SIM card questions

[facefirst]

So I'm traveling to Thailand from Thanksgiving through 12/16. I have an iPhone 5 on Verizon. I've never used a SIM card so I'm kinda clueless. I mean I know what it is and what it does but that's about it.

My questions are - Where should I buy one to use in Thailand and what should I look out for? Basically I just want to be able to text and use the internet and maybe make a few phone calls if needed.

[Reverse Entropy]

You may be able to use your current phone, but perhaps not. The key is whether the Verizon service means your phone supports the frequencies in use in Thailand : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mo ... n#Thailand

For some phones (and you'll need to check out the facts for your phone's capability), having Verizon means you don't have certain other frequency bands available.

IF you are compatible, then it's pretty simple to swap in a new SIM at any one of the mobile phone vendors. I expect Thailand is very similar to my experience in China. I chose a nice looking shop on a busy market street who advertised the carrier I wanted. I pulled a data-only plan bubble pack off a display rack, and the salesman had me configured and finished in 10 minutes.

I found that the data-only plan from carriers there was best for me. The ones including voice also had very high data charges. I decided I only needed text and web data for maps, email and my translator app.

[GuitarBilly]

I'd look into a VoIP app like Viber and use the hotel's wi-fi to send text and use the internet. Use wi-fi hot spots when you're out. That should be fine for 2-3 weeks.

[facefirst]

Thanks fellas!

[Reverse Entropy]

Some hotels charge rather a lot for internet access. Check TripAdvisor.com to see how that affects things. But yes, a video conf or VoIP app can certainly replace a mobile voice plan.