 |
 |
 |
|
Try this website if you would like to unlock your UK cell 'phone for use in Thailand and other Countries http://www.a1unlocking.co.uk Reducing the cost of telephone service in Pattaya
TELEPHONE TIPS (updated 3 July 2009) Mobile Phones: Various providers have offices in Pattaya: D-tac office in Big C South Pattaya, Carrefour supermarket and Tesco Lotus. -- AIS (1-2-call) Telewiz in IT City (TukCom) & Carrefour supermarket. -- True Telephone, internet and cable tv services are two floors up in Royal Garden Plaza. Call from Overseas to a mobile number in Thailand:
The mark "+" above indicates that an international access code is needed in the country you are calling FROM, e.g. 001 (Singapore), 0011 (Australia), 011 (USA), 00 (UK). If you wish to call a Thailand mobile number 08 1234 5678, please dial, e.g.:- (Dialling with old format, you will get an announcement "To call to Thailand mobile, please add 8 after country code 66. Try again please.") Access to Thailand fixed line, dialling method has NOT changed. MOBILE PHONES - Domestic - since 2006, 10 digit dialling exists for all Thailand mobile phone numbers. Your Thai mobile phone automatically acquired the ability to respond to your new 10-digit number. However, your internal 'phone-book memory' did not change. The change is the addition of a digit - an 8. Thus an OLD number 01 2345678, has become 081 2345678, and 09 2345678 became 089 2345678. If you are called from outside Thailand you need to inform your contacts that they need to add this new 8 to their numbers, e.g. Old number 66 1 2345678, has become 66 81 2345678, and 66 9 2345678 became 66 89 2345678. Please note: landline (house phone) numbers have NOT changed. (http://www.thailand-uk.com/phones/10digitmobile.php) D-tac (Happy) have a very cheap promotion that costs less than 20 baht per hr, anywhere in Thailand to another D-tac number (0.25baht per min + 2 baht for the first min) (1 baht per minute to non-D-tac numbers). Another promotion costs 0.5 baht per minute to all phones. Another promotion allows 365 days use for any amount of 'top-up'. For low-volume users you can 'buy' time only, 2 baht for 30 days. D-tac (Happy) has a good website - (http://www.happy.co.th/en/index2.php). House Phones: ToT current charges for a new installation are 3700 baht + a Deposit against non-payment of Bills. (+ 100 baht line rental per month) Pattaya telephone numbers starting 0382xxxxx or 0384xxxxx are TOT lines. Those starting 0383xxxxx or 0387xxxxx are TT&T lines. Save money on Domestic calls in Thailand, from a 'fixed-line' (house phone), using either ToT or TT&T lines - with 1234. When dialling within Thailand, but OUTSIDE your own 'local' area, dial 1234 first, then the full area code and number you are calling, to ANY phone - ANYWHERE IN THAILAND (both fixed line AND mobile), you will get a substantial discount (since 13 October 2000). The discount varies slightly with the carrier. I live in Pattaya, I've used this system for years. A call to my wife's 'home' village, to a mobile phone, is normally 12 baht/min (ToT). Using this '1234' system the cost is reduced to 1.5 baht/min every time, 24hrs a day. Calling a Landline is 0.5 baht/min. The SAME pre-dial code is used for both ToT & TT&T lines. This works FROM any fixed-line phone TO both fixed and mobile. [Currently my mobile phone promotion (D-tac) is even cheaper than this! - see above] Example of dial sequence: 1234-053-43xxxx (for Chiang Mai area number) Many people find a problem when they first acquire Internet access in their home. The phone number used to connect to your choice of ISP (Internet Service Provider) may NOT be a 'local call'. A 'local call' will cost you only 3 baht to make the call, no matter how long you are on line. An 'out of local area call' will be charged per/minute. Pattaya area phone code is 038, as is the whole of Chon Buri, Rayong, & Chachoengsao. To call Chachoengsao would NOT be a 'local call', you would be charged per/minute. Make sure the number you call is local. 0382xxxxx, 0383xxxxx, 0384xxxxx, 0387xxxxx are known to be 'local numbers' for Pattaya area, others may not be - do check! If you have to call outside your area use the '1234 system' (listed above). At least it will be cheaper than a direct call. The only time you can use a 'national' number and get a local charge is if the complete number is a 4-digit number (e.g. 1222, similar to the 0800 system). For example ToT has a national Internet access number 1288 (only for ToT lines, you need to register first on-line). You can use these 4-digit numbers from anywhere in Thailand for a 'local' charge. Domestic - Thailand Mobile Discount D-Tac. 50 Satang/min (0.50 baht) after the first minute (1 baht or 3 baht for the first minute, depending on the promotion) to all numbers. If you have D-Tac, or Dprompt, or Happy sim, dial *1003 and follow the instructions, or go to one of the D-Tac outlets in the big supermarkets. I did, they did it for me. It's also handy to top-up your prepaid time with this carrier from an ATM, or via internet-banking. Again a promotion exists - 900 baht of phone-time for 800 baht cost. A simple method of getting a time extension without having to add credit is to use your credit to but days. e.g. dial this to extend by 180 days (*113*180#) (without the brackets!) and you have a 180 day extension. It cost 12 baht! Dtac also has a dedicated website to view details of your own personal number. e.g. account balance, promotion type, changing promotion, detailed call statement. You are asked for a username & password, and gain access to your own account details. Very easy, very useful! http://www.happy.co.th/en/index2.php You may wish to change your Network Supplier used with your mobile-phone (different SIM), but find that a SIM from a different Network will be blocked due to the phone being 'locked' to one network. This can be overcome by Unlocking your phone. Pattaya prices for this service are around 300 baht from a phone shop, or from an Internet company for slightly cheaper. Unlocking involves keying a specific code into your phone - every phone is a different code. This code relates to your IMEI number (unique to each phone), the Network to which it is locked and the make & model of the phone. I recently obtained my unlock code from a UK company via the Internet for a payment of UKP2.99 - it worked! I can now choose a Network and promotion (national or international). (Note: D-tac international company name is actually - Total Access Worldphone. One more tip. SMS (this is the text messaging service, available on most mobile phones) charges are around 5 baht per message (a fixed charge, depending on provider) to anywhere in the world. D-Prompt Baby Sim has now reduced this charge to 3 baht per message. D-Tac/Happy charge 5 baht per message international, and 3 baht domestic. The internet is still the cheapest world-wide telephone service (Skype, for example), but it requires computer equipment. However, if you are one of those lucky ones on a good fast Broadband connection you could try 'DialPad' (http://www.dialpad.com), they have 3 monthly plans and 2 prepaid. Particularly good for US access (from member Dave - thanks!) Most Thai mobiles these days will call International, including pre-paid card phones. If it will not, take it to a phone office and they can re-program it. CALLING INTERNATIONAL FROM THAILAND There are now two 'official' companies offering International Telephone Services here in Thailand. CAT - offers 'International' connections via the prefix 001 & 009 (different prices), and is available for almost all phones (both fixed line & mobile). ToT - offers 'International' connections via the prefix 007 & 008 (different prices), and is available for all phones. 001. Is the original International Access code for use FROM Thailand. All phones will connect if prefix 001 is used. The quality is excellent, BUT this is the most expensive method. In most cases it will NOT be necessary to use 001 - try some others first This is current May 2009 (prices vary with promotions): Pressing + or 001 will get you through to the high quality service offered by CAT. The sound quality is clear, making it suitable for business calls to over 230 countries across the world. The minimum call duration is one minute, and any remaining part minute is billed in six-second blocks. For instance, a call to the USA will cost Bt9 per minute and Bt0.9 for each additional six-second block. Pressing 007 will get you through to the high quality service offered by TOT. The sound quality is clear, making it suitable for business calls to over 210 countries across the world. The minimum call duration is 1 minute, and remaining periods of less than 30 seconds duration are billed per half minute. Remaining part-minutes in excess of 30 seconds are rounded up to one minute. Call charge is currently 9 baht/min. http://203.113.93.5/intercall/English/product_all_eng.html Pressing 009 or eFONE will get you through to the economy service offered by CAT, which uses Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to help you save money on international calls to over 150 countries across the world. The minimum call duration is 1 minute, and remaining time is billed per six-second block. For instance, a call to the USA is charged at Bt5 per minute, with each remaining six-second block charged at 50 satang. A 'Phone Net' card obtainable from CAT (and many small mini-marts) cost 300 or 500 baht. These allow International calls to various destinations for as low as 4 baht-min (when you use the 009 prefix). Prices vary for different destinations. A survey at our Sunday meeting found 4 people who used it & loved it, and 1 had no success at all. Cards are valid for 1-year from initial use. Prices can be found in English at: http://web1.cattelecom.co.th/ (Thanks Jay) An addition to 'cheap' international access FROM Thailand is DeeDial. This is both a 'direct call' system (cheap), and a call-back' system (cheaper). You have to pre-charge your account (no expiry date), then call using one of the systems above. Examples: from a Thai landline or mobile - to a UK landline (London area), using 'callback', is 0.99 baht/min. From a Thai landline or mobile - to a UK mobile, using callback, is 7 baht/min. (Charges for UK landline outside London are now 7 baht per minute!) Account is very easy to set up. If you use the 'call direct' method you have to add the Thai charges for your phone use. (http://www.deedial.com) Kevin sent me this link for Low-Cost calls FROM Thailand. e.g. UK landline 1.2 baht per min, US mobile 1.2 baht per min, Oz landline 1.6 baht per min: (www.jaxtr.com) David in Udon wrote: When I travel to USA, I take along the US 800- tollfree number printed on CAT's Phone Net enclosure, along with the card's code. That way, I pay only 6 baht/min with instant access to the familiar CAT-girl's voice menu. Ideal for US-based farang wishing to call their 'tee-rak': have your honey buy a CAT card locally, then email the code to you. (good one David, thanks. BM) A member sent me this 'low-cost' callback system. www.call2.com allows calls from Thailand to UK & US for 6 pence (UKP) per min. You need to charge your account via a credit card, but the callback service is quick and clear. Works from any phone in Thailand that allows caller ID. Many questions come up relating to International Telephone Calls to Thailand. The following is a very basic explanation: Four sets of numbers are required to successfully call Internationally - FROM anywhere. 1. The International Exchange access number in the country you are calling FROM. 2. The country ID-code number you are calling TO. 3. The 'area-code' in the country you are calling TO. 4. The actual subscriber phone number in the country you are calling TO. 1. To access the International Exchange if you are in USA: 011 1. To access the International Exchange if you are in UK: 00 1. To access the International Exchange if you are in Thailand: 001, 009, 008, 007 (different rates - see above). 2. The Country ID-code for Thailand is: 66 (USA is: 1, UK is: 44, Australia is: 61) 3. The 'area-code' for Pattaya is: 38 (Bangkok is: 2, Chiang Mai is: 53) 3. The 'area-code' for all mobiles now starts with an 8 since the change of all mobile numbers (see above) 4. Here's where the problem usually occurs! Thai numbers are listed as (e.g) 038xxxxxx or 02xxxxxxx for fixed line phone (always 9 digits) or maybe 08xxxxxxxx for a mobile (always 10 digits), but this only applies when dialling from WITHIN Thailand. When calling International TO Thailand the first '0' is always omitted (leaving 8 or 9 digits). So when calling a Thai house-phone from UK, the full dial could be 00 66 38xxxxxx (12 digits). When calling a Thai mobile from UK, the full dial could be 00 66 87xxxxxxx (13 digits). 00 is the international access code within UK. 66 is Thailand's international ID code. 38xxxxxx - the actual house-phone number of the subscriber in Thailand. 87xxxxxxx - the actual mobile-phone number of the subscriber in Thailand. And a 'house-phone' in Pattaya from USA would be 011 66 38xxxxxx (13 digits). 011 is the international access code within USA. 66 is Thailand's international ID code. 38xxxxxx - the actual fixed-line telephone number of the subscriber in Thailand. As you can see, how many digits you dial depends on WHERE you are calling FROM, and where you are calling TO. CALLING TO THAILAND FROM YOUR HOME COUNTRY If you are calling from the UK there are a number of 'cheaper-rate' companies to choose from. In each case you are required to dial a UK number BEFORE dialling international. (The access numbers change periodically, so keep checking the websites). Look here for an index of cheap phone call operators in UK (many at 1p per min): http://niftylist.co.uk/calls/ EXAMPLE. If calling a Thai 'House-phone' or 'mobile' from the UK, you would dial the UK phone number first - pause briefly (maybe hearing a short announcement telling you the cost per minute) - then ALL of the 'normal international' number (mentioned above) e.g. (everything you need to dial) 08444621919 - wait for announcement, then 006638xxxxxx - that's it for a house-phone! (00668xxxxxxxx for a mobile-phone) (Beware, non BT line providers may charge extra for this service) UK mobiles can call Thailand using the above systems. To find out the cost of calling from a UK mobile, or a non BT landline, you should confirm the rates directly with your service provider as these may vary. Here is a short list of the information access numbers to a few popular UK mobile providers: Orange - (07973 100 150) Vodafone - (07836 191 191) mmO2 - (08705 214 000) One 2 One / T-Mobile - (08454 125000) Virgin - (0845 6000 789) NTL - (0800 052 2000) Telewest - (0845 142 00 00) BT - (0800 800 150) One.Tel - (0800 957 0700). Check the rates before you call. They do vary a lot, but some are VERY cheap!
A reader sent this recommendation for 'reduced cost' calls to Thailand (and to many other destinations). Visit http://www.sawasdeetalk.com/ for further information. (Thanks Nick) To call Thailand from Australia - March 2006 - I've been using a prepaid calling card called "Click" that can be purchased in Australia at many tobacco shops, convenience stores, some petrol stations. Not every shop would have it, ask around. This card may not be the cheapest, according to the advertised rate, but this was the best deal I could find - in total cost and experience. After you bought the card (in 10, 20, 50 dollar denominations) you can recharge it by calling customer service 1300 300 356 and paying any amount you want by credit card. Current rate is 5 cents a minute (Bangkok & Chiang Mai) and 12.5 cents a minute rest of Thailand & mobile. Website: (www.c2comms.net) - Thank you Andrei. Please tell us of cheap-rate access to Thailand from other countries, especially USA & Australia (email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Expats helping Expats! ToT service center - dial 1100 ToT operator - 101 ToT office numbers (Pattaya) - 0-3842-2027, 0-3842-2267, 0-3842-2475, 0-3842-2922, 0-3842-8113, 0-3890-0001, Fax. 0-3842-1500 Also via the internet, http://tel1177.tot.co.th (Thai language only) http://www.tot.co.th/toten/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=524 http://www.tot.co.th/toten/images/section/c_17.html Also available - http://phonebook.tot.co.th (Thai language only) http://www.happy.co.th/en/index2.php http://www.ttt.co.th/home/home.php (http://www.deedial.com) DeeDial (International calling from Thailand) via Callback or Direct Call If you're still having problems, email - ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) If you discover errors in the above, please send corrections to - ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) |
Since 2006, the domestic access code of Thailand mobile numbering has changed from 0 to 08. Overseas calls to Thailand mobile numbers must be dialled as follows: Example of current dialling format + 66 8 1234 5678 (old dialling format + 66 1234 5678)
A reader from Belgium uses www.thaitel.com - Always very good access and good sound quality. To verify the credit card you have to give your telephone number and they call you to ask for the 3 digit control number from your credit card. This procedure happens only once during the opening of your account. Good now for 15 months. (Thanks to Guido & Phai January 2006)