Manila

[ForkTruck]

1. Go on Amazon.com or eBay.

2. Get a GSM unlocked cell phone.

Blu or Moto brands work great in Philippines.

3. Land at PH airport and go to Smart kiosks and buy SIM card with load.

3 simple steps. Anything else will cause needless undue dizzy analysis paralysis.

Agreed, I visited a local independent cell phone repair / sales shop in the US before trip. I told the guy I was going to Philippines and wanted to buy a cell P that would work there. He said Okay, I have many customers come in for same thing and I know what you need. For $140.00 I bought an LG phone with the correct specs. Downloaded the apps I wanted on it at home before trip and prayed the phone guy didn't screw me, stopped at Smart counter in airport, free sim card and loaded pesos worth of load. Easy because the attendant took my phone and did everything for me. Caution; You do have to watch your load bank, my phone abruptly quit working once in the middle of texting and I saw I had 65 PHP load left, WTF, so taxi ride to mall found Smart counter and attendant took one look and said sorry sir you only have .65 PHP left (less than one) that is why phone no worky. Bought more load and back in business.

[Transporter]

Got it, thanks. Reason I've asked all of this shit about phones is I had a similar issue in China several years ago and you wouldn't believe the headaches it caused, which never got resolved. Going to do some research on those brands and thanks for the heads up.

Oppo and Vivo is most popular with the girls there, and you can get them anywhere.

Of course for name brand cp it is cheaper to buy in your own country.

[Niteluvr]

1. Go on Amazon.com or eBay.

2. Get a GSM unlocked cell phone.

Blu or Moto brands work great in Philippines.

3. Land at PH airport and go to Smart kiosks and buy SIM card with load.

3 simple steps. Anything else will cause needless undue dizzy analysis paralysis.

Got it, thanks. Reason I've asked all of this shit about phones is I had a similar issue in China several years ago and you wouldn't believe the headaches it caused, which never got resolved. Going to do some research on those brands and thanks for the heads up.

[Niteluvr]

Call me post police, but there seems to be a large number of posts here related to phones and SIM cards and data plans that would be more suited to the general info thread.

On a separate note I wonder how mongering was done before the advent of mobile phone technology. Or anything else for that matter.

That would be my fault as of late. Not used to the nuances of the Phils threads. Every country / state has theirs as do individual cities. Blame it on me for jacking this one up.

[Blanquiceleste]

Call me post police, but there seems to be a large number of posts here related to phones and SIM cards and data plans that would be more suited to the general info thread.

On a separate note I wonder how mongering was done before the advent of mobile phone technology. Or anything else for that matter.

[Dg8787]

What kind of phone did you get for $150?

1. Go on Amazon.com or eBay.

2. Get a GSM unlocked cell phone.

Blu or Moto brands work great in Philippines.

3. Land at PH airport and go to Smart kiosks and buy SIM card with load.

3 simple steps. Anything else will cause needless undue dizzy analysis paralysis.

[WestCoast1]

What type of phone / cost are you suggesting for the second phone?

I spent p15 k (almost $300 USD with accessories, ie case, SD card, etc) on an asian Samsung. It was 17 k for the base model in Malate Robinson's Place mall at the Samsung store on 3rd floor. A few doors down from there are several phone places, and one of them was running a promo. The phone is the same size, look, and feel of my US Samsung (considerably more expensive). The screen display is nice, and it takes a good pic. However the differences in quality and performance between the two phones are obvious. While the screens are the same size, the US phone display is better. Pics, vids taken on the phone, and movies streamed look good on the asian phone, but in comparison with the phones side by side, the US phone is just much crisper, more color, beautiful. The US phone focuses in pic mode faster and better. A positive extra for the asian A6 is that it has a front flash for the cam (real flash, not a screen-lightup), makes it great for taking selfies in darker situations. Such asian (or any) unlocked phones can be used in any country, just insert the new SIM in each new country.

Have previously purchased other cheaper asian unlocked models, such as the Cherry Mobile trash (good for about 1 year until they fall apart) in the $100-$150 range. Large screens, crappy processors and limited memory, cheap components. Caution about CM phones: There is only one repair facility in all of Phils (or at least that was the case previously), in the Manila Sampoloc area. If you buy a CM phone, you have only 30 days to bring it back to the original place of purchase with receipt for replacement (no repair probably). After that you must send it to Sampoloc for any warranty work (remainder of 1 year). Someone correct me if I am wrong. Alternative is to take it to any phone repair shop and pay to have it fixed (probably voiding the warranty that you can't use anyway).

Having 2 phones seems a bit excessive. But when I'm in-country, I use the laptop to keep in touch with fam / friends with email, my US phone I check every 1-3 days for txt msgs (I don't email or FB on my phone), and use the asian phone for all communications within the country. The asian phone SD card and memory are sanitized the night before departure, and then the phone is factory re-set for use on the next trip.

NL, I will PM you.

[Niteluvr]

I realize its dumbed down TV but have a look at "90 day Fiance" on You Tube. How desperate can guys be to get laid?

Like this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD1siMGgStQ.

He didn't learn anything from his first marriage? LOL.

[Goferring]

What kind of phone did you get for $150?

Samsung Android. I don't know the model. Probably superseded by now

I applauded your pre work to be prepared but it's really not that hard or anything to sweat the details over. Just buy any phone on ebay for $100/150, turn up to PI, hand said phone and 500 p to the girl at Globe or Smart and say "make it work, I need a reasonable amount of data". You may get it right. You may fuck it up. Worst case is you will be up for another $10 for a top up. Much better to spend your time on chasing and contacting girlies than researching phone models and technical specifications.

Enjoy your trip and let us know how it goes. G.

[Niteluvr]

Just any run of the mill, low to mid level phone that's not locked to a carrier. Pro tips: the very cheapest don't have enough memory to load all the Dating and Social Apps you might want; if you are paranoid about home security, get a operating system (Apple, Android etc) that your significant other doesn't have, that way there is no chance of accidental replications across all your devices; fast charging is super handy on a travel phone.

I paid US $ 150 on Ebay and its more than I need.

What kind of phone did you get for $150?

[Goferring]

What type of phone / cost are you suggesting for the second phone?

Just any run of the mill, low to mid level phone that's not locked to a carrier. Pro tips: the very cheapest don't have enough memory to load all the Dating and Social Apps you might want; if you are paranoid about home security, get a operating system (Apple, Android etc) that your significant other doesn't have, that way there is no chance of accidental replications across all your devices; fast charging is super handy on a travel phone.

I paid US $ 150 on Ebay and its more than I need.

[BrainDrain]

I did not understand the price difference. If you purchase a p300 load at the airport for p300, your phone will load +300. If you make the same purchase at a 7-11 in town, your phone will load +300. The cost of the SIM card itself is the same in each location, and at the airport they are happy to install it for you in your current phone. What is the greater cost at the airport?

At the airport they want to sign up visitor arrivals to a P300 promo. The airport kiosks usually try to say they only have P300 load cards (and we all know they have P100 load cards in the draw). So minimum purchase for a newbie at airport is going to be P300. Load P300, then use the P300 in a call, data, sms load. Same load could be used for a P90 GOTSCOMBO and have P210 remaining for the next load.

I try to load the minimum required for the promo. I find that they have ways for leaking away any excess credit. If my plans expires and I don't react to the SMS (in a meeting or asleep at night) then the iPhone data pings get charged at full rate and bye-bye excess credit.

As a regular visitor I purchase a P100 load card when I leave the country. I then use that card wen I next arrive in country.

Before arrival I've also used Ding to put load via credit card. Allows me to load my phone, GF and other phones in the one (work claimable) transaction.

Small beer though.

[Goferring]

Sadly, seen that happen countless times in Korea. Of course it happens everywhere else too, just kinda shocking how many lonely, gullible guys there are.

I realize its dumbed down TV but have a look at "90 day Fiance" on You Tube. How desperate can guys be to get laid?

[Niteluvr]

Falling in love with a blow job; putting all your major possessions in a hookers name; piling money into a business that you can't keep. We're not exactly talking about Mensa candidates. 🤔.

Sadly, seen that happen countless times in Korea. Of course it happens everywhere else too, just kinda shocking how many lonely, gullible guys there are.

[Niteluvr]

I'd agree. I've always paid 500 p for a 500 p top up regardless of where I get it. Plans and promos are bought within the phone on *149# or a kiosk. Again at a fixed price.

As for swapping SIMs, Roaming settings, Speed restrictions etc, just buy a second unlocked travel phone. Its so much easier. Arrive in any country and put a local SIM in and its works. Have full download speeds. If your house burns down, your home phone will still ring when someone calls you. And a biggie for most of us: you have separation and security of your home and fun contacts. Many guys like to keep home info from party girls, messages to hookers from our civilian lives, or both.

That's a lot of convenience for a hundred dollars on Ebay.

What type of phone / cost are you suggesting for the second phone?