I just returned from a 2-week trip to Asia, and have an AIS 1-2-Call SIM that someone might be able to use -- it's free to the first reply via PM.

It's got 107 baht on it, and is currently on the 6 hrs of EDGE access for 50 baht/month data plan (it's changeable by calling 1175 customer sevice number). I used the SIM in my unlocked iPhone, and got 130-150 kb throughput consistently in Bangkok and Phuket.

The SIM is valid until July 12, 2008, so please reply only if you can use it before it expires. I'll send it via first class US mail with the booklet (which is in Thai, so it's likely not terribly useful without language proficiency).

Enjoy!

Appreciate the offer. Unfortunately, I can't use it before July 12. Where is a good place to purchase a SIM card once in Bangkok?

At BKK, there are sales desks for AIS (1-2-Call) and DTAC on the arrivals level, after you clear customs. The AIS SIM was 99 Baht, and you have to buy a top-up card to add airtime. The sales person will insert the SIM, change the default language to English, and top up your phone -- which I'd suggest doing, as I suffered through setting up a second phone SIM on my own (the SIM packet is in Thai).

If you don't buy it at BKK, you can pick up a SIM at many places around town. This thread has more details.

One-2-Call has 2 tyes of Sim cards: The ones that you need to recharge 300 Baht per month and the ones that you need to recharge 50 baht per year. The per minute rates on the latter are higher (2 Baht) but since received calls are free, it works for me and I can keep the same number all the time, whihc is more important for me. Check 7/11 if they have those. If not, MBK or Fortune City are places where they are certainly available.

The SIM has found a new home -- thanks to all those who replied.

Sorry but none of this information (quoted) is correct or accurate. There is only one type of pre-paid SIM, there are many top-up and expiry options and many, many calling plan/messaging/GPRS options.

FWIW, with a One-2-Call SIM and if you have a GSM1900 phone and a signal here in the U.S.A. (T-Mobile, for example) you can check your One-2-Call balance, for free, by entering *121# SEND. You'll get a response back from AIS with the remaining balance and expiration date. I'm not sure if you had to have enabled international roaming for this to work though. It works for me, and calls ring through from Thailand (not that I answer them, I call back on my U.S. mobile) and SMSes come through as well. You can top up, and extend the expiration date, from the U.S.A. as well provided you have top-up PIN, which somebody could get for you in Thailand (they could buy a card and email you the PIN): *120*13 digit PIN# SEND. You may be able to enable international roaming remotely via email to [email protected] .

I am sorry, but I had both of them. I currently have a SIM that expires in 1 year and I had a Sim previously that would expire after one month. You mignt not know about these. Unfortunately I can't post pictuers here, else I would scan the cover to prove.

HKtraveller, I think that what transpac is saying is that you can change the expiry date/plan/promotion at any time on any prepaid 1 2 Call sim. It is a matter of "software" (the plan/promotion) function vs. "hardware" (the sim) function. The expiry date is not "hardwired" into the sim. Both of your plans/promotions and in effect expiry dates terms can be changed in either of your sim cards. Your sim cards may look different on the outside but they function the same.

For AIS/One-2-Call and DTAC/Happy you can purchase a new SIM for 59 THB all the way up to 1 million + THB. The 1 million THB SIMs have desireable or lucky numbers. The standard package is 199 THB from Happy and 250 THB from One-2-Call. There are also many, many new SIM promotional packages (One-2-Call has ~ 12 SIM packages currently) which come with default calling values, expiration dates (30 days) and calling plans. After purchase and initialization you can change just about anything related to your SIM. You are not locked in to a promotion/package for any period of time. I have to say that it is quite consumer friendly. Also, these two providers honor promotions indefinitely even if they raise prices for newer subscribers. For example I subscribed to a monthly GPRS package a few years ago which gives me 25 hours for 100 THB (107 THB with VAT), and last year they changed the plans so that you can now get 20 hours for 100 THB. But One-2-Call still honor the terms of my plan. Rarely do you see that happen.

I suspect HKtraveler purchased two different SIM promotional packages and was unaware that either/both can be modified with regards to top-up value, expiration date,calling/messaging and data.

My calling plan is 3 THB for the first minute and 25 satang for each additional minute, anytime, to any phone.

For One-2-Call you can dial 1175 and press 2 for English-speaking CSRs, or email to [email protected] . You can get in to the Promotions menues (verify your current promotion, listen to available promotion details and change your plan) by dialing *777.

OK, thanks, that clarifies the misunderstanding. So the promotion package that allows validity extension for 1 year by recharging 50 Baht costs 2 Baht per minute.
Receiving calls is free. So if you stay in Thailand frequently for short periods of times and use the phone rarely, this would be the way to go instead of having to recharge every 30 days.

Any SIM can have any form of expiration date/top-up option applied and any SIM can have any available calling/messaging/data plan applied, independently.

I'll do some more research on the currently available promotion plans/SIMs and post back, probably in the other thread.

In the meantime if anyone needs a SIM I'd be happy to purchase/activate (and give you the number in advance) and hand-off once you arrive, or could mail it to you (airmail to the U.S.A. takes at least 7 calendar days), provided I am in Bangkok/Thailand (which I am 75% of the time). Drop me a PM with your expected calling/data patterns, approximate arrival/departure dates and I'll make a specific recommendation.

edited to add: if you are resident outside Thailand, and currently hold a One-2-Call/AIS, DTAC/Happy, TrueMove(Orange), Hutch pre-paid SIM I could also add value/expiration to your SIM in your absence. I just need the number and service provider, then I can go to their shop. You can reimburse me later.

What a great bunch of polite and informative posters - so refreshing to read and even learned a few tricks

Transpac - we gotta meet up before next year's Super Bowl

I have a 1-2 Call SIM card that currently expires 26-Jan-2009. I will mail free to anyone here in the States. I topped it up with 300 Baht a couple weeks ago from 7-11. Last time I checked it had 350 Baht left.

Edit: Claimed by "rally" at 3:40 PM. In the mail now.

YGM !!

Anyone else have a sim they can donate?

Going to be in Thailand for New Years and could use one to get in touch with friends flying in.