[mander]

I just moved here and have been reading through the posts to find out how to go about getting a mobile phone with a good rate/plan for calls to the US. I'm confused by the process. Is there a particular area to shop for mobile phones and packages or do I need to call the mobile companies? Also, can anyone recommend what carrier has the best coverage for calls to the US?

Thanks.

[Asian1]

Originally Posted by mander

I just moved here and have been reading through the posts to find out how to go about getting a mobile phone with a good rate/plan for calls to the US. I'm confused by the process. Is there a particular area to shop for mobile phones and packages or do I need to call the mobile companies? Also, can anyone recommend what carrier has the best coverage for calls to the US?

Thanks.

If you brought a tri-mode phone just get a new SIM card. Mobiles are the most discussed topic on this board (except for sex) so search the threads. Generally the place to go is MongKok. They have cash prices v credit card prices. You can negotiate. Bring a local friend if you have one.

[lowlight]

Calling TO the US FROM HK, it doesn't matter if you have a tri-band phone. If your phone works in HK, you can get a SIM card for it with good outgoing rate.

Currently the best SIM card with IDD is the Peoples' Stored Value IDD & Roaming SIM Card. This gives you a rate of $0.25 HKD per minute to call several countries, including the US. It also is a roaming card. The downside is, local calls are also $0.25 per minute, which is expensive for local. I use this as my long distance SIM card, and a Sunday plan for local calling (Sunday's IDD rates are ridiculous compared to this).

[Asian1]

Originally Posted by lowlight

Calling TO the US FROM HK, it doesn't matter if you have a tri-band phone. If your phone works in HK, you can get a SIM card for it with good outgoing rate.

Currently the best SIM card with IDD is the Peoples' Stored Value IDD & Roaming SIM Card. This gives you a rate of $0.25 HKD per minute to call several countries, including the US. It also is a roaming card. The downside is, local calls are also $0.25 per minute, which is expensive for local. I use this as my long distance SIM card, and a Sunday plan for local calling (Sunday's IDD rates are ridiculous compared to this).

Most US phones are not tri-band.

[lowlight]

Then they need a phone too. But that's beside the point. The phone is irrelevant in their case. They want a SIM card with good IDD rates, and that's what I told. If they need a new phone, they need a new phone. That won't affect the IDD rate.

[calijc]

Three has an IDD plan for 38HKD flat to the US. Just get a basic plan with at leat 550 minutes and pay the IDD for unlimited calls to the US. They only take up your minutes, no extra charge.

[mander]

Thanks for the help. Have a local coworker who has offered to take use to Mong Kok. Will look at phones there.

[Asian1]

Originally Posted by lowlight

Then they need a phone too. But that's beside the point. The phone is irrelevant in their case. They want a SIM card with good IDD rates, and that's what I told. If they need a new phone, they need a new phone. That won't affect the IDD rate.

W/o a handset they cant call so better to start with first principals....

[Fennius]

Hey Mander, what provider did you end up getting and how did it work out? I am going to be looking for the same kinda deal in about 4-6 weeks. Looking for a cell phone that has good service and reasonable rates to call the US. From just looking around here, Three looks like it has a good deal with the 38 HKD flat rate for calls to the US.

[discobay]

I am assuming you mean HKD38/month. If that is so then from memory and picking just one provider PCCW's 0060 service costs HKD0.17/minute. So unless you expect to use over 220 minutes of calls each month then 0060 (amongst others) seems to be a better deal. Remember ofcourse that mobile air time is not included.