Indian SIM card
#31
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,215
My family just completed a trip to India and we had the concierge at our first hotel in Delhi get us some SIM cards. It took him less than an hour, basically while you eat breakfast the first day. He needed some passport photos that we brought with us and a copy of our passport. We ended up with two cards on AirTel and two on Idea. We put Rs 1000 on each card and they last a little more than 2 weeks, the duration of our trip. We used them fairly frequently and traveled all around the country. The local calls in Delhi when we got there were billed at 1p/sec, Rs6.4/min to the US (about USD 15 cents/min. When we were in other parts of the country it was Rs1-1.5/min for local calls and 9.4/min for calls to the US.
#32
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: All over
Programs: AA-LTP, HH-DIA, Marriott-LT+AMB, Hyatt-Globalist, Hertz-PC, UA-GS
Posts: 6,828
My family just completed a trip to India and we had the concierge at our first hotel in Delhi get us some SIM cards. It took him less than an hour, basically while you eat breakfast the first day. He needed some passport photos that we brought with us and a copy of our passport. We ended up with two cards on AirTel and two on Idea. We put Rs 1000 on each card and they last a little more than 2 weeks, the duration of our trip. We used them fairly frequently and traveled all around the country. The local calls in Delhi when we got there were billed at 1p/sec, Rs6.4/min to the US (about USD 15 cents/min. When we were in other parts of the country it was Rs1-1.5/min for local calls and 9.4/min for calls to the US.
#33
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: east coast
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 306
Place to buy Sim Card at MAA?
Is there a store that sells pre-paid Sim cards in the arrivals area of MAA airport? I'm assuming that Airtel or Hutch would be easiest to find. For what its worth, my flight arrives around midnight.
I've read that the requirements are copy of passport, passport photos, and proof of residence. Will a hotel reservation suffice as proof of residence?
Anything else I should know?
Thanks!
I've read that the requirements are copy of passport, passport photos, and proof of residence. Will a hotel reservation suffice as proof of residence?
Anything else I should know?
Thanks!
#34
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
Nothing in the airport arrivals area I'm afraid. However, if you drive out of the airport you'll find several stores .. none of which are likely to be open at midnight.
You might wait for the next morning and buy it yourself from almost anywhere in the city (you'll see shops with signs advertising Airtel, Vodafone <- new name for Hutch, Tata Docomo, Uninor etc etc SIMs), or if you've scheduled a pickup from your hotel, you can have the hotel concierge send you a SIM along with your driver. If you want the SIM to be in your name you can just fax / scan + email them your details.
Yes - passport + 2 photos should do the trick.
You might wait for the next morning and buy it yourself from almost anywhere in the city (you'll see shops with signs advertising Airtel, Vodafone <- new name for Hutch, Tata Docomo, Uninor etc etc SIMs), or if you've scheduled a pickup from your hotel, you can have the hotel concierge send you a SIM along with your driver. If you want the SIM to be in your name you can just fax / scan + email them your details.
Yes - passport + 2 photos should do the trick.
#35
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC & Delhi
Programs: CO Pres. Plat, SPG
Posts: 546
I had good luck buying an Aircel SIM at Big Bazaar in the Ambiance Mall yesterday.
I know that I overpaid for the SIM (it's labeled Rs. 49 and I was charged Rs. 250+90 and then sold an Rs. 500 refill), but I managed to walk in with nothing but my passport and a locked iPhone and have my photos taken, phone unlocked and everything taken care of in about ten minutes. I've bought SIMs in the states and had a harder time.
They were perfectly happy with my hotel address and multiple-entry business visa. They photocopied everything and had me sign each of the copies (and across the photo). Even had a nice chat with the guy about the new unlocking method for the iPhone that only requires browsing a website.
I know that I overpaid for the SIM (it's labeled Rs. 49 and I was charged Rs. 250+90 and then sold an Rs. 500 refill), but I managed to walk in with nothing but my passport and a locked iPhone and have my photos taken, phone unlocked and everything taken care of in about ten minutes. I've bought SIMs in the states and had a harder time.
They were perfectly happy with my hotel address and multiple-entry business visa. They photocopied everything and had me sign each of the copies (and across the photo). Even had a nice chat with the guy about the new unlocking method for the iPhone that only requires browsing a website.
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,708
I had good luck buying an Aircel SIM at Big Bazaar in the Ambiance Mall yesterday.
I know that I overpaid for the SIM (it's labeled Rs. 49 and I was charged Rs. 250+90 and then sold an Rs. 500 refill), but I managed to walk in with nothing but my passport and a locked iPhone and have my photos taken, phone unlocked and everything taken care of in about ten minutes. I've bought SIMs in the states and had a harder time.
They were perfectly happy with my hotel address and multiple-entry business visa. They photocopied everything and had me sign each of the copies (and across the photo). Even had a nice chat with the guy about the new unlocking method for the iPhone that only requires browsing a website.
I know that I overpaid for the SIM (it's labeled Rs. 49 and I was charged Rs. 250+90 and then sold an Rs. 500 refill), but I managed to walk in with nothing but my passport and a locked iPhone and have my photos taken, phone unlocked and everything taken care of in about ten minutes. I've bought SIMs in the states and had a harder time.
They were perfectly happy with my hotel address and multiple-entry business visa. They photocopied everything and had me sign each of the copies (and across the photo). Even had a nice chat with the guy about the new unlocking method for the iPhone that only requires browsing a website.
#37
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
They were perfectly happy with my hotel address and multiple-entry business visa. They photocopied everything and had me sign each of the copies (and across the photo). Even had a nice chat with the guy about the new unlocking method for the iPhone that only requires browsing a website.
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,708
u mean u got ur iphone which was locked to a specific provider unlocked in an aircel shop.. and without any charge.. did they unlock ur phone and activate it for the new aircel sim u brought ?? I thot this was only possible in the back alleys of the cities, not in any prominent shop, atleast not openly ..
Last edited by Keyser; Aug 9, 2010 at 10:14 am
#39
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
thts wht.. am aware of the unofficial way, but as it was mentioned below tht he got it done in an aircel shop in a mall , i was surprised..
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,708
#41
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,708
not really....the address on your passport & the local address of the hotel you are staying at are good enough....
#43
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Accor Live Limitless Diamond
Posts: 224
Pardon my cluelessness
OK I'm normally not this tech-illiterate, but can someone explain how this whole sim-card thing works? I was planning on bringing my iPhone with the appropriate AT&T international plan, like I do for Europe. Bad idea?
What is iPhone coverage like in India? I'll be in Delhi, Agra, Chennai, Cochi and Kerala backwaters (I don't expect coverage there).
What's the deal with the sim card vs using my regular iPhone (+ Skype when I can)?
What is iPhone coverage like in India? I'll be in Delhi, Agra, Chennai, Cochi and Kerala backwaters (I don't expect coverage there).
What's the deal with the sim card vs using my regular iPhone (+ Skype when I can)?
#44
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,240
OK I'm normally not this tech-illiterate, but can someone explain how this whole sim-card thing works? I was planning on bringing my iPhone with the appropriate AT&T international plan, like I do for Europe. Bad idea?
What is iPhone coverage like in India? I'll be in Delhi, Agra, Chennai, Cochi and Kerala backwaters (I don't expect coverage there).
What's the deal with the sim card vs using my regular iPhone (+ Skype when I can)?
What is iPhone coverage like in India? I'll be in Delhi, Agra, Chennai, Cochi and Kerala backwaters (I don't expect coverage there).
What's the deal with the sim card vs using my regular iPhone (+ Skype when I can)?
Ur Iphone would in all probability be currently locked to ur current service provider and if u want to use an Indian Sim , then that needs to be unlocked and this is not 'official'..else u can bring any other gsm phone to india and just put in a Indian Sim and start using it..
Just some info..Indian mobile rates are among the cheapest in the world so it makes a lot of sense to take a Indian SIm if u being in India for more than 1 week..@:-)
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,708
if you buy a sim card here you will not be able to use it with your iphone unless it is unlocked....my suggestion would be to switch the roaming data off on your iphone & use it for emergencies....when in india just buy a cheap phone (around $40) & get a pre-paid sim card....you will only be able to use skype when you are in a wi-fi area, & normally you would have to pay for wi-fi access so it defeats the purpose of a free skype call....