Hello, everybody. This is the first time I’ve posted here, and I have a question about telecommunication abroad. I will be visiting Thailand and Malaysia for about three weeks, doing some relief work and taking a lot of pictures. I wanted to know if anyone can tell me if using my cell phone is a possibility. Since I am not sure of my service’s roaming charges or international rates, I was also considering buying a calling card. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Using your own cell phone is possible but it depends on your server.
I have T-Mobile and it's no problem in Malaysia; so it might be fair to assume the same for Thailand.
Contact your carrier for details; if yours doesn't cover SEAsia, then your other alternative is to get disposable ones while there (although with this option I'm not sure if they provide intl calls...if this is the case, then you'll probably have to end up getting intl calling cards...with a disposable hand phone...)
If you are from the U.S. and you have GSM service (like T-Mobile) your phone should work in both places. If you have non-GSM service like Verizon...your phone will not work there. Even if you have T-mobile/ AT&T, it might be cheaper to buy a cheap, used cell phone over there and use prepaid calling cards. They do work for international calls and I think end up being about $0.50 per minute...not great but not terrible either. I think the calling rates when using T-mobile over in Thailand will be a lot more expensive. I guess it comes down to how much talking you plan to do. Just remember you will pay a very high rate for both incoming and outgoing calls if using your U.S. phone.
Unlike the U.S., you can buy second-hand cell phones in Thailand all over the place with no service plan as most people use the prepaid cards that are available in every 7-11...which are also everywhere. Good luck.
__________________ \\Jamie\\
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin
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