10 replies to this topic

[runnervxr]

Dear Forum Members,
I'm opening this new thread as I searched through the forum of information about Sim Cards and I found nothing about it.
So, seeing that I'm going to be back to Thailand (Patong) in a few months, and I'd like to purchase a Thai Sim Card for my mobile phone, which company do you suggest? Is there one that is better than the others? I'd have to make international calls and text (no internet as I'll look for some free Wifi around). Please let me know!

I wish you all GREAT TIME!

Franz

[RobiSLO]

I'm 100% DTAC fan. They have the best customer service, let me extend SIM for 1 year every time and now they are declared foreign owned company... I like them even more.

BR

[dixon cox]

I have used "12Call" for years and my number has never expired, even with over 6 month breaks between visits and no need to 'over top-up' in preparation for long absences. Never experienced loss of coverage.

Search the forum for "12Call", quite a few threads about mobile (cell) SIM cards etc..

[Surin Nix]

I did nothing more than walk into the first 7-11 and ask for a sim card.

The girl behind the counter sold me a dtac (i think) card, and even installed and tested it for me. The card came with a little sticky that I affixed to the back of my phone with my phone number.....and with that, I was fully in business.

Very inexpensive. Very easy.

...unsure about the int'l aspect though. Best wishes.

[xyzzy]

I have used "12Call" for years and my number has never expired, even with over 6 month breaks between visits and no need to 'over top-up' in preparation for long absences. Never experienced loss of coverage.

Search the forum for "12Call", quite a few threads about mobile (cell) SIM cards etc..

How did you manage that?? My 12Call SIMs always expire 90 days after the last top-up end date. I found out the hard way it is less than 90 days after I started using my Thai bank account to top up.

[Ivor Biggun]

If you are in Patong there is a DTAC shop in Jungceylon. Go down the stairs at the front (Rat-U-Thit) end of JC,pass the 7/11 on your right and the shop is slightly further along on the RHS. Just ask them to extend the talk time if needed, it takes about ten seconds on the computer.

I've used DTAC for over 6 years now, top up cards available all over and coverage is fine in most parts of thailand. i only have probs with it out to the west of Chiang mai where their coverage isn't as good.

[runnervxr]

Hello Guys!
Thank you for the information! Last time that I was there, I thought "seeing that I'll be here only for a bunch of days I'll not take a local sim card" and then I paid an outrageous amount of money for some ridicously few text messages to home. My operator was using the DTAC lines, so, I think that this time I'll take a DTAC card (you spoke well about it too).
Now I'll look for an hotel with free Wifi, so, I'll use that with my smartphone (fingers crossed). In Japan it worked well in that way, I hope the same here.
I can't wait to be back there! I miss LOS so much!

Franz

[xyzzy]

Regarding 12call SIMs, I believe there is 2 different options with SIMs now. Either a short term SIM contract or the newer 12 month SIM. I think they are the same price. Anyone in Tukcom would be able to set this up.

I have a Saim Commercial bank account and use internet banking to recharge my SIM from anywhere in the world. A great system. In fact with Siam Comm internet banking I have even direct debited Air Asia flight purchases.

12Call use to have a SIM that came in a pink package that was good for a year. But after that year it became like a regular SIM. Guess I'm not keeping up with the latest developments.

I could top up my SIM on the Internet from my Kasikorn account. However since I was at home and not using the SIM I decided to wait until just before it expired. It expired sometime well before the 90 days I use to get when I did manual top ups with load bought at 7-11. I tried to top up online 10 weeks after my last top up expired and it was too late. Oh well...

I can use my bank account to pay for most anything in Thailand that has a bank account that accepts transfers. Well I could until my SIM died. Now I can't get PIN SMSs from the bank to validate online transactions.

[heelslover]

Is there a possibility to buy a sim card just after landing... at BKK?

[rxpharm]

Yes, most of the providers have booths just in the arrivals hall after exiting the luggage pickup. Just be sure your phone is NOT locked and is compatible with the Thai system (I believe GSM), and you can buy a SIM card from DTAC, 12Call or True (which I use).

[dick_turpin]

Yes, most of the providers have booths just in the arrivals hall after exiting the luggage pickup. Just be sure your phone is NOT locked and is compatible with the Thai system (I believe GSM), and you can buy a SIM card from DTAC, 12Call or True (which I use).

Roll-out of 3G started in August 2011 but it looks like operators may not have proper authorisation so caution is needed:
http://www.3gsimthailand.blogspot.com/