just1bt.htm

 

cheers

cyber

[amphora 0]

Which one has the best coverage in the whole of Thailand?

[nidnoyham 30]

For the last week or so, when I get a text message fom the GF it shows as coming from AIS not her name. If I try to use REPLY mode it doesn't work. I have to search her number then send.

[cybers1b 8]

Which one has the best coverage in the whole of Thailand?

As much as I hate to say this (becuase of who is behind AIS) - it is AIS. They started to build their infrastructure years before others. In some areas the AIS network can be heavily used though and that causes some problems from time to time. But they sure have the best overall coverage of the country. That does not mean that there are not some areas where one of the other companies might be better though.

 

cheers

cyber

[Dungheap 243]

Cybers, my Japanese mobile phone is useless in Thailand, unless I want to pay international rates to make calls.

 

Any rental options at the airport or in Pattas? Or am I better off buying a cheapie? What do they cost?

 

Thanks

[SunnyValentine 173]

Roppongi, cheap new phones 3000 Bt up, 2nd Hand maybe 1500 up.

Check out MBK Store in Bangkok (BTS National Stadium) for the best prices for both used or new.

In Pattaya go to Big C North Pattaya, or in two month or so, go to tuk.com (Electronics and Phone Store in South Pattaya Rd. around Soi Day / Night, to be openend in November).

 

Sunny

[cybers1b 8]

Roppongi,

 

Sunny already said it, cheap can be from 3000 Baht for a new one, second hand at MBK could even be for 1000 Baht or less if it is a very old model (but it would still do what a phone should do - make calls).

 

http://www.mbk-center.com - there is a good location Map as well

 

There would also be a rental option - even at the airport:

 

http://www.airportthai.co.th/airportnew/bi...ice5.html#tele5

 

you could give them a call and ask about the price but it will most likely be more expensive then to buy a second hand or even cheap new one.

 

Some Phone Companies also offer rentals though:

I only know it for sure from AIS:

http://www.gsmadvance.com/e/service/fonere...x_fonerent.aspx

 

cheers

cyber

[Dungheap 243]

Thank you gentlemen. Looks like I'm buying.