SGJazz
May 20, 09, 1:01 pm
I'll be in HK for 10 day in June. I have an unlocked phone to use, any advice on buying a local sim card.
Travel Technology - Hong Kong sim card
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Dubai Stu
May 20, 09, 1:41 pm
I've used CSL out in the New Territories, on Lantau (not the airport), and even some of the outer islands. I've always had good reception. Hong Kong has some of the cheapest wireless anywhere in the world. The CSL sim card roams in China and on Macau. I think it has ok rates in Schenzen.
When you clear customs at HKI, there is a currency exchange window right afterwards. You can buy the SIM right there. There is also a 7-11 down by the train into the city that sells sim cards.
I've used Orange in the past and have no real complaints. CSL cards had voicemail and I don't think that Orange did. Three has some good data plans, but you need a 3g phone.
When you clear customs at HKI, there is a currency exchange window right afterwards. You can buy the SIM right there. There is also a 7-11 down by the train into the city that sells sim cards.
I've used Orange in the past and have no real complaints. CSL cards had voicemail and I don't think that Orange did. Three has some good data plans, but you need a 3g phone.
sparsile
May 20, 09, 2:12 pm
'3' has a good service - www.three.com.hk
I've used it on various trips to HKG.
For $98 HKD, a card with voice & 3G data:
http://www.three.com.hk/website/appmanager/three/home?_nfpb=true&pageid=611001&_pageLabel=P200470391219567710594&lang=eng
Should be able to pick one up at the Fortress shop at the airport:
http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/insideshopping/t1/audio/fort.html
I've used it on various trips to HKG.
For $98 HKD, a card with voice & 3G data:
http://www.three.com.hk/website/appmanager/three/home?_nfpb=true&pageid=611001&_pageLabel=P200470391219567710594&lang=eng
Should be able to pick one up at the Fortress shop at the airport:
http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/insideshopping/t1/audio/fort.html
SGJazz
May 20, 09, 2:15 pm
I've used CSL out in the New Territories, on Lantau (not the airport), and even some of the outer islands. I've always had good reception. Hong Kong has some of the cheapest wireless anywhere in the world. The CSL sim card roams in China and on Macau. I think it has ok rates in Schenzen.
When you clear customs at HKI, there is a currency exchange window right afterwards. You can buy the SIM right there. There is also a 7-11 down by the train into the city that sells sim cards.
I've used Orange in the past and have no real complaints. CSL cards had voicemail and I don't think that Orange did. Three has some good data plans, but you need a 3g phone.
Great info, thanks. The airport tip is very helpful.
BTW, my name is Stu as well.
When you clear customs at HKI, there is a currency exchange window right afterwards. You can buy the SIM right there. There is also a 7-11 down by the train into the city that sells sim cards.
I've used Orange in the past and have no real complaints. CSL cards had voicemail and I don't think that Orange did. Three has some good data plans, but you need a 3g phone.
Great info, thanks. The airport tip is very helpful.
BTW, my name is Stu as well.
SGJazz
May 20, 09, 2:17 pm
My phone is not 3g, it's a Sony Erickson T616. Will I be ok with this phone?
msb0b
May 20, 09, 3:27 pm
There's a thread Purchase SIM card at the airport (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong/736423-purchase-sim-cards-airport.html) over in the Hong Kong forum that will answer all of your questions.
Which SIM card to buy will vary by your usage pattern. If you mostly make calls back to the USA or one of the several other countries, then a Free IDD SIM card may be more economical than a low per minute cost SIM card.
The Sony Ericsson T616 is an American tri-band version of the T610 that works on 850/1800/1900 frequencies. As long as the carrier has coverage on the 1800 band, your phone should work. IIRC, the carriers in HK are either dual band, e.g. CSL, 3, Smartone, or PCS 1800-only. There is no 900-only carrier as far as I know.
Which SIM card to buy will vary by your usage pattern. If you mostly make calls back to the USA or one of the several other countries, then a Free IDD SIM card may be more economical than a low per minute cost SIM card.
The Sony Ericsson T616 is an American tri-band version of the T610 that works on 850/1800/1900 frequencies. As long as the carrier has coverage on the 1800 band, your phone should work. IIRC, the carriers in HK are either dual band, e.g. CSL, 3, Smartone, or PCS 1800-only. There is no 900-only carrier as far as I know.
abraxis
May 20, 09, 3:45 pm
There's a thread Purchase SIM card at the airport (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong/736423-purchase-sim-cards-airport.html) over in the Hong Kong forum that will answer all of your questions.
Which SIM card to buy will vary by your usage pattern. If you mostly make calls back to the USA or one of the several other countries, then a Free IDD SIM card may be more economical than a low per minute cost SIM card.
The Sony Ericsson T616 is an American tri-band version of the T610 that works on 850/1800/1900 frequencies. As long as the carrier has coverage on the 1800 band, your phone should work. IIRC, the carriers in HK are either dual band, e.g. CSL, 3, Smartone, or PCS 1800-only. There is no 900-only carrier as far as I know.
Keep in mind that if you're on 1800 only (PCCW, Peoples) you will run into dead spots. I still have a New World Mobility SIM card that gives me free IDD. Since they got bought out by CSL, AFAIK, New World SIM cards are no longer being sold. My question is: who has free IDD now?
Which SIM card to buy will vary by your usage pattern. If you mostly make calls back to the USA or one of the several other countries, then a Free IDD SIM card may be more economical than a low per minute cost SIM card.
The Sony Ericsson T616 is an American tri-band version of the T610 that works on 850/1800/1900 frequencies. As long as the carrier has coverage on the 1800 band, your phone should work. IIRC, the carriers in HK are either dual band, e.g. CSL, 3, Smartone, or PCS 1800-only. There is no 900-only carrier as far as I know.
Keep in mind that if you're on 1800 only (PCCW, Peoples) you will run into dead spots. I still have a New World Mobility SIM card that gives me free IDD. Since they got bought out by CSL, AFAIK, New World SIM cards are no longer being sold. My question is: who has free IDD now?
SGJazz
May 20, 09, 3:51 pm
There's a thread Purchase SIM card at the airport (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong/736423-purchase-sim-cards-airport.html)The Sony Ericsson T616 is an American tri-band version of the T610 that works on 850/1800/1900 frequencies. As long as the carrier has coverage on the 1800 band, your phone should work. IIRC, the carriers in HK are either dual band, e.g. CSL, 3, Smartone, or PCS 1800-only. There is no 900-only carrier as far as I know.
Good to know, thanks.
Good to know, thanks.
SJUAMMF
May 20, 09, 7:45 pm
I also 2nd CSL. I bought the HK$88 for 880 minute SIM and used it in Hong Kong and southern China roaming without any problem. They have a store at the HKG Airport lower level.
roberto99
May 20, 09, 8:04 pm
There's a thread Purchase SIM card at the airport (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong/736423-purchase-sim-cards-airport.html) over in the Hong Kong forum that will answer all of your questions.
...There is no 900-only carrier as far as I know.
There is PLENTY of 900 MHz coverage in HK today.
900 MHz penetrates buildings much better than 1800 and 2100 MHz, too.
See http://gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_hk.shtml
Sadly, the OP has no 900 MHz coverage with his current phone.
...There is no 900-only carrier as far as I know.
There is PLENTY of 900 MHz coverage in HK today.
900 MHz penetrates buildings much better than 1800 and 2100 MHz, too.
See http://gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_hk.shtml
Sadly, the OP has no 900 MHz coverage with his current phone.
maceyr
May 21, 09, 2:38 am
I agree with the poster about the '3' SIM card. You get good coverage all over HK. Unless you're traveling to China and Macau, or call overseas you get a good deal with a SIM card that allows local calliing. I never use up the minutes on the card.
I normally wait and buy the card from any 7-eleven or cell phone shop in Mongkok or Wanchai.
It's amazing that you can talk in the subways and practically anywhere (they have repeaters all over).
You may want to get a newer or local tri or even quad band GSM phone to take advantage of the additional 900mhz frequency.
I normally wait and buy the card from any 7-eleven or cell phone shop in Mongkok or Wanchai.
It's amazing that you can talk in the subways and practically anywhere (they have repeaters all over).
You may want to get a newer or local tri or even quad band GSM phone to take advantage of the additional 900mhz frequency.
dtsm
May 21, 09, 10:24 am
My question is: who has free IDD now?
PCCW has one type of prepaid card with discounted IDD calls to a variety of countries....local calls cost more than their 'regular prepaid' card so it's a trade-off unless you buy one of each (like me :) ).
PCCW has one type of prepaid card with discounted IDD calls to a variety of countries....local calls cost more than their 'regular prepaid' card so it's a trade-off unless you buy one of each (like me :) ).
msb0b
May 21, 09, 2:06 pm
My question is: who has free IDD now?
Smartone-Vodafone's Good!Talk prepaid SIM card (http://www.smartone-vodafone.com/jsp/mobile/prices/store_valued_SIM/english/goodtalk_introduction.jsp)
China Mobile, the new corporate overlord of Peoples, also has the IDD Talk prepaid SIM card (http://www.hk.chinamobile.com/p_prepaid_iddtalk_en.jsp)
They are both HK$0.25 per minute air time with free IDD to many countries including USA.
There is PLENTY of 900 MHz coverage in HK today.
Certainly, and the carriers licensed to operate on the 900 MHz band are also licensed to operate on the 1800 MHz band. There is no carrier that operates exclusively on the 900 MHz band, which was my original point.
Smartone-Vodafone's Good!Talk prepaid SIM card (http://www.smartone-vodafone.com/jsp/mobile/prices/store_valued_SIM/english/goodtalk_introduction.jsp)
China Mobile, the new corporate overlord of Peoples, also has the IDD Talk prepaid SIM card (http://www.hk.chinamobile.com/p_prepaid_iddtalk_en.jsp)
They are both HK$0.25 per minute air time with free IDD to many countries including USA.
There is PLENTY of 900 MHz coverage in HK today.
Certainly, and the carriers licensed to operate on the 900 MHz band are also licensed to operate on the 1800 MHz band. There is no carrier that operates exclusively on the 900 MHz band, which was my original point.