Bangkok Data

So you're visiting Bangkok for a while and want to bring your Android, iCrap and you obviously want a short-term data service in Bangkok. There's good news and there's bad news. The bad news first: The 3G coverage in Bangkok is appalling. Even if you DO manage to find a 3G service sim card you'll probably be disappointed (**According to forum posts. I haven't had the opportunity to try 3G myself). The good news? There's GPRS/EDGE, the coverage is decent, and the speeds are tolerable! Don't expect to be on all the time and tether to your group of 20 friends but whenever you'll need to look up a google map or some info on the browser, it will come through. The data plan I got when I was there recently (March/2011) was from this company called AIS. You buy a sim costing 50 Baht and then for 200 Baht they had a promotion that gives you 20 hours of data usage. At first I thought it was little but turns out that 20 hours lasted me for the entire week with hours to spare. You can't leave your phone data on all the time obviously. You have to manually switch data on and off whenever you need it but if you have the powerbar widget on Android that is literally a breeze. You can buy the SIM card at the ** shop in Emporium (Phrom Pong) or Central World (Siam). The only catch is that if you want another 20 hours a 100 Baht refill card from the convenience store will only give you 15 minutes of internet time so if you want another 20 hours you'll have to go back to their shop I think (unconfirmed). I am of course in no way affiliated with AIS and there might well be better alternatives out there so do your research before you buy. There is at least one more company DTAC that offers similar services. `

Enjoy Bangkok. By the way if it's your first time there check out BangkokScams.com.