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

[Jimmy Boy 99]

I have an international data plan with T-Mobile which is supposed to work in Thailand by connecting to AIS towers. It worked for a day when I arrived and then stopped working. Called T-Mobile several times and each fix that they tried would work for a few hours and then stop working. Their final solution was for me to do a factory re-set of my phone, which I did not want to do. Since I am going to be here for several months, I need internet access, so went to Terminal 21 to check out local phone plans. True Move had a plan for about 435 baht a month with a lot of gigabytes and 100 minutes of calls a month. Went to AIS and they had a renewable 90 day plan for 535 baht in total with 100 gb of data and 60 call minutes every month. I obviously chose the AIS plan. For those who will be staying longer than a month and need internet access, you may want to get this plan. They also have a 180 day plan for about 850 baht with similar benefits.

[HorseTrader]

Nope. All messaging apps remain valid and operational even when you change numbers.

I almost agree, it depends on what you call an app. For iPhone users, the new SIM card setup will ask if iMessage should be associated with your new number or your home country number. I recommend leaving that to your home country number. It isn't easy to set it back to home country without switching back to your home SIM. Of course, your SMS messages from home country will no longer work, but will be replaced with new messages from your Thai number.

Apps like Line, WhatsApp, and WeChat transfer without issue.

[Steve 9696]

If you don't like messing with SIM cards and top ups and are from US check out Google Fi. Unlimited data in 220 countries. $70/ month.

For me totally worth it. It's like magic.

[Allover]

Nice tip! Thanks for that. How does the top up work? Does it expire after 1 month? So the idea is to top up each month so the SIM remains valid? Do you know what happens after topping up 10 times?

I have the AIS Services app. It looks like a PIN is needed to purchase an internet package. Do you know how to set up a PIN? If not, I'll go check out an AIS shop tomorrow.

Thanks for the help!

The app I use is called myAIS. I'm guessing that is what you mean when you say the "AIS services app". I now use the App to Top Up. You can use the myAIS app to top up anywhere in the World whether or not the Thai Sim card is installed. Each top up (B10 minimum) extends your Sim validity for 30 days. You don't need to top up every month. You can top up once and then immediately top up again. I topped up 12 times on the same day to extend my Sim for one year. I was concerned I would forget to top up for a month and lose my phone number. The baht balance on your account can be used for making phone calls or applied to purchase of an internet plan in the future.

If I recall correctly you only need to log onto your account using a password (or 4 digit pin code) to buy an internet plan. I didn't need the pin to buy an internet package. I got the pin because it is faster to log in than typing out my password. I can also log in using my finger print on my Samsung phone. I remember going to my profile in the app to see the option to set up my pin and allow fingerprint access. The app allows you to buy internet packages of varying speeds and GBs for a month, a day, 3 days, or 7 days. AIS's English speaking customer services reps can help you with the pin. AIS customer service is 1175 on your phone or you could visit their store. On my last visit it was easier to call the phone reps due to long lines at the store.

And one more thing that might help others. I visited Laos for a few nights. Rather than buying a Lao Sim card I added on an AIS roaming package for 7 days. I don't recall the cost but it was very cheap and gave me fast internet in Vientianne. I contacted AIS customer service by phone to set that up. For people visiting multiple countries, AIS sells a Sim for that purpose. Search for Banana Boi's post #160 in this forum / thread about that Sim.

Hope this helps.

[TwilightZoner]

Nope. All messaging apps remain valid and operational even when you change numbers. You shouldn't have any issues logging in and using the app. The only problem I've had is when I need 2 factor authentication which uses my phone number. This is usually when I'm using some app on my laptop.

Thanks for that!!

[SinfullyKorean]

For AIS you can download the AIS app and keep your SIM pretty much forever. Using the app you can top up as little as B10 in funds using a credit card to extend the SIM validity for 30 days. You can top up B10 12 times back to back to keep your SIM valid for one year. Before I left Thailand I topped up 12 times in a matter of a few minutes. You can top up while in Thailand or from the USA You can also top up cheaply with no service fee at https://www.ding.com/topup. By keeping your SIM valid you keep the same phone number. Also, when you arrive in Thailand, you only need.

To top up or add an internet package which is cheaper than getting a new SIM and internet package.

Nice tip! Thanks for that. How does the top up work? Does it expire after 1 month? So the idea is to top up each month so the SIM remains valid? Do you know what happens after topping up 10 times?

I have the AIS Services app. It looks like a PIN is needed to purchase an internet package. Do you know how to set up a PIN? If not, I'll go check out an AIS shop tomorrow.

Thanks for the help!

[SinfullyKorean]

Quick question, when I get a sim card for Thailand, will it affect the apps I currently have on my smartphone? Especially my Line app!

(my phone has a slot for a second sim card).

Nope. All messaging apps remain valid and operational even when you change numbers. You shouldn't have any issues logging in and using the app. The only problem I've had is when I need 2 factor authentication which uses my phone number. This is usually when I'm using some app on my laptop.

[TwilightZoner]

Quick question, when I get a sim card for Thailand, will it affect the apps I currently have on my smartphone? Especially my Line app!

(my phone has a slot for a second sim card).

[Allover]

Fortunately, I still had my sim card from my previous trip. When they looked up my sim card, they told me that I'm eligible to renew my 4 G unlimited data. So I got lucky, kept my old number, and got unlimited data for 300 baht.

For AIS you can download the AIS app and keep your SIM pretty much forever. Using the app you can top up as little as B10 in funds using a credit card to extend the SIM validity for 30 days. You can top up B10 12 times back to back to keep your SIM valid for one year. Before I left Thailand I topped up 12 times in a matter of a few minutes. You can top up while in Thailand or from the USA You can also top up cheaply with no service fee at https://www.ding.com/topup. By keeping your SIM valid you keep the same phone number. Also, when you arrive in Thailand, you only need.

To top up or add an internet package which is cheaper than getting a new SIM and internet package.

[SinfullyKorean]

Looks like the airport rip off of sim cards has finally started in BKK. On my previous visit (3 months ago), I obtained a 30 day 4 G unlimited data plan for 300 baht. This time, that cost was 999 baht. And unlimited 5 g costs 1700 baht. I checked 2 different stalls and was told that the data plan I previously purchased are no longer available at the airport kiosks.

Fortunately, I still had my sim card from my previous trip. When they looked up my sim card, they told me that I'm eligible to renew my 4 G unlimited data. So I got lucky, kept my old number, and got unlimited data for 300 baht.

The rep said they're not sure if the non-airport AIS stores (e. G. Malls) still offer the 300 baht plan. But I'll check and report.

[FunMan13]

Thanks Guys. I will let you know if I am successful.

Funman13.

[HorseTrader]

I don't know if this is the right place to ask. I am coming to Thailand in 2 weeks. I have a new phone and want to set up my LINE account to it from my old phone. Several years ago I did it once before when I transferred from an older phone to the old phone. I was successful in transferring the account but could not transfer the messages and chats with my contacts. Some of the contacts could not recognize me without chat history.

Can someone walk me through or is there a website in English to help me? Or should I bring both phones to Bangkok and go the mall and ask for help?

Thank you in advance.

Funman13.

I have iPhone and when I replaced my prior phone I just did restore from the prior night's backup. It worked perfectly, like I never changed phones. All apps transferred perfectly with no special action on my part. I don't remember if I restored from iCloud or from my laptop (I keep backups both ways). That method retained chat history for a year or more prior to my changing of phones.

If you don't have backup, I wouldn't know where to start. Even knowing your Line ID and password might not be enough. Line is likely to request verification from your primary Line device.

[EihTooms]

I don't know if this is the right place to ask. I am coming to Thailand in 2 weeks. I have a new phone and want to set up my LINE account to it from my old phone. Several years ago I did it once before when I transferred from an older phone to the old phone. I was successful in transferring the account but could not transfer the messages and chats with my contacts. Some of the contacts could not recognize me without chat history.

Can someone walk me through or is there a website in English to help me? Or should I bring both phones to Bangkok and go the mall and ask for help?.

Unless they have added a feature that transfers whole conversations and chats along with your contacts and profile in one of the recent updates I think you will lose all those conversations when you transfer your Line account to a new phone.

I hope I am wrong about that. It is an annoying aspect re Line about getting a new phone.

As far as I know you will only retain your contacts as they were originally identified by their Line ID when you added them, your profile pics and so on and anything you have transferred to Line Keep.

So if there are any photos in those conversations that you want to save, take screenshots of them now and send them to your Gallery, Google Photos, Drop Box or whatever photo storage app you use.

The same goes for any specific entries in a conversation like the girls' real names they go by rather than the name on their Line ID, directions or addresses, promises to honor and obey your every sexual desire and so on. Take screenshots of those pages in your conversations now and save them in a photo storage app, in Line Keep or both.

[FunMan13]

I don't know if this is the right place to ask. I am coming to Thailand in 2 weeks. I have a new phone and want to set up my LINE account to it from my old phone. Several years ago I did it once before when I transferred from an older phone to the old phone. I was successful in transferring the account but could not transfer the messages and chats with my contacts. Some of the contacts could not recognize me without chat history.

Can someone walk me through or is there a website in English to help me? Or should I bring both phones to Bangkok and go the mall and ask for help?

Thank you in advance.

Funman13.

[Bunky]

I ported my US cellphone number over to Google Voice for a one time fee of $20, no recurring monthly charges. I put their app on my Thai phone and now my bank, investment house, CC people, etc send authentication codes to it just fine.

With more and more logins requiring two factor authentication, this is good to know. Some systems will email the verification code, but most send it via text message.

I am a Skype customer and have used it in Thailand with good results for voice calls. If anybody calls my U.S. cell phone number, it's automatically forwarded to my Skype, plus I have the option of forwarding it again to my Thai cell number. So people call the same number they have always called to reach me and I can answer using Skype (VOIP) or my Thai cell (4G/5G). As a practical matter the time difference between Thailand and my home country is such that the calls usually come in while I'm sleeping and the callers leave a voice mail. Fine by me. For 90% of my digital nomad work real time comms are not required.

I have not had occasion to use Skype to forward text messages sent to my U.S. cell phone. Is this possible? If so, where do I read the forwarded text messages? Using the Skype app on my laptop or tablet? Or do I need to re-forward the text messages to my Thai cell phone with the Thai SIM card?