How can I use my phone in the Philippines once I arrive?

[JimRaynor 3]

Hi, I'm just wondering what some of you do to text and call in the Philippines once you arrive. I have a tracfone that requires a sim, but it's for US only. I'd like to be able to text and call once I arrive in the Philippines. What are my options?

Edited June 28, 2017 by JimRaynor

[JE57 239]

A couple of things you can do.....

1) Check if you phone is sim locked to a US network... If yes then your phone is essentially useless in the Philippines.  Most phones are SIM locked so I suspect you won't be using your TRACPHONE.    That leaves you with limited options.   My suggestion is check out this:  http://smart.com.ph/About/newsroom/press-releases/2016/04/12/visiting-the-philippines-smart-launches-golocal-pocket-wifi-rental-for-tourists

Pocket WiFi is not the same as having a local phone number but if you have Skype credit you can use that to make local calls.  

2) If your phone is SIM unlocked or you can get it SIM unlocked you can pick up a SIM card in the airport.  

-

 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

You have to see if you have a phone that is cdma or gsm, also if it is unlocked. If it is gsm and unlocked you can use it in the Philippines with a new SIM. If it isn't they have phones there for $25 at any mall or cell phone store.

[Hank_ 9,174]

10 hours ago, JimRaynor said:

Hi, I'm just wondering what some of you do to text and call in the Philippines once you arrive. I have a tracfone that requires a sim, but it's for US only. I'd like to be able to text and call once I arrive in the Philippines. What are my options?

At NAIA there is a vendor that sells SIMS and load, you can buy a Globe sim and load, if you phone accepts the sim you are golden, if not you will need to buy a phone.  You can get a decent phone for $100 or pay less for something like the MyPhone, most all are dual sim.

 

Dual sim allows you to have a Globe sim for texting/call  and a SMART sim for data (they usually have the better plans)

 

My personal phone when in the Phils in the OPPO.. they are great phones, you can get on for less than $100 or over $1000. 

 

I like my phone to have the HOT SPOT option then I can use it for wifi with my laptop.   

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

7 hours ago, Hank_ said:

At NAIA there is a vendor that sells SIMS and load, you can buy a Globe sim and load, if you phone accepts the sim you are golden, if not you will need to buy a phone.  You can get a decent phone for $100 or pay less for something like the MyPhone, most all are dual sim.

 

Dual sim allows you to have a Globe sim for texting/call  and a SMART sim for data (they usually have the better plans)

 

My personal phone when in the Phils in the OPPO.. they are great phones, you can get on for less than $100 or over $1000. 

 

I like my phone to have the HOT SPOT option then I can use it for wifi with my laptop.   

$100 for a phone? Dang Hank you must shelling out big bucks for a phone. I have found some dual sim phones for $25-50 before in the malls.

[drjlreedjr 0]

20 hours ago, JimRaynor said:

Hi, I'm just wondering what some of you do to text and call in the Philippines once you arrive. I have a tracfone that requires a sim, but it's for US only. I'd like to be able to text and call once I arrive in the Philippines. What are my options?

You can buy a cheap fone there for around $10 and a sim. At practically any place (7/11, mom & pop stores, etc.) you can purchase 'load', as it's called but for international calling you would request idd.

Which stands for: international direct dial. Your purchase amount to add to your sim can be any amount you choose plus the service fee for loading. Alot of consumer purchasing ability has been 'lessoned', as it were, in order to include those with a lesser purchasing dollars, or pesos, in thr case of Filipinos.

[Stevephoto 230]

I simply went to my service provider (AT&T at the time) and bought a temporary international phone//text plan, but that was 4 and 5 years ago. (Just checked with Joan--we did the same thing with Sprint last year). Now there are so many "internet" based telecommunication options (VOIP, Whatsapp, etc.) that it might not even be necessary to buy a temporary plan--of course you would need reliable internet (an oxymoron in the Philippines)--so perhaps the cheap phone/sim/load is the way to go.

[RO_AH 1,659]

I think the OP is asking about when he first lands. Here in Hawaii we have a large Filipino community so we can buy a Philippines SIM here and take it with us. Last I checked you can also buy them on eBay, or maybe Amazon if you check.You do need to have an unlocked phone though which you could also buy easily online.

 

But now I have T-Mobile which has free international data roaming and free international texting included with their plans.You only need to pay roaming charges for calls. I sent my girlfriend a T-Mobile phone which I paid $20/mo. for service that she used for over a year before they finally sent me a cancellation notice that their service was considered roaming and it had been in the Philippines for over a year. Man was she bummed.

[Hank_ 9,174]

5 hours ago, cyberfx1024 said:

$100 for a phone? Dang Hank you must shelling out big bucks for a phone. I have found some dual sim phones for $25-50 before in the malls.

Hey now I said DECENT... and I did mention the MyPhone which are next to free.. in fact I did get one of those for free   

 

... I don't buy throw-a-ways as we are here in the Phils regularly. 

 

 

I see a phone in this list for $20   http://www.lazada.com.ph/shop-mobiles/?spm=a2o4l.category-010000000000.0.0.PF0SBP

 

 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

15 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Hey now I said DECENT... and I did mention the MyPhone which are next to free.. in fact I did get one of those for free   

 

... I don't buy throw-a-ways as we are here in the Phils regularly. 

 

 

I see a phone in this list for $20   http://www.lazada.com.ph/shop-mobiles/?spm=a2o4l.category-010000000000.0.0.PF0SBP

 

 

I told you those phones are cheap and pretty decent for 1000 pesos. But usually when I go there I want to escape so the 500 peso phones would work for me.

[RO_AH 1,659]

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

Hey now I said DECENT... and I did mention the MyPhone which are next to free.. in fact I did get one of those for free   

 

... I don't buy throw-a-ways as we are here in the Phils regularly. 

 

 

I see a phone in this list for $20   http://www.lazada.com.ph/shop-mobiles/?spm=a2o4l.category-010000000000.0.0.PF0SBP

 

 

I <3 Lazada. They probably love me too with how much I have spent there lol.

[Hank_ 9,174]

44 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

I <3 Lazada. They probably love me too with how much I have spent there lol.

I just had two more packages delivered this morning ... Lazada has not failed me once over the years.  

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

9 hours ago, Hank_ said:

I just had two more packages delivered this morning ... Lazada has not failed me once over the years.  

I have never heard about them before but thanks. I will definitely be buying some phones in here for family members. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 minute ago, cyberfx1024 said:

I have never heard about them before but thanks. I will definitely be buying some phones in here for family members. 

They are the Amazon of Asia.

 

BTW .. Lazada is not always the cheapest, especially with phones.  I bought my phones at the mall

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Just now, Hank_ said:

They are the Amazon of Asia.

 

BTW .. Lazada is not always the cheapest, especially with phones.  I bought my phones at the mall

Ok thank you for that though. My wife likes to buy her immediate family members smart phones occasionally so this will help.