Prepaid SIM HK

[BlueAU]

Mal, NM, Sam might know the answer to this!

Wondering who/what SIM card to get in HKG as roaming is just too expensive for making calls.

Would love one with data but doesn't need to. Pref one that can SMS back to AUS !!

Anyone know?

 

[serfty]

How does 3½¢ per minute back to Oz landlines sound?

Or 32¢ per minute to Oz Mobiles?

Look here: Chine Mobile: IDD Talk Card

You can but a pre-paid SIM from 7-11 stores at HKG airport for HKD98 (~AUD14) - comes with HKD98 stored value.

 

[samh004]

You can but a pre-paid SIM from 7-11 stores at HKG airport for HKD98 (~AUD14) - comes with HKD98 stored value.

As Serfty notes, just go to a 7-11 and take your pick. You might have to ask at the counter which is best, as I'm not really sure anymore. My mum uses 3, which seems to be $28 a day for data.

Depends what sort of phone you have too I guess, do you need a 3G compatible SIM/ a good 3G network?

 

[BlueAU]

As Serfty notes, just go to a 7-11 and take your pick. You might have to ask at the counter which is best, as I'm not really sure anymore. My mum uses 3.

Depends what sort of phone you have too I guess, do you need a 3G compatible SIM/ a good 3G network?

Just need something with good value, whatever that translates to! I know coverage in HKG is much better than AUS 3G or no 3G doesn't matter to me.

 

[winfred]

If you are with Hutchison 3 in Aus, roaming in HK works the same as if you are in Aus. You get to use the same phone no and you don't pay when people call you.

 

[Mal]

Sorry, I can't really help with suggestions, but agree with the 7-11 idea. There is good mobile competition in the marketplace, and of course excellent coverage.

Someone here (can't remember who) discussed a global roaming sim card that they have some involvement with. Perhaps that is also an idea if it makes sense and you can find the thread.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I use 3 Mobile in HKG.

Have not done a major comparison but I seem to get lots of talk time for what pay. Line quality and coverage was excellent.

Agree 7/11 is a good source but with 3 you can walk into any 3 mobile shop and they'll do the top up process for you (not very hard but the extra service is nice).

In conujunction with the 3 sim I use a calling card for overseas - that was very cheap as well. Picked that up at 7/11.

 

[BlueAU]

Thanks everyone. I will have a look at airport when I arrive as I have some time up my sleeve. Hopefully they won't speak chinese to me Will report back what I get.

 

[NM]

I don't use a local sim. I make very good use of my IP softphones when travelling.

 

[edman]

Thanks everyone. I will have a look at airport when I arrive as I have some time up my sleeve. Hopefully they won't speak chinese to me Will report back what I get.

Please do as I will be there in Dec and require a card with the same features. Last few visits I had some form of "3" card that had a ton of credit on it for about $120 HKD, but no data from memory.

 

[drewbles]

I'm an engineer for a company that does global pre-paid SIM cards. If anyone's interested drop me a line i won't spam here. I also make no cash from this, just the satisfaction that fellow travellers are not being ripped off whilst travelling. It also offers a vastly cheaper way for people 'back home' to call you when you're os. Data is also available (although not cheaply. bloody networks rip us off for roaming data too).

 

[edman]

blueau, what did you end up doing re your sim? I just got back from HK and I got the People $99 sim, free calls back to Australia only pay for local airtime, which was 25c min/50c to mobiles, came with 600 free minutes. Not bad considering the cost of the card was less than $15 AUD. No data though.

I think there were better ones there but it was a late flight and I just wanted to get to the hotel.

 

[zzyss]

I only discovered this at the end of my recent trip unfortunately, but with data access, you can go into a mobile phone shop or 7-11 and get a PCCW wifi prepaid service. It's separate to your mobile calls SIM card - what happens is that you get a login, which you open from your mobile's Web browser. Coverage is virtually everywhere.

It's not like here in Aus, where the mobile and data are bundled and provided by the same usual suspects.

But for mobile phone, definitely just walk into a 7-11 and grab whatever SIM, they're all stupidly cheap anyway, compared to Australia.

 

[nlagalle]

If you are with Hutchison 3 in Aus, roaming in HK works the same as if you are in Aus. You get to use the same phone no and you don't pay when people call you.

I'll second that one.. 3 like home it's called. Worked a treat for me in HK a few weeks ago. called were billed under my cap too. only thing not included was MMS and data.. was awesome using my own number!

Three - Caps and Plans - 3 International

and click on 3 like home.

 

[edman]

I only discovered this at the end of my recent trip unfortunately, but with data access, you can go into a mobile phone shop or 7-11 and get a PCCW wifi prepaid service. It's separate to your mobile calls SIM card - what happens is that you get a login, which you open from your mobile's Web browser. Coverage is virtually everywhere.

I got offered this but didn't take it up, thinking that free wi-fi was still around everywhere - it wasn't. The Harbour City shopping centre next to my hotel used to have free internet terminals in the centre, not any more. Did manage 1 or 2 free wi-fi connections, just looked for the locals with laptops. Pacific Coffee still has free computers for its patrons and these were everywhere.

 

[zzyss]

I got offered this but didn't take it up, thinking that free wi-fi was still around everywhere - it wasn't. The Harbour City shopping centre next to my hotel used to have free internet terminals in the centre, not any more. Did manage 1 or 2 free wi-fi connections, just looked for the locals with laptops. Pacific Coffee still has free computers for its patrons and these were everywhere.

Yeah, I also thought that the city would be awash with free wifi, but I ended up hardly found any. There was some patchy coverage at Harbour City, some free government wifi-service near the row of shops on Nathan Road in front of Kowloon Park (never did figure out what that was), a PCCW stand at the airport, and the occasional franchise fast-food or coffee joint. But otherwise, nada.

 

[edman]

Yeah, I also thought that the city would be awash with free wifi, but I ended up hardly found any. There was some patchy coverage at Harbour City, some free government wifi-service near the row of shops on Nathan Road in front of Kowloon Park (never did figure out what that was), a PCCW stand at the airport, and the occasional franchise fast-food or coffee joint. But otherwise, nada.

I found Ocean Terminal in Harbour City had a good reliable service, and the number of young-uns with their netbooks there proved this!

Interestingly in HK, a number of their public phone boxes have Wifi service. I didn't test it out but apparently just pay as you would a phone call, provided by PCCW. Good concept.

The airport used to have free wifi throughout as well but it seems limited now, I was unable to get net access. Had to wait till I got to the Virgin Atlantic lounge.

 

[zzyss]

Interestingly in HK, a number of their public phone boxes have Wifi service. I didn't test it out but apparently just pay as you would a phone call, provided by PCCW. Good concept.

Oh is that what those were? I thought the wifi symbols were just general advertising 'coz I couldn't really see anything in there - just looked like an empty phone booth.

 

[BlueAU]

blueau, what did you end up doing re your sim? I just got back from HK and I got the People $99 sim, free calls back to Australia only pay for local airtime, which was 25c min/50c to mobiles, came with 600 free minutes. Not bad considering the cost of the card was less than $15 AUD. No data though.

I think there were better ones there but it was a late flight and I just wanted to get to the hotel.

edman, Actually didn't buy one in the end, I was always with someone with a phone, and also used my iPod and skype alot. I found alot of GOV access points, and just loaded skype on the ipod touch and off I went to make calls, but it seriously sucks the battery (max 1 hour call and the battery is kaput).

I footed up with a $150 AUD bill for 'roaming SMS' and some 'incoming' calls and a few 'outgoing'. My fault, really, but I needed the phone to be on, as I expected some fairly urgent calls.... which never eventuated

I now have a new blackberry 9700 with wifi (old one didn't), so next time I go overseas, it will make it so much easier to keep in touch with wifi. All blackberry data goes over wifi, nice and easy, as if I was on roaming data, but no roaming data charges

Also, people is cheap, but their coverage is so so indoors. CSL apparentally is the best (Telstra coverage equivalent) but of course more expensive. When I go back soon, I will get a CSL sim card prepaid and just use wifi for data on my blackberry. Seems the best way for short visits, otherwise I'd check out drewble's solution.