Mobile Phone from Australia in Phuket

[banglaman]

Would anybody from Australia know if you can use your mobile phone from Australia in Patong? My mobile is with Optus. Optus have said it will work in Thailand ok with auto roaming. But I need to be 100% confident it will work in Patong as I will need to be contacted by my work and settlement agent for my new house while I am away.

Your help would be appreciated.

[aussie dollar]

YES HAVE TO GET INTERNATIONAL ROAMING ACTIVATED 2 MIN PHONE CALL TO OPTUS

FOLLOWING IS INFO SORRY ABOUT BEING SO LONG


WHAT IS OPTUS AUTOROAM ?
Imagine the peace of mind that comes from being able to use your mobile phone while travelling
overseas. With Optus AutoRoam you can use your Optus Mobile Digital in over 118 countries
worldwide. Whilst these are the most popular destinations for travelling, we are constantly
adding more to our list so you can take your mobile with you when you travel further afield.
And there's no hassle. Because when you travel out of Australia, your mobile remains the same so
you can be easily contacted.

WHAT DO I DO BEFORE I TRAVEL ?
Here are a few simple steps you should take to ensure you get the most from Optus AutoRoam.

Step 1: Check that the country and city you are going to currently has Optus AutoRoam coverage.

Step 2: Arrange for the AutoRoam service to be activated. You will need to contact Optus
Customer Care on 1300 300 937 before travelling.

Step 3: Make sure you can make international calls from your phone.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I ARRIVE ?
Turn on your mobile phone. After around 30 seconds most phones will automatically select one of
our AutoRoam partner carriers. Once connected, the name of the network will appear on your
handset. Your phone is then ready to use.
Note: If a network isn't automatically selected, you will need to select one manually. Use your
menu to set your mobile phone to 'Manual Network Select'.
The choice of networks available will appear. Scroll through to select the one you want.

HOW DO I MAKE CALLS ?
Local Calls -
To make a local call within the country you are visiting, dial the local number.
National Calls -
To make a national call within the country you are visiting dial the area code then the
number.
International Calls -
To make an International call dial + or the international access code, then the country code,
area code and number.
By pressing + your phone should automatically dial the international access code for the
country you are in.
Please note, you do not dial the first digit of the area code or mobile number.

HOW DO I RECEIVE CALLS ?
- Calls from Australia
Callers from Australia simply dial your mobile number - just as they would if you were in
Australia.
- Calls from Overseas
Callers from overseas still need to call you as if you were in Australia - even if you are in
the same country as they are.

HOW DO I ACCESS MY VOICEMAIL FROM OVERSEAS ?
This personalised answering service can travel with you.

By setting an unconditional diversion before you go overseas, you will only need to make one
call to retrieve your messages - this will help to reduce the cost of incoming calls.

To retrieve your Voicemail, dial + (or the international exit code) then 61 411 000 321. When
prompted, enter your full mobile number followed by #. Then enter your passcode followed by #.

HOW DO I USE SMS OVERSEAS ?
If the country and city you are going to has Optus AutoRoam and offers SMS, you can continue to
send and receive short text messages to any Mobile Digital Customers as you would in Australia.

HOW DO I USE FAX AND DATA OVERSEAS ?
If you wish to use this service while you are overseas, you'll need to check that the country
and city you are visiting supports Fax and Data services.
- Fax and Data
When you use a Fax or Data Service you will be charged the AutoRoam rate. This rate is set by
the AutoRoam overseas network and includes any applicable surcharge. Fax and Data charges are
based on the carriers national and international peak and off peak rates.


WHAT WILL I BE CHARGED ?
When using your mobile phone overseas, you will be charged for making and receiving calls. These
call charges are billed back to your Optus account in Australian dollars.
- Making Calls
When you make a call you will be charged the AutoRoam rate of the country you are in. This rate
is set by the AutoRoam overseas network and includes any applicable surcharge.

Please see below for the per minute rates for our overseas networks in Thailand. #. *

Rates shown are per minute rates in Australian dollars. *

Overseas Network AIS
National Peak $0.99
National Off Peak $0.99
International Peak $2.03
International Off Peak $1.84
Peak Time 7am - 10pm (7days)
Off Peak Time All Other Times
Flagfall 0
Incoming Calls Charge by overseas carrier 0.99
Optus 'yes' International rate to Thailand $0.86#
Roaming SMS Yes: $0.42 per message (plus domestic SMS charge as per customer's rate plan)
International SMS YES: $0.35 per message (plus roaming SMS charge if sent whilst roaming)
GPRS Roaming Yes
WAP Rate (per KB): $0.02
WAP Charging Increments: 1KB
Internet Rate: $0.02
Internet Charging Increments: 1KB
Roaming MMS Yes: $0.02 per KB (plus domestic MMS charge as per customer's rate plan)
International MMS (IMMS) 0.75: $0.75
per message (plus roaming MMS charge if sent whilst
roaming)

Overseas Network TAC
National Peak $0.99
National Off Peak $0.99
International Peak $1.65
International Off Peak $1.65
Peak Time Flat Rate (24hrs x 7days)
Off Peak Time All Other Times
Flagfall 0
Incoming Calls Charge by overseas carrier 0.99
Optus 'yes' International rate to Thailand $0.86#
Roaming SMS Yes: $0.42 per message (plus domestic SMS charge as per customer's rate plan)
International SMS Yes: $0.35 per message (plus roaming SMS charge if sent whilst roaming)
GPRS Roaming Yes
WAP Rate (per KB): $0.02
WAP Charging Increments: 1KB
Internet Rate: $0.02
Internet Charging Increments: 1KB
Roaming MMS Yes: $0.02 per KB (plus domestic MMS charge as per customer's rate plan)
International MMS (IMMS) No

Overseas Network TA Orange
National Peak $0.99
National Off Peak $0.99
International Peak $1.84
International Off Peak $1.84
Peak Time Flat Rate (24hrs x 7days)
Off Peak Time All Other Times
Flagfall 0
Incoming Calls Charge by overseas carrier 0.99
Optus 'yes' International rate to Thailand $0.86#
Roaming SMS Yes: $0.42 per message (plus domestic SMS charge as per customer's rate plan)
International SMS Yes: $0.35 per message (plus roaming SMS charge if sent whilst roaming)
GPRS Roaming Yes
WAP Rate (per KB): $0.03
WAP Charging Increments: 1KB
Internet Rate: $0.03
Internet Charging Increments: 1KB
Roaming MMS Yes: $0.01 per KB (plus domestic MMS charge as per customer's rate plan)
International MMS (IMMS) No



* AutoRoamTM rates are subject to change without notice, due to International currency exchange
rates and charges by the overseas network.

# calls are billed in 30 seconds and a connection fee of 25c (GST exclusive) applies per call.

- Incoming calls
When someone calls you from Australia, they will be charged the normal cost of a call to a
mobile phone in Australia, as per their long distance or mobile carrier rates.

In addition to this, when you receive a call from Australia, you will be charged at Optus 'yes'
International rates (excluding GST).

The 'yes' international rate to Thailand is: $0.86 per minute. #

Plus in some countries, the AutoRoam partner carrier may also charge for incoming calls.

To reduce incoming call costs you may want to set an unconditional diversion to Voicemail so
that you only need to make one call to retrieve your messages. See the Voicemail section for
more details.

Need help ?
Please contact Optus Customer Care on +61 2 9342 5678 (this will be the cost of an international
call to Australia) or visit optus.com.au/autoroam.

[banglaman]

Cheers Aussie Dollar

I have done this with Optus yesterday but sometimes I am a little sceptical about the info they provide.
I was just trying to get peace of mind for myself from somebody who may have used there Optus mobile in Patong before.

Cheers again

[LivinLOS]

Roaming is usually not an issue except.. Be aware that you will pay for the incoming international leg of the call..

When I was first coming to Thailand I was running a company and had to be on the phone a lot.. The roaming costs were so high it was often more than my flights and one time well into the 1000's of Euros when I returned !!!

After than I used to simply put a voicemail stating that if they wanted me they could call my Thai number... Not good company practice but saved some dosh and the majority of the calls.

[aussie dollar]

yep roaming is dear as per rates above.
sms about 62 cents aust.
will be getting thai phone number myself this time for own use.
but work pays bill so if they ring me they pay not me.
lucky i have 2 mobiles !

[joeblow]

I do not know about Optus but I have used both my Telstra and Hutchison/Orange phones in Thailand and had no trouble with calls or sms. However as was mentioned it is not cheapest option but I understand it can sometimes be easier.

I do however recommend getting a Thai simm for extended stays. They can be bought almost anywhere and are a much cheaper solution.

[Werwolf]

Originally Posted by joeblow

...........I do however recommend getting a Thai simm for extended stays. They can be bought almost anywhere and are a much cheaper solution.

I also can recommend to buy a Thai sim card.
It is very very much cheaper

[Jaysen]

Yes you can use your optus mobile in Patong...
I have brought my phone with me on all my trips, and have not had a problem and i am with optus as well. One thing though, is that you must make sure that you do have international roaming activated....once enabled, you will find that your phone will auto selcet the strongest carrier and will recieve numerous msg's from the telco's welcoming you to Thailand and offering their services . I Agree with livinLOS, watch out for incoming calls, as you will have to pay for these as well as calls made from your mobile. When i fist went to patong i recieved a couple calls from mates back in australia though all was fine until i got back and recieved my bill from optus..... not a nice suprise

[LivinLOS]

I think my biggest was about 2800 Euro in a 21 - 25 day holiday !!!

[Tyfon]

After the wave I loaned my phone to BG to call her family - £18 to a Thai mobile. Still it was an emergency and cheap compared to the 20 minute call to my aunt in Canada trying to convince her I wasn't lying face down in a rock pool or floating off to India, nor was I in imminent danger of contracting dysentery, cholera, beri-beri, fever (yellow, scarlet or yougimme), the lurgi or bad limp...

The bad news is the BG got my number off her family's phone and now I'm getting the occasional 'miss you' call..

Cheers,

K.

[gregor200]

ask somebody in the forum, who is currently in Phuket, to buy a SIM card for you (about 200 Baht) and mail the number to you. Then you can give the number to your contractor and enjoy your stay.