Cellphones: Calling-Using-Buying-Importing-Activating-Renting

[Allover]

Hi all. Hope this helpful. I always use physical SIM cards and I went with ACS after seeing YouTube videos and online advise. Do not get go with ACS because they have a 1 gig per day limit and then you need to purchase more. The only problem is to set up additional service they only have 3 locations or very few locations that will assist you specifically with a temp plan. I got m SIM card at the airport and service was fine.

AIS has a very good customer telephone help line. They are English speaking and helpful.

[Werqweq]

Hi all. Hope this helpful. I always use physical SIM cards and I went with ACS after seeing YouTube videos and online advise. Do not get go with ACS because they have a 1 gig per day limit and then you need to purchase more. The only problem is to set up additional service they only have 3 locations or very few locations that will assist you specifically with a temp plan. I got m SIM card at the airport and service was fine. Mid way though the second day I got a 500 mb alert that I only had 500 more. Went to the ACS store and they showed me a sign that has 3-4 locations so you can't go to any ACS store. You may be able to do it online but I thought I got a gig per day and then throttled until it reset the next day. Regardless, I went to dtac and got an 8 day 15 gig temp SIM card. There's no daily limit but when you cap out at 15 gigs you have to get a new one. Those who are tech savvy maybe able to do this all online. For everyone else, I would avoid ACS only because when your using your phone for location and etc, I didn't want to be watching my data each day. Good luck all.

You probably mean AIS, not "ACS". Myself I have True because I can't be bothered to change, but Thai friends usually recommend AIS. And you're right, you can do all that online.

They all have dtac / ais / true-specific apps that you can use to purchase whatever data package you want and pay for it via credit card, and there are a lot more options available than in Europe, both regarding speed when active and speed you get when you've used up the max speed and get throttled. You probably just bought an AIS package that was not a good match for you.

[Cbb19]

I installed today the E-SIM from Nomad because it has a special Thailand offer (50 GB for 10 days for 8 USD). So far it works okay and I can recommend it. It was very easy to install.

[NovaThings]

Hi all. Hope this helpful. I always use physical SIM cards and I went with ACS after seeing YouTube videos and online advise. Do not get go with ACS because they have a 1 gig per day limit and then you need to purchase more. The only problem is to set up additional service they only have 3 locations or very few locations that will assist you specifically with a temp plan. I got m SIM card at the airport and service was fine. Mid way though the second day I got a 500 mb alert that I only had 500 more. Went to the ACS store and they showed me a sign that has 3-4 locations so you can't go to any ACS store. You may be able to do it online but I thought I got a gig per day and then throttled until it reset the next day. Regardless, I went to dtac and got an 8 day 15 gig temp SIM card. There's no daily limit but when you cap out at 15 gigs you have to get a new one. Those who are tech savvy maybe able to do this all online. For everyone else, I would avoid ACS only because when your using your phone for location and etc, I didn't want to be watching my data each day. Good luck all.

[HorseTrader]

With DTAC, and perhaps others, you can add money to your plan at 7-11. Nothing is easier than finding a 7-11 in Thailand. But, AIS does not work with 7-11.

To add to your AIS account, there are less common retailer places to use. I up my AIS account using the "My AIS" app, which often rejects my credit card but does accept my debit card (I don't know why).

Advantage to DTAC, but I'll keep my existing AIS number because it isn't a big deal. Just a little headache.

[Pranked]

Thank you all for the responses and details. Looks like this is not much hassle after all, and one less thing to stress about on the way in.

[GatorAk]

I too have a question. Will be arriving second week of February. For those esims, I assume you need to scan a barcode on your phone to add the sim, then you can toggle between the two (real sim and esim)? I hated having to swap my sim to check texts and voicemails from my main number while traveling. And in three of the cases where I traveled internationally, my roaming which I bought and paid for beforehand didn't work at all.

LPT: Don't go with Mint mobile MVMO if you are in the states. They are one of the cheapest MVMOs, yes, but you get what you pay for. Jack shit. I switched to Fi, so I hope that the Google Almighty will work flawlessly once I land.

And before anyone says anything, I know roaming costs an absurd amount, but I need to keep in touch with people back home occasionally.

Like mentioned below Airolo works great. I ordered my 15 days eSIM and activated it before leaving California as it requires wifi to activate. I had service the moment I landed at the BKK. Fast and reliable service without the hassle. It was $19 for 15 days and I too had my t mobile and Airolo esim active at the same time.

[SedNabokos]

For those esims, I assume you need to scan a barcode on your phone to add the sim, then you can toggle between the two (real sim and esim)? I hated having to swap my sim to check texts and voicemails from my main number while traveling.

No need to swap between the two, you can (in any reasonably modern phone anyway) have them both active at the same time.

Then choose which SIM you use for outgoing calls / SMS and which SIM for data, and even set up overrides for specific contacts in your address book.

Depending on what carrier your main SIM is with you might even be able to do "voice over wifi" but using the eSIM as its data connection. So you can make and receive calls without paying roaming charges.

I did that recently in Singapore with a "Singapore / Thailand / Malaysia" eSIM from MobiMatter for USD $9. 99.

I'm planning to top up that SIM with the same plan when I next visit Thailand.

[Nyezhov]

I too have a question. Will be arriving second week of February. For those esims, I assume you need to scan a barcode on your phone to add the sim, then you can toggle between the two (real sim and esim)? I hated having to swap my sim to check texts and voicemails from my main number while traveling. And in three of the cases where I traveled internationally, my roaming which I bought and paid for beforehand didn't work at all.

LPT: Don't go with Mint mobile MVMO if you are in the states. They are one of the cheapest MVMOs, yes, but you get what you pay for. Jack shit. I switched to Fi, so I hope that the Google Almighty will work flawlessly once I land.

And before anyone says anything, I know roaming costs an absurd amount, but I need to keep in touch with people back home occasionally.

I use Google Fi on my main phone and then have a separate phone with Sims for Thailand and Cambodia where I just use the hotspot. All you really need in Thailand and Cambodia is data.

[Tvataham274]

I too have a question. Will be arriving second week of February. For those esims, I assume you need to scan a barcode on your phone to add the sim, then you can toggle between the two (real sim and esim)? I hated having to swap my sim to check texts and voicemails from my main number while traveling. And in three of the cases where I traveled internationally, my roaming which I bought and paid for beforehand didn't work at all.

LPT: Don't go with Mint mobile MVMO if you are in the states. They are one of the cheapest MVMOs, yes, but you get what you pay for. Jack shit. I switched to Fi, so I hope that the Google Almighty will work flawlessly once I land.

And before anyone says anything, I know roaming costs an absurd amount, but I need to keep in touch with people back home occasionally.

[Sonic Bam]

Any recent intel on eSims either on arrival or before coming? Thanks!

I used Airolo to buy a DTAC eSIM. Bought it when in Cambodia, activated it when taxing in at Don Muang. No problems with installation or use. Recommended.

[Pranked]

Any recent intel on eSims either on arrival or before coming? Thanks!

[HorseTrader]

Friend who just came back had issues w / his esim. Had the worker set it up for him and when he got back in the states got a bill for 300+ . So if you are using esim make sure the data is not coming from your network. Think you need to turn off your regular service data or roaming.

Yes, that is absolutely correct! You must explicitly turn off your USA service on your phone or you will be billed for the international service.

[Lcale1982]

Has anyone had any issues using an E-sim on arrival in Thailand? Difficulties getting setup on an E-sim with the various Thai cell phone carriers?

I'm debating getting the new iPhone 14 prior to my Thailand trip due to it being an E-sim phone. So just curious what experiences others have had with it.

I saw the recent comment that said their experience with E-sim was flawless which is good to know.

Friend who just came back had issues w / his esim. Had the worker set it up for him and when he got back in the states got a bill for 300+ . So if you are using esim make sure the data is not coming from your network. Think you need to turn off your regular service data or roaming.

[Tvataham274]

With last experience I did not activate international T Mobile this time and saved 50 bucks. However when I arrived in Thailand I got an automated message from T mo stating they now have and agreement with AIS in Thailand and no need for International. They charge. 25 for text messages and not sure what for calls. Have not used it except to monitor some text messages coming in from customers, that I reply via email.

My Thai friend in Udon recommended I go with True this time and it has been flawless all over the Isaan region. I have not had much of any slow downs or dead zones. So can def recommend in the Isaan region.

That is good info. I'm going to join TMO sometime this month because my current carrier has fuckedall with my voicemail and despite their claim that they have 'international roaming', my phone has been DOA in both Canada, Dominican, and Thailand until I get on chat with them and ask them to give me the fucking AP configuration. The more seamless it is, the better. If I'm on holiday, what's $50 to stay in touch at home? A drop in the proverbial bucket when you account in airfare.