Phuket Thailand

scubaman21 · #1 21-08-2005, 02:34

I am going to be going all over asia in the nexy few months. I am thinking of buying a cell phone when i get to Thailand. Will i have to buy a new sim card/calling card in every country? If so will i also get a new phone number in every country? If i leave 1 country and then come back will i be able to use the same card that i had before? any help would be great!
Scubaman

Denver · #2 21-08-2005, 03:10

I bring a works Thuraya phone (Satellite) but don't tell anyone!!

Skype is good and peanuts to use. I think I put 10 Euro on there about a month ago and still have 5 Euro left. Then again, I haven't got any mates.

I also have the quad band Razr from Motorola on UK O2 roaming. Expensive overseas unless you have told your supplier you intend to use it extensively in a particular country. They will then usually knock you up a special rate for you for a fix period as they did for me in Bosnia and here in Eyerack. OK for those emergency calls.

steve@thaib · #3 21-08-2005, 05:43

Hey Hitman. Just about everything you buy now will be GSM, so compatibility is not really an issue any more.

For me, the solution is to take my phone with me and switch it on when I want to use it, it works fine.

LivinLOS · #4 21-08-2005, 09:40

Be careful, Hutch in BKK is CDMS and in the US and Japan GSM is not the predominant system)..

Here it is mostly GSM but you also need to know which bands the county is on (900 and 1800 being most common).

Denver · #5 21-08-2005, 13:16

The bands for Global System for Mobile Communications in Thailand are 800, 1800 and 1900MHz You will have no problem roaming with either a Dual or Tri-Band handset. It's just a cost thing after that. Buy a local simcard if you are staying for any length of time and want a local number to give to friends etc. Failing that, if it is only for emergency calls home etc, use your own handset. Don't forget to bring the charger!

Further to the Skype (www.skype.com) you will need a headset with a boom mic or similar to use it from a PC or your laptop if you are taking it with you. Also a credit or debit card to put your initial 10 Euros credit on there. Try it, it is very clear, no delay and cheap. Most of the guys are using it out here and saved me a fortune on the companies Satellite VOIP bills.

gregor200 · #6 21-08-2005, 13:39

Calls fom prepaid 1-2-call to Europe are

7 Baht per minute, when you call 009 xx nnnnnnnnnnnn
9 Baht per minute, when you call 007 xx nnnnnnnnnnnn

where xx is the country code (e.g. 41, 44, 49) and nn is the phone code.

009 goes over VOIP line, so the qualitiy is sometimes not so good, but
understandable when you talk in your native language.

A 300 Baht recharge of your SIM card gives you another month of life,
so pass you SIM card to your buddy, when you leave Thailand or it dies
after 3+n month.

LivinLOS · #7 21-08-2005, 14:47

Depends totally on phone...

The N91 will be >35k (4GB hard disc, IPOD music funtions, WiFi, BT, 2MP cam, etc etc etc) down to 5k or so for a cheap color screen cam phone second hand (under Big C is where the best bargains are found..

I dont often rave about a device but just recently bought a Sony K750i phone and WOW am I impressed.. Its a 2MP camera with flash and an autofocus lens.. It takes Sony mem sticks so you can expand it up to 4GB of storage (I am buying a 1GB card) and its a very able MP3 player and radio.. Thats all in a small phone that doesnt stand out as being a mad tech gadget.. So its an audio player (not to carry your whole record collection like an ipod but enough for a weekend), camera, and great phone..

Top it all off its about 16k now which for all this functionality is not expensive IMHO..

Taken this morning My niece in the pool..

Heres a Macro shot..

I have it with me always and as they say, the best camera is the one you always have.. I know its not up to the quality many photo guys here like but the CMOS sensor is fine for holiday snaps etc as long as there is some good light and you have a very steady hand..

Nicke · #8 21-08-2005, 15:08

My Swedish friends upgraded firmware so it become even faster and better, maybe worth checking out. Also read somewhere W800 firmware will work on K750i. (W800 is a kind of Walkman phone, you can listen to e.g. MP3 while the phone is off, e.g. on flights)

SonyEricsson have done a really great phone this time. Lightemup was also equipped with this phone, and the first time I played with one myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I dont often rave about a device but just recently bought a Sony K750i phone and WOW am I impressed.

LivinLOS · #9 21-08-2005, 15:15

Dont worry.. I have the most recent firmware and am waiting to see how the firmware issues with the W800 shake out..

I am on HoFo daily as well as here... Another good point for geeks is that the fone comes with a data cable that allows FW updating as part of the package.. Sony have been improving the cam ability and tweaking the media features..

dawsey · #10 22-08-2005, 02:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Depends totally on phone...

The N91 will be >35k (4GB hard disc, IPOD music funtions, WiFi, BT, 2MP cam, etc etc etc) down to 5k or so for a cheap color screen cam phone second hand (under Big C is where the best bargains are found..

I dont often rave about a device but just recently bought a Sony K750i phone and WOW am I impressed.. Its a 2MP camera with flash and an autofocus lens.. It takes Sony mem sticks so you can expand it up to 4GB of storage (I am buying a 1GB card) and its a very able MP3 player and radio.. Thats all in a small phone that doesnt stand out as being a mad tech gadget.. So its an audio player (not to carry your whole record collection like an ipod but enough for a weekend), camera, and great phone..

Top it all off its about 16k now which for all this functionality is not expensive IMHO..

Taken this morning My niece in the pool..

Heres a Macro shot..

I have it with me always and as they say, the best camera is the one you always have.. I know its not up to the quality many photo guys here like but the CMOS sensor is fine for holiday snaps etc as long as there is some good light and you have a very steady hand..

Nice pics LivinLOS
I gave my upgrade K750i to my daughter as I think the Nokia 6680 is a better phone overall. The camera is only 1.3mpixel but is fine for my needs.
Somehow I just can't get my head around the strange Sony Ericsson menus after using Nokias.
The Nokia N70 and N91 are phones to look forward to later this yr.

muffdiver · #11 02-09-2005, 09:13

if you want to upgrade your k750i with w800 firmware you ned a different cable than the one who comes with the phone it's called Cruiser/SETool3 have just got a k750i my self and will have to get it upgraded thru a shop here in norway.

LivinLOS · #12 02-09-2005, 09:21

You can use Davinci and the SEUS cable.. But currently your using the bown w800 FW instead of the Red release candidate.. I am not really bothered by the w800 FW so far but am keen to see them improve the cam abilities again as it went downhill after the A FW down to the J and L FW..

Go to HoFo for full info