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How can I keep my T-Mobile number and find a good plan while in Thailand?

T-MobileThai SIM CardVOIP ServicesInternational CallingExpats in ThailandMobile Plans AbroadVisa and Immigration
Dec 21, 2020
4 years ago
Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone,

Im from the USA and have Tmobile as my phone carrier they only do non extended use abroad and will cancel my line after a while abroad. Does anyone know what i can do to keep my number and a good plan? i only need unlimited text and calling if possible.

Thanks in advance
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat from the USA is seeking advice on how to retain their T-Mobile number while abroad in Thailand, as T-Mobile has restrictions on using their services outside of the U.S. for extended periods. Comments from the community suggest multiple options including using Google Voice to port their number, utilizing T-Mobile's ability to remain active for up to 90 days, and considering a Thai SIM card for local calls and internet. Users share experiences and recommendations on mobile plans and alternatives to maintain communication.
Adrian ***************
You should notify them you are going abroad and your t-mobile data works in Thailand and a lot other countries
4 years ago
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Michael **********
I changed to Magic Jack and kept my old number from USA. Still have it after 5 years now
4 years ago
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Marguyvin **********
Google voice
4 years ago
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Tony ******
I have been a T-Mobile customer for about a decade. I have been splitting my time between Thailand and the US.

I use T-Mobile The Pay As You Go plan. It costs a minimum of $100 and that keeps your account valid for up to a year with automatic renewal every year.

When in Thailand, as I have been now for a year, I use a Thai sim for local phone and internet. To contact the US I use both the Line and Messenger apps for texting, phone and video calls.

Very easy and much cheaper than using a US carrier.

Hope this helps.
4 years ago
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David ****************
@Anthony *****
 That’s good to know, I’ve only been in Thailand for 30 days at a time so I’ve never had an issue with T-Mobile not covering me
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Anthony *****
 it’s sure does. Thank you for you time and advice
4 years ago
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Christian *********
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Daniel ********
I live in China. Then got stuck in Thailand. All the time I still retain my T-mobile number, which I got in Hawaii about 14 months ago. I don’t have the sim put in any phone. However, I do check messages with their online application “DIGITS”. You can call through the application too.
4 years ago
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Daniel ********
@Loma *****
 it’s the cheapest plan they have as I keep the number strictly for official purposes. I don’t ever use it to call abroad. There are too many internet applications that let you do that for free.
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daniel *******
 thanks for the info
4 years ago
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Christian *********
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Tony *******
I’ve been using tmobile abroad for years. Often times 6 months at a time. There has been no interruption of service.
4 years ago
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Todd *********
@Tony ******
 took a German company to bring effective communications to 🇺🇸
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ******
 can you please let me know what plan you have? Maybe a screenshot of it ?
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Tony ******
 interesting. I’ve used mine for those periods as well, except I think I may have always had a stop back in the U.S. for a day or two for various reasons. I thought that was why I had no problems. They say they only support 90 days. I do sometimes wonder if you’re changing countries, they can’t keep track as easily as well.
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
 I travelled a lot back and forth so I wasn’t worried but withthe pandemic and the quarantine In Thailand Im gonna hang outside here for a while (in asq right now day 4)
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Christian ********
 Would you mind staying in touch, via pm and let me know how it goes with T-Mobile? I’m not coming until the Fall (maybe earlier if I decide to break this one year lease I entered into when it looked like we weren’t going to be able to return). I will also be going for at least a year. I’ve been trying to figure this out too. Good luck with ASQ.
4 years ago
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Deborah **************
@Ruth ******
 first I have heard of this I'm also a t mobile customer for many years do lots of traveling and never gave any thought I had planned to stay at my condo when I retired and just did but cause of covid I'm waiting to go when this covid is calmed down borders open up...I hope soon...
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Deborah *************
 Oh yeah...I was traveling more than half the year before the pandemic and, in most of the world, free texting and data. Phone calls are $.25. Their website doesn’t give the time limit, actually. It simply says, “Not for extended international use; you must reside in the U.S. and primary usage must occur on our U.S. network.” However, when I asked them about it a month or so ago, they said 90 days. I do wonder if it only becomes a problem if sometime gets triggered with extensive use in one country though.
4 years ago
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Deborah **************
@Ruth ******
 this will be interesting cause I never planned on giving up my phone number and service I just thought if I paid my bill every month be no problem..still trying to figure out this visas in Thailand..my

place is in Pattaya I live in Arizona...since I was actively working full-time till Oct I have only been able to spend a week at a time...
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
 of course. I really want yo keep my number had it for 12 years now
4 years ago
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Christian *********
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
 yeah same for me
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Christian ********
 I do want to add that I think T-Mobile is absolutely awesome in that they allow this at all. No other service in the U.S. does and I have not heard of services from any other countries that have it either.
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
 yeah I use to have att when I first started travelling a lot and i paid around $200 per month. It was ridiculous my brother looked into T-Mobile and made the switch
4 years ago
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Christian *********
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ******
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ******
 what plan do you have ?
4 years ago
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Tony *******
@Christian ********
 T-Mobile one
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ******
 thank you 🙏 so much will look into it
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony ******
 this covers unlimited text calls in Thailand for more than 3 months ?
4 years ago
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Tony *******
@Christian ********
 yeah unlimited texts in 95% of countries. It may be within their rights to limit you after a certain amount of time but it’s never happened to me.
4 years ago
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Tony *******
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David ****************
I have T-Mobile and they carry me in Thailand, except they only have 2G connections now instead of 4G which is disappointing. But when I am in Thailand I do have a ASI hotspot that I use and run my mobile phones and computer
4 years ago
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Garrett ***********
@Da***
 why don't you just buy a Thai sim card? It's like $10 a month for unlimited 4g.
4 years ago
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David ****************
@Garrett **********
But I do carry two phones when I’m in Thailand, I could get a Sims card for one of them. But we use the application line to communicate with each other in Thailand so I really don’t need a local Sims card
4 years ago
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David ****************
@Garrett **********
 When I use that AIS, I’m still getting all of my texts, and business emails from the United States. Plus I still get T-Mobile service throughout Thailand
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 I have that just want yo keep my USA number
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Garrett **********
 he already said...he’s trying to keep his phone number. He wants to know if there’s a way to to use his U.S. phone number.
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ***************
 how long have you Been in Thailand ? Yeah I have a ais that switches to when I’m roaming so I only use text and kind when needs
4 years ago
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David ****************
@Christian ********
 I’m not there now I’m in the United States I’ve only been there for one month at a time the last eight years, I used to be with AT&T and they screwed me in international travel T-Mobile Was 4G service when I first started using it in Thailand but a few years ago they switched to 2G although I do get it throughout my whole stay.
4 years ago
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David ****************
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Ruth *******
How long will you be gone? T-Mobile will cover you for 90 days. I don’t think you can get a Thai service with a U.S. phone number. Meanwhile, Google voice is an excellent option. However, of course, that won’t work with WhatsApp, etc.
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
 till this pandemic is over. I’m thinking 1 year. I have a AIS SIM card that switches to it when I’m roaming
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Christian ********
 I’m glad you raised this question. It will be a problem I will face when I go as well.
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
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Garrett ***********
@Ru**
 What do you mean it won't work with whatsapp?
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Garrett **********
 I mean that you can’t use a Google voice phone number with WhatsApp. It needs to be a true cell phone number.
4 years ago
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Garrett ***********
@Ru**
 But he already has the phone number? Once you have whatsapp set as your phone number you never need to verify it again.
4 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Garrett **********
 But you still need a phone with that SIM in it to use whatsapp. Have you ever tried to use WhatsApp on another device? If your phone, with the SIM, is not close enough, it will not work.
4 years ago
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Garrett ***********
@Ru**
 You absolutely don't. My whatsapp is tied to a number I haven't had for years. I'm in Colombia now with a Colombian sim card and my whatsapp with a Thai # works.
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
 true because I once lost my phone I cancelled it and WhatsApp stopped working till I got a new sim
4 years ago
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Garrett ***********
@Chri*****
 Nah, if you pull your sim card out and just use your phone with wifi, whatsapp will work just fine. Been doing it for years.
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 thank you for you knowledge info. I forgot about that part.
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 that’s true too
4 years ago
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Christian *********
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Garrett ***********
Use a free VOIP service like Google voice or textnow. You can port your number to Google voice for free, not sure about textnow.
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 Google voice seems a little complicated but thank you for the advice. Much appreciated
4 years ago
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Garrett ***********
@Chri*****
 What's complicated?
4 years ago
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 using a app for calling another for texting
4 years ago
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Christian *********
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Christian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 thank you
4 years ago
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Christian *********
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