Current Philippines SIM strategy

[albatross710]

For new travellers heading into Philippines here is my SOP:

Upon arrival at International ports there are booths from two local networks offering "free" sim. They are free provided you pay for P300 ($8) phone credit. Suggestion is to buy the credit as 3 x P100 recharge cards and load one recharge.

Philippines Airlines also hands out free Globe SIM on-board incoming flights from Australia. Always accept one of these.

My experience is with Globe SIM & network. The booth attendant can load your credit.

If you want to load the pre-paid card yourself, insert SIM.

Before you start turn off your Data (otherwise they will start stealing your credit immediately)

Then dial *143# Send. Follow the menu to load the card.

Once you have P100 loaded, send a text GOTSCOMBODD90 to 8888. Cosy will be P90 (~$2.30)

You will receive a confirmation text that you "have created your own promo"

The GOTSCOMBODD90 promo provides 2GB data and unlimited Text over 7 days. There are other plans.

When you are in country, turn off data when you are not using it. If you need extra data, just load another promo.

At the end of the 7 day period, the plan expires and you just load another P100 recharge and sent the GOTSCOMBODD90.

If you leave credit loaded on your phone and your promo expires while you are sleeping.,you will not respond to the text and by the time you wake up the provider will have "stolen" your credit just from your smart phone's idle usage.

When you are in country it is easy to obtain phone credit by buying transfer from most "Sari Sari" stores, from friends, from 7-11.

Any credit on a SIM will expire if not used in 30 days. cannot leave credit on phone if you wil be out of country for more than 30 days.

When you leave the country, transfer any remaining phone credit to a local. if there globe number is 0917 xx_ xx_x to transfer credit you send a text to 2917xx_ xx_x. n the text body just include the amount in peso ie 50.

Retain SIM for next visit. An unused SIM will expire after 6 months of non-use.

As I travel there regularly, each time I leave the country I buy a P100 SIM which I reload upon landing.

For recharging via credit card I have started using Ding.com. I does work although they give a poor exchange rate which defeats their "no fee" claim.

Enjoy

Alby

 

[PLANT]

Does anyone have a recommendation for the best mobile plan/sim in Australia to make calls to Philippines?
Not Viber, Facebook or messenger data but actual phone calls?

 

[albatross710]

Does anyone have a recommendation for the best mobile plan/sim in Australia to make calls to Philippines?
Not Viber, Facebook or messenger dates but actual phone calls?

I was about to sign up to a basic plan on Belong. A $5 upgrade on any of their plans gives unlimited international calls. Details here : Mobile data SIM plans | Belong mobile

When I say "about" I didn't proceed. As at time of posting they do not have an international roaming option which would mean I can't use the number to receive calls and text when I'm actually in Philippines. My in-country strategy is that I have a spare phone into which I transfer my Au SIM. That number I use to continue receiving texts and calls.

I have also previously used Skype out for making calls. Interesting if sending texts the Skype sender will be my registered number. Whwn making a voice call, the Caller ID number changes seemingly randomly. Skype support says it is to do with the Ph carriers.

Cheers