Can I use Thai SIm card to call from outside LOS?

[Chaniacreta]

I'm preparing for my first (of many to LOS) trips and am trying figure out the cell phone issue. I have several Questions. I have SIMs from a half a dozen countries and I keep them active buy using them then just before they expire, but this only works for cards that you can use internationally from outside of the country.

 

1) Are there any pre-paid Thai SIMs I can use outside of Thailand? I've found this is the easiest way to keep one SIM active for places I get to on infrequently. I help to stay in touch with people when I get back there, they already have my number.

 

2) Can I buy top up and us them later? In China and other places you buy a top up card, it like a lottery ticket scratch and put in the number. Are they similar in LOS?

 

Thank for any info.

[7-Eleven]

Yes and yes.

 

Dtac do 12 month validity for a small fee also.

[Chaniacreta]

Thanks for the hint. I'm glad to see the US is still the most least developed country wrt cell phones.

[rockets07]

i myself got a thai sim car DTAC and tried using it in Singapore to call Thailand on my return trip home to Aus but had zero signal, can anyone from Aus shed any light on this issue...i hear there is a card we can buy you use with different codes to ring from your home phone number, but less hassle if i can use my mobile phone

 

another question i have is can i keep it active by topping it up here in Aus, and if the credit expires can i re-activate the same number when i get back to Thailand...

[yankee99]

Yes you can use your happy sim 1-2call in the usa. It works on att. You can also use refill cards here in the usa and top up. You need to buy the cards in los or they are available online..

 

PS now we have google voice. You can team GV and localphone.com .. By doing this all calls to your USA home and or cell number can automatically be routed to your thai cell phone. This will cost a total of .08 per minute. The beauty is you can be in thailand without anyone knowing!!

[khagai]

Yes you can use your happy sim 1-2call in the usa. It works on att. You can also use refill cards here in the usa and top up. You need to buy the cards in los or they are available online..

 

PS now we have google voice. You can team GV and localphone.com .. By doing this all calls to your USA home and or cell number can automatically be routed to your thai cell phone. This will cost a total of .08 per minute. The beauty is you can be in thailand without anyone knowing!!

 

The connection to AT&T must be pretty new, as I could not get any connection a short while ago, but it does indeed connect to AT&T now. By chance, do you know what the cost per minute is, should I make a call in USA using the AT&T service?

Edited January 17, 2010 by khagai

[prak]

Yes you can use your happy sim 1-2call in the usa. It works on att. You can also use refill cards here in the usa and top up. You need to buy the cards in los or they are available online..

 

PS now we have google voice. You can team GV and localphone.com .. By doing this all calls to your USA home and or cell number can automatically be routed to your thai cell phone. This will cost a total of .08 per minute. The beauty is you can be in thailand without anyone knowing!!

Actually, localphone charges from USA to Thailand are only $0.008/minute, not $0.08/min, huge difference, and the best price I have ever seen! I use them all the time, not perfect, but as good as many others that cost several times more - one hour of localphone cost = $0.48, the next cheapest service I use = $1.08 for one hour. I see that Skype now has unlimited plans to one country for $5.95/month, I might check this out soon, but I like being able to call from any phone and not being tied to my computer, so haven't done so yet.

 

The connection to AT&T must be pretty new, as I could not get any connection a short while ago, but it does indeed connect to AT&T now. By chance, do you know what the cost per minute is, should I make a call in USA using the AT&T service?

I have not made a call, becuase I never have any money on them when I get back, but every time I arrive in LAX, my 1-2-call SIM always connects right up when I turn on my phone (for about 2 years now I have seen this), so I think I could easily make some calls if I had some credit - I'm sure the rates are probably ridiculous though. Be nice to find out though, anybody know what the roaming rates are?

[yankee99]

Actually, localphone charges from USA to Thailand are only $0.008/minute, not $0.08/min, huge difference, and the best price I have ever seen! I use them all the time, not perfect, but as good as many others that cost several times more - one hour of localphone cost = $0.48,

 

Maybe you are grandfathered in cuz the rates they are charging me are .08 LOCALPHONE

 

Now google voice is 0nly .03 from your cell phone

Edited January 17, 2010 by yankee99

[khagai]

Actually, localphone charges from USA to Thailand are only $0.008/minute, not $0.08/min, huge difference, and the best price I have ever seen! I use them all the time, not perfect, but as good as many others that cost several times more - one hour of localphone cost = $0.48, the next cheapest service I use = $1.08 for one hour. I see that Skype now has unlimited plans to one country for $5.95/month, I might check this out soon, but I like being able to call from any phone and not being tied to my computer, so haven't done so yet.

 

 

I have not made a call, becuase I never have any money on them when I get back, but every time I arrive in LAX, my 1-2-call SIM always connects right up when I turn on my phone (for about 2 years now I have seen this), so I think I could easily make some calls if I had some credit - I'm sure the rates are probably ridiculous though. Be nice to find out though, anybody know what the roaming rates are?

 

I have gone the opposite route, using my AT&T connection in Thailand (they connect through TRUE there), and it was $1.99/minute, way too expensive. I know the 008 or 009 rates Thailand to USA are much cheaper there. Also, in USA I have had Vonage for a couple of years. Initially (2 years ago), I took their regular plan (24.95) and added an Asia plan to it for an additional $10. Now they have their world plan for 24.95. But in both cases, I had/have unlimited calling to Thailand (and other places) to either land phone or mobile with no additional charges. I have used up to 1500 hours a month on this, so it indeed is unlimited. Supposedly I can move the Vonage service to anywhere I have high speed internet or forward it as well, but I haven't really done that yet.

[prak]

Maybe you are grandfathered in cuz the rates they are charging me are .08 LOCALPHONE

 

Now google voice is 0nly .03 from your cell phone

I think you are mistaken, the rate currently advertised on their rates page is 0.8c, which is $0.008. I just checked my history as well to confirm.

One of my recent calls:

01h 17m 02s = $0.6240

That's comes to $0.008/min, rounded up to the nearest min. I'm sure your getting the same deal as well.

[yankee99]

I think you are mistaken, the rate currently advertised on their rates page is 0.8c, which is $0.008. I just checked my history as well to confirm.

One of my recent calls:

01h 17m 02s = $0.6240

That's comes to $0.008/min, rounded up to the nearest min. I'm sure your getting the same deal as well.

I stand corrected you are right. As you can see by their website it is very misleading. That i'm sure is costing them business....I just checked my minute balance with a initial $16 credit...sprint 0.8¢ per min (1,997 mins)

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