Mobile phones and SMS in Thailand

[Eneukman 1]

thanks, valentino   i'll bear that in mind next time i'm in thailand hopefully in november.

 

Certainly if i move to live there permanently on 2 years, i'll be buying a thai one

 

Alan

[valentinoxxx 4]

May not be neccesary to buy one if your current model is serviceable.

Having a Thai number makes it easier to conduct you affairs whilst in the LOS.   :)

[Eneukman 1]

Thanks for that tip, Valentino

 

Alan

[valentinoxxx 4]

Have updated the links and wanted to make it easier for newbies to find.

[BlankCanvas 0]

For those who like to SMS from a real keyboard like me I have been using TextMessenger for about 2 years in the UK and they have now added international so Thailand is very easy.   I get messeages to all Thai networks no problem.  Nice little emails with confirmation of status and most importantly no messages to my phone unless I tick that box  

 

http://www.textmessenger.com/enter.cfm?a=5...l%2Fsmail%2Ecfm

 

 

Stephen

[valentinoxxx 4]

If you read through the original post, you will see that I have included links to web messaging services.

These enable you send send txt messages, via a computer terminal at no cost to the sender.

 

 

The link that you've included states that you can only send to UK and US networks. There also appears to be a payment element which you access by calling a PREMIUM RATE number.

 

Not worth the hassle, I think.

Sticking to the links I've provided should cover most eventualities.

[RayW 1]

Just for info.  I just got my Nokia 3310 mobile unlocked at the MDK Centre in BKK. So it now accepts any Thai Sim cards, I have a 1-2-Call one now.  It was locked on the UK O2 service.

 

Anyhow here is the good news, the unlocking cost me all of 100 Baht. Wow that broke the bank  ;D  Also got a new battery for it for 250 Baht, so compare that to the UK prices.

[SabaiCedd 0]

Another useful thing I find is a dual sim holder...for nokia phones in particular, but probably do other makes. They are quite cheap in LOS and you can have both your Thai sim and UK or Home sim in at the same time and just change between sims as you need. In Thailand i mostly use my Thai number, but now and then need to access my UK number too.  :)

[rabbitoh 0]

does anyone know a place in pattaya that unlocks ais phones

[valentinoxxx 4]

Taking a stroll down South Pattaya Road may uncover what you are looking for.

Nokia 'phones should present the least problems.

[valentinoxxx 4]

Have updated the info on the original post to include the new HappyDprompt product. A good product, in my opinion.

http://www.happydprompt.com/en/index.html

[2banana38 0]

I went to Thailand in July and August 2003 and I used AIS (one 2 call) or (1-2 Call) system.  

I bought a simcard and payed 1000 Baht and there was included 500 Baht credit for calls. You get 200 baht on the first day and I think 10 days later you get the other 300 baht.

I bring my Nokia 3410 from Belgium and had no problem using it and the phone was not network locked.

I bought my phone as a package in Belgium with Mobistar, and a system just like Thailand, you can add credit if you buy cards or .....

 

I just put in the simcard, call a number to add the phone credit, and everything was ok.

The package included also a manual, in Thai !!!!!!!

your phone number, Pin no. , Puk No. , and Sim card No.

 

The card system goes like this 300 baht for 30 days 500 baht for  80 days and 800 baht for 100 days.

The other good thing I liked about AIS is you can buy there prepaid phone cards at any 7-11.

 

So i got the 500 Bath credit, I bought an other 500 Baht card and before i left i bought a 800 baht card.

So now my Sim card and credit is valid until 22-01-2004.

 

This is just what i needed because i am going back to Thailand 22-12-2003.

 

I copied some of the text from someone else, sorry.

[valentinoxxx 4]

2banana38

 

 

AIS/One2Call refill cards work thus:

 

Refill Card consists of

300 Baht of Calltime Refill Card can be used 30 days

500 Baht of Calltime Refill Card can be used 50 days

800 Baht of Calltime Refill Card can be used 100 days

 

http://www.one-2-call.com/One2Call/th/scri...lang=eng&menu=2

 

Just to give an example of how uncompetitive One2Call call costs are;

 

Same service zone/ network      5 Baht/min  

Cross service zone/ network      8 Baht/min  

 

 

Remarks:

 

1. In case of making a call to number under AIS coverage or local phone

Same service zone dialing means dialing to a number registered in the same zone as where One-2-Call! Phone is actually in use.

 

Example

One-2-Call! Phone, registered in Bangkok, is used in Chieng Mai to call 053-xxx-xxx (a local number in Chieng Mai) or to call a mobile phone under AIS coverage in Chieng Mai. The tariff will be 5 Baht/min.

 

Cross service zone dialing means dialing to a number registered in the different service zone from where One-2-Call! Phone is actually in use.

 

Example

One-2-Call! Phone, registered in Bangkok, is used in Chieng Mai to call 0-2xxx-xxxx (a local number in Bangkok) or to call a mobile phone under AIS coverage used in different service zone. The tariff will be 8 Baht/min.

 

In case of making a call to other mobile number than that under AIS coverage, the tariff will be calculated depending on the service zone.

 

Example 1

One-2-Call! Phone, registered in Bangkok, is used in Chieng Mai to call 0-1xxx-xxxx (a cross network number) registered in Bangkok but used in Chieng Mai. The tariff will be 8 Baht/min.

 

Example 2

One-2-Call! Phone, registered in Bangkok, is used in Chieng Mai to call 0-1xxx-xxxx (a cross network number) registered in Chieng Mai. The tariff will be 5 Baht/min.

 

3. Service Charge: Less than 1 minute airtime will be counted as 1 minute. The 7%VAT is included

 

http://www.one-2-call.com/One2Call/th/scri...?lang=eng&menu=

 

They do have a 'Special' tariff;

 

Friend Net

 

New Freedom for One-2-Call! users

Hold on together and the rate is 4 baht/min* regardless of service zone nationwide when you call a number under AIS coverage: One-2-Call!, GSM advance and GSM 1800.

 

*Valid until December 31, 2003.

 

Remarks:

Service Charge: Less than 1 minute airtime will be counted as 1 minute. The 7%VAT is included

 

http://www.one-2-call.com/One2Call/th/scri...lang=eng&menu=2

 

They have a Freedom Bonus which is written entirely in Thai script. Nice.

http://www.one-2-call.com/One2Call/th/scri...lang=eng&menu=2

 

So, how you obtain either of these tariffs remains unknown.

 

Compare this complicated nonsense to DTAC/Dprompt's offering; http://www.happydprompt.com/en/index.html

 

Charged per second, not per minute. 5 baht per minute nationwide for the first two minutes and then 2.5 baht per minute. 3 baht for the international SMS opposed to the 9 baht charged by AIS/One2Call.

Plus, you can choose a time slot where calls are 2.5 baht per minute from the very start.

[papillon 695]

Valentino,

I used to send free text messages via Yahoo from my UK based PC to UK mobiles. That was a couple of years ago. I see you mentioned earlier that you can now text abroad for free. I went to Yahoo to check it out and the only thing I can find is this:

 

http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/compose_sms/index.html

 

It took me ages to find even that! Where do I find the free service?

T.I.A.

[valentinoxxx 4]

From the original post:

 

Another way to send SMS to Thailand is to use Yahoo Messenger's SMS service. It's free.  

Download here: http://messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/downl...structions.html

 

 

What other countries were you hoping to send to?

[Hbchbob 0]

When I go to Pattaya in October with 2 of my buddies we would like to stay in contact with each other with , Ive seen the girls there buy phone cards with minutes to use on their cell phones, is there somewhere i can get a cheap phone (to use for a month then toss it.) and buy phone card minutes?

 

 

[smiley=grin.gif]

[rumor1126 0]

Hey Hbchbob just go over to the Big C second floor opposite of the movie theatre.  There you can get a pretty cheap new phone or a used one.  Mins you can buy anywhere like 7-11.  Or if you want to take a risk and just buy a phone online and go to the Big C and get it unlocked.  

 

 

Rumor

[valentinoxxx 4]

When I go to Pattaya in October with 2 of my buddies we would like to stay in contact with each other with , Ive seen the girls there buy phone cards with minutes to use on their cell phones, is there somewhere i can get a cheap phone (to use for a month then toss it.) and buy phone card minutes?

 

 

[smiley=grin.gif]

 

If you have the time to stop in Bkk, go to the MBK Centre. You may be able to pick up a second hand model for 1000 baht or so.

 

I may, this next trip, leave a mobile telephone in Pattaya for use for those who do not wish to purchase a mobile telephone for short trips.

It will be suitable for use with all networks.

 

Either at a bar on Walking Street or at the FLB Bar for use at a nominal rental charge.

All proceeds to go to a BG friend.

[valentinoxxx 4]

I've updated the original post again.

[turk56 0]

Is there any particular place in the MBK Center where you could reccomend me to take my Fully Locked phone to be unlocked?

[Crackpot 2]

Is there any particular place in the MBK Center where you could reccomend me to take my Fully Locked phone to be unlocked?

Go up to the Third floor

Theres abour 10000 of them !!

 

Costs 100Baht and takes about 2 mins, then buy a Sim package to pop in your phone.

I bought a 1-2-phone which cost me 300 baht and worked fine

[turk56 0]

Once you unlock the phone at  MBK would the phone work back in your home Country? I have a Locked phone with my origional Cingular SIM card.

[H 0]

Hey Turk....yes it will work back home, also when a mobile is unlocked YOU  can put any sim in any country into it...

 

H

[sparkey1 0]

Aproximately 10 months ago I tried a 0ne 2 call sim in my sharp gx10i.It didn't work and the shop couldn't fix it. I had an old sony t68i that worked perfectly so just thought maybe it was too new a model. The second time the sim wouldn't work either and I had given my 68i

away. Had an expensive Vodafone bill that holiday.

 

Can anyone tell me if they now work and if the new sharp video phone works too.I have an upgrade in januaryand if I upgrade to the sharp I will only be coming with 2 sharp phones.One for my english sim and one for a thai one.If I have the same problem I'm thinking of upgrading to a

sony instead.

 

If anyone can let me go that would be great.

 

cheers

 

Sparkey

[fin54 0]

can anyone help me.

 

When I send text messages to a mobile phone in Pattaya they get there okay, but when I try to phone the same phone I can't get through or I get the wrong person. I have tried the codes  0066, 0066038, 006638 and then dropping the 0 before the 77 which is the number the mobile starts with. hope this is not to hard to understand and if anyone can help I would be delighted. THANKS ???