Use of sim cards in Asia, data on sim cards, cost per minute, etc., etc.
Our host in Hanoi has an accent when speaking English, They pronounce most words wrong, so half they say is not understood. We have spent 3 days talking about sim cards for my phone for which I have a local number. Now back to being 100% lost on how to buy a sim card.
There is a Google language translator that we will use when visiting rural areas. We were told point blank that internet was needed for these applications. Now today they say no sim card needed for the application.
We need to make 8 phone calls to USA, one per day, length of calls 2-3 minutes. Locally the only calls will be too and from the host.
They speak of GB data. This sounds like internet.
Others on Trip Adviser speak of "data."
What is the cost per minute to call USA from here, and how many minutes to make domestic calls here is on a sim card of "unknown" content?
They say $10 buys a sim card. But no one from them to the phone shop owner can tell me what the h - - - can I do with a $10 sim card? Just use it and have zero idea when it will stop working because the minutes are used up. At least in USA when you buy a phone card you know what you get with it, number of minutes and cost per minute.
If data is only for phone calls then they have been telling me wrong for 3 days. Please only comment here if you live in Asia and / or have used a sim card in Vietnam or other nearby country.
There is a Google language translator that we will use when visiting rural areas. We were told point blank that internet was needed for these applications. Now today they say no sim card needed for the application.
We need to make 8 phone calls to USA, one per day, length of calls 2-3 minutes. Locally the only calls will be too and from the host.
They speak of GB data. This sounds like internet.
Others on Trip Adviser speak of "data."
What is the cost per minute to call USA from here, and how many minutes to make domestic calls here is on a sim card of "unknown" content?
They say $10 buys a sim card. But no one from them to the phone shop owner can tell me what the h - - - can I do with a $10 sim card? Just use it and have zero idea when it will stop working because the minutes are used up. At least in USA when you buy a phone card you know what you get with it, number of minutes and cost per minute.
If data is only for phone calls then they have been telling me wrong for 3 days. Please only comment here if you live in Asia and / or have used a sim card in Vietnam or other nearby country.
Jackie Man
What is the application? An VoIP app?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
You can look at the numbers here:
http://3g.vinaphone.com.vn/index.php/mobile-internet/goi-cuoc-mobile-internet
http://www.vietnamobile.com.vn/layout1.php?pdid=53
http://www.vietnamobile.com.vn/layout1.php?pdid=94
You may chat online in english here, I did for 5min, everything is limited at fixed data max. 3GB for this operator and fixed calls depending by the prepaid credit:
https://vietteltelecom.vn/di-dong/goi-cuoc-3g
http://3g.vinaphone.com.vn/index.php/mobile-internet/goi-cuoc-mobile-internet
http://www.vietnamobile.com.vn/layout1.php?pdid=53
http://www.vietnamobile.com.vn/layout1.php?pdid=94
You may chat online in english here, I did for 5min, everything is limited at fixed data max. 3GB for this operator and fixed calls depending by the prepaid credit:
https://vietteltelecom.vn/di-dong/goi-cuoc-3g
ASKER
It was also said that we needed to bring an unlocked phone, so we did. We have a local phone number. if we go to another place like Thailand then we will have some process and fee to unlock the phone to get a Thailand number?
As far as application the one we have is a Google English - Vietnamese interpreter and another one that is voice active so you can speak or hear the interpretation. The confusion is whether we actually use the internet or not when using these apps. We were told earlier that for making one call to USA each day for a week, and each call only 3 minutes, and then only local calls and if we want internet then $25 USD. We can not visualize in our mind what we can do with that it or how much data is used for each minute of each call be it local or international. The sole purpose of the phone was to get an interpreter to use in the rural areas. Online interpreter not a person. And the phone on one charge may last an hour = not sure. We find that even here in the city the English is way lower than we expected. Far less than Indonesia, Thailand, Ceylon, and Philippines. So, with such language barriers in the city we will encounter serious language barriers in the rural areas. Also a local who has lived here many years (originally from Europe) says un-registered sim cards are now illegal in Vietnam and you may get one and it be cut off. The one phone shop we went to said we did not need a passport to get a sim card when the new rules are you do need a passport. We were already aware of the 3 main carriers mentioned by Viki. Even with our host we have to struggle speaking (both persons) or write down what you want to say on paper and it is nearly 100% understood then.
As far as application the one we have is a Google English - Vietnamese interpreter and another one that is voice active so you can speak or hear the interpretation. The confusion is whether we actually use the internet or not when using these apps. We were told earlier that for making one call to USA each day for a week, and each call only 3 minutes, and then only local calls and if we want internet then $25 USD. We can not visualize in our mind what we can do with that it or how much data is used for each minute of each call be it local or international. The sole purpose of the phone was to get an interpreter to use in the rural areas. Online interpreter not a person. And the phone on one charge may last an hour = not sure. We find that even here in the city the English is way lower than we expected. Far less than Indonesia, Thailand, Ceylon, and Philippines. So, with such language barriers in the city we will encounter serious language barriers in the rural areas. Also a local who has lived here many years (originally from Europe) says un-registered sim cards are now illegal in Vietnam and you may get one and it be cut off. The one phone shop we went to said we did not need a passport to get a sim card when the new rules are you do need a passport. We were already aware of the 3 main carriers mentioned by Viki. Even with our host we have to struggle speaking (both persons) or write down what you want to say on paper and it is nearly 100% understood then.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
For Google Translator app, you do not need Internet access if you have selected the option of offline translation when you setup the app.
http://www.eweek.com/android/googles-latest-android-language-translator-app-works-offline
Can you send me the link of the above app "voice active"?
Phone call shall not consume data unless that it is VoIP app.
http://www.eweek.com/android/googles-latest-android-language-translator-app-works-offline
and another one that is voice active
Can you send me the link of the above app "voice active"?
They speak of GB data. This sounds like internet.
Phone call shall not consume data unless that it is VoIP app.
ASKER
I'll try to get the voice google app soon.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
-