Mobile Phone Questions

[TFNG]

All,

I would like to buy a cheap, pre-paid mobile phone for the first month or two I am in SG. After the second month, purchase a new phone (and phone number)and a post-paid plan.

My plan is to keep the pre-paid cheap phone for when friends and family visit. I do realize I may loose credits and may even have to purchase a top-up card to keep the number.

My questions are:

1) Where to go to get a cheap pre-paid voice (no need for a data plan) SIM?

2) What would the cost be (approx.)?

3) I understanding in SG with pre-paid phones, it is the SIM that is pre-paid and I can transfer the SIM between phones. When you buy a pre-paid SIM, you are just buying the SIM itself. I will still need to buy a handset. Is this correct?

Any and all comments/advice is greatly appreciated.

[zzm9980]

1) Almost any mobile phone store will sell these. You can't walk 100m without seeing one or two. You can even buy one from the currency exchange right after customs at Changi.

2) I just bought a pre-paid M1 (a carrier) card for my in law for $18. That goes quite far for local calls. Not far at all for intl calls. there might be cheaper, but the shop I walked into only had M1.

3) Correct. A handset that is not carrier locked, too. (Important if you're bringing over an old phone from most countries that was on contract). The same shop I bought that $18 pre-paid card at was selling some cheapo new Samsung for $28.

Be aware you cannot purchase a post-paid plan unless you are a citizen, PR, or have a valid work permit. Also be aware you need your passport to purchase a pre-paid SIM, and they do report it. That sometimes libertarians' panties in a bunch.

[JR8]

Also be aware you need your passport to purchase a pre-paid SIM, and they do report it. That sometimes libertarians' panties in a bunch.

They do in Indo and Malaysia too. Hell it wouldn't surprise me if you have to give some proof of ID in most countries.

Can't have people using untraceable phone numbers can we? Everything is monitored these days...

[Strong Eagle]

Also be aware you need your passport to purchase a pre-paid SIM, and they do report it. That sometimes libertarians' panties in a bunch.

They do in Indo and Malaysia too. Hell it wouldn't surprise me if you have to give some proof of ID in most countries.

Can't have people using untraceable phone numbers can we? Everything is monitored these days...

I'm OK with this... privacy is not absolute... especially when it comes to terrorists using anonymous communications.

[JR8]

Also be aware you need your passport to purchase a pre-paid SIM, and they do report it. That sometimes libertarians' panties in a bunch.

They do in Indo and Malaysia too. Hell it wouldn't surprise me if you have to give some proof of ID in most countries.

Can't have people using untraceable phone numbers can we? Everything is monitored these days...

I'm OK with this... privacy is not absolute... especially when it comes to terrorists using anonymous communications.

I didn't say I wasn't. Just I think people should be aware of the scale of how their lives are tracked/monitored/recorded/followed.

SMRT cards anybody? ('Do make sure you register yours for free for a chance to win a free 10c curry-puff voucher!')

[zzm9980]

Also be aware you need your passport to purchase a pre-paid SIM, and they do report it. That sometimes libertarians' panties in a bunch.

They do in Indo and Malaysia too. Hell it wouldn't surprise me if you have to give some proof of ID in most countries.

Can't have people using untraceable phone numbers can we? Everything is monitored these days...

I'm OK with this... privacy is not absolute... especially when it comes to terrorists using anonymous communications.

Well, I know in Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the US they don't... And I'm OK with it too, just more than a few people I know from the US who have been surprised and gotten 1984-paranoid about it.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Also be aware you need your passport to purchase a pre-paid SIM, and they do report it. That sometimes libertarians' panties in a bunch.

They do in Indo and Malaysia too. Hell it wouldn't surprise me if you have to give some proof of ID in most countries.

Can't have people using untraceable phone numbers can we? Everything is monitored these days...

I'm OK with this... privacy is not absolute... especially when it comes to terrorists using anonymous communications.

My Mom complains that Democrats use anonymous communications as well when soliciting for phone contributions in the US. Of course, they're terrorists in a manner of speaking. Sorry, SE, just couldn't resist. I'm undergoing withdrawal pains as my modem/router died at home and I don't have any Internet access from 6 PM to 8 am at the moment!

[the lynx]

Also be aware you need your passport to purchase a pre-paid SIM, and they do report it. That sometimes libertarians' panties in a bunch.

They do in Indo and Malaysia too. Hell it wouldn't surprise me if you have to give some proof of ID in most countries.

Can't have people using untraceable phone numbers can we? Everything is monitored these days...

I'm OK with this... privacy is not absolute... especially when it comes to terrorists using anonymous communications.

I actually agree with SE on this, although for less-patriotic reasons. Puts off phone stalkers trying to cover their identity using SIM cards purchased anonymously...

[aster]

Most encroachments on privacy are made under the guise of terrorism, which is the most over-used and exaggerated excuse out there.

Many people choose to register their prepay phones even in countries where they don't have to (myself included), simply because if they happen to lose their phone/SIM then they want to be able to reclaim their number.

[zzm9980]

Most encroachments on privacy are made under the guise of terrorism, which is the most over-used and exaggerated excuse out there.

If you don't agree with the rational obviously you're one of *them*.

[JR8]

If you don't agree with the rational obviously you're one of *them*.

In the UK not so long ago, maybe 5-7 years they appended (sneaked in) broad anti-terror legislation onto some other government bill, 'for our own protection', and only to be used in the most 'extreme circumstances of national security'.

Within 2-3 years even local councils were using it to phone-tap households suspected of causing dog fouling.

[zzm9980]

If you don't agree with the rational obviously you're one of *them*.

In the UK not so long ago, maybe 5-7 years they appended (sneaked in) broad anti-terror legislation onto some other government bill, 'for our own protection', and only to be used in the most 'extreme circumstances of national security'.

Within 2-3 years even local councils were using it to phone-tap households suspected of causing dog fouling.

In the US they'd only use it against you if you were Muslim or Arab. I don't know if that's better or worse.