Cell Phone Rental?

[hersh]

Hello,

I am coming to HH for the month of April and was wondering what is the best way to get a cell phone... should I buy a cheap one when I arrive or can I rent one for a month?

Any details are appreciated.

[pharvey]

Hello,

I am coming to HH for the month of April and was wondering what is the best way to get a cell phone... should I buy a cheap one when I arrive or can I rent one for a month?

Any details are appreciated.

Being daft and assuming you already have a mobile/"cell phone" of your own, get a pre-paid SIM.

[Lung Per]

You cannot rent a cellphone. Buy a cheap Nokia from Tesco Lotus, about 600 - 800 THB and a simcard from 7/11 and you are all set.

[margaretcarnes]

Or just put a Pay As You Go SIM into your own phone - or your spare one. Last time i arrived in Bangkok they were giving out free SIMS on arrival loaded with 50 baht starter credit. If they aren't doing that any more all the major mobile companies have service desks in the airport where you can get sorted straight away. To be honest if you are from the UK you can get a spare phone here as cheap as in Thailand if you need one.

[STEVE G]

When I came through the airport a couple of months ago, one of the companies was selling a "Tourist Sim card" and I forget the exact details but I think it was something like 200 bt and valid for a month.

[hersh]

Yeah I checked with my current carrier (TracFone PrePaid here in the States) and they don't offer an overseas SIM so I am not sure if the Tourist Sim or PrePaid SIM would work for me. I like the option of buying a cheap one at Tesco Lotus.

Thank you

[margaretcarnes]

I do find that a spare phone for the Thai SIM is better, then you still have your regular phone with it's contact list handy. But if you have a regular no frills mobile it should just be a case of getting it unlocked, then you're not tied to TracFone?

[Big Boy]

it should just be a case of getting it unlocked

Still probably cheaper to buy a new phone.

[PeteC]

Anyone wishing to browse, there appears to be about 14,000 entries on Amazon for unlocked cell phones. The unknown is the shipping and any customs charges to get it here. Pete

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... bile%2C466

[margaretcarnes]

it should just be a case of getting it unlocked

Still probably cheaper to buy a new phone.

Strangely no - unlocking is about £5 in the UK. (OK not in the flash shops) and I think I paid 100 Bt one time in the LOS.

Also I only realised a few months ago that it is free - and easy - to change networks anyway. All UK mobile network providers have to give you your PAC when asked for it. The Product Access Code.

[Big Boy]

I think I paid 100 Bt one time in the LOS.

How long ago was that? Yes it used to be a cheap job, but Thais love 'free' money, and are certainly capitalising on this business opportunity. IMHO it is cheaper to buy a new phone these days. However, I'd love to be proved wrong if you can provide detail of where such a place STILL exists.

[Ralfredo]

You cannot rent a cellphone. Buy a cheap Nokia from Tesco Lotus, about 600 - 800 THB and a simcard from 7/11 and you are all set.

In fact I think you can. Last time I arrived at Suvarnabhumi, I saw a stand advertising something about cell phone rental. I didn't bother to check it up since the whole idea of renting something that you can by for well under 1K THB seems rather silly. But there where quite a few people at the stand, so I guess there's a market.