SMS messages from Philippines to UK

[South-east boy]

As things are quite tight money-wise with my Suzie (partly because of her Dad passing away recently) I'm wondering if there is any way that i can pay for her SMS messages from her mobile in Phils to mine in UK? Could I buy a certain amount of them or pay so much a month for just her messages to me here in the UK?

Thanks for any help!

[abby]

hi there,

better aske her to send you a roaming sim which would cost her 1 peso per text message.. All you got to do is buy a cheap fone for your roaming.. Thats what i did for my fiance cos it costs ne a lot to send him messages..

hope it helps....

[Jay&Zobel]

use www.chikka dot com

it's free when you send text messages from Chikka to her mobile and you can also use your paypal account to send her mobile credits.

[JimOttley]

As things are quite tight money-wise with my Suzie (partly because of her Dad passing away recently) I'm wondering if there is any way that i can pay for her SMS messages from her mobile in Phils to mine in UK? Could I buy a certain amount of them or pay so much a month for just her messages to me here in the UK?

Thanks for any help!

Globe Autoload and Smart eLoad can be bought here and loaded remotely to the Philippines phone.

I have used http://www.phonecards.moonfruit.com/ for many years now, occasionally a couple of hicups but generally they are very good, it's not cheap though, five pounds for 300 peso load.

Problem is she will still be paying 20 peso a text to txt you here. Also if you have a roaming Philippines SIM here you will be paying heavily to reply although she will get cheap txt to you.

If you have a laptop you can buy a Smart Plug n Talk device which will give you 1 peso txt in both directions, the major inconvenience being that you have to have your laptop open all the time.

http://filipinaroses.com/sh...ad.php?t=18482


Jim

[darren-b]

If you have a laptop you can buy a Smart Plug n Talk device which will give you 1 peso txt in both directions, the major inconvenience being that you have to have your laptop open all the time.


The way my wife does it is she normally leaves the sim in a spare mobile and uses chikka to send messages. She only used the smart device when the sim no longer roams (due to lack of credit), she wants to send load, or she has hit her limit on chikka.

[South-east boy]

If you have a laptop you can buy a Smart Plug n Talk device which will give you 1 peso txt in both directions, the major inconvenience being that you have to have your laptop open all the time.

http://filipinaroses.com/sh...ad.php?t=18482


Jim

I couldn't get the link above to work? Will try on my PC at home later.

I don't have a latop, but do have an iPhone with which the Internet works great on (& is what I'm writing this on now). Would it work on this as well as a laptop?

[darren-b]

I couldn't get the link above to work? Will try on my PC at home later.

I don't have a latop, but do have an iPhone with which the Internet works great on (& is what I'm writing this on now). Would it work on this as well as a laptop?

It won't work on a iphone (its a USB device) it will only work on window PCs (probably XP or later) with a USB port and a internet connection.

[Sim11UK]

Have a look at www.pinoycards.co.uk :)

The Globe or Smart Autoload.

[September]

send her money then ask her to buy txtwise card so cheap 5 pence or 5 pesos from PI to UK, that availble to SM store

[September]

use www.chikka dot com

it's free when you send text messages from Chikka to her mobile and you can also use your paypal account to send her mobile credits.

I hope you dont mind but when i used chikka that cost to my BF credit, chikka from PI isnt advisable to use I will go for abby advice ask her to buy sim from PI and registered it as roaming ask her to send it in UK and that was very very cheap peso or 1p:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[JimOttley]

I couldn't get the link above to work? Will try on my PC at home later.

I don't have a latop, but do have an iPhone with which the Internet works great on (& is what I'm writing this on now). Would it work on this as well as a laptop?

Sorry I copied it over a remote connection must have missed something.

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread.php?t=18482

darren-b is correct it will only work on a windows laptop or PC sorry.


Jim

[JimOttley]

Have a look at www.pinoycards.co.uk :)

The Globe or Smart Autoload.

Yep that's the same site as http://www.phonecards.moonfruit.com/ :)

They're ok.

Jim

[darren-b]

Yep that's the same site as http://www.phonecards.moonfruit.com/ :)

They're ok.

Jim

I use this company when loading up my wife's smart sim.

http://www.plugntalkload.com/

They are actually a bit cheaper - ~£4.34 ($7.19) instead of £5 for PHP300 load. They also sell smaller amounts.

[Tonet]

http://www.callingnow.co.uk/default.asp/p=1

That is a site where u can buy Philippines sim already roamed so she can send u text and she doesn't need to send it all the way from Philippines, credit for her sim so she can text u, smart plug n talk so u can send text to her for 1 peso only, or phone her from PC, there's also video guide in there of how u use it. hope it helps

[South-east boy]

Thanks for the help everyone! So if I get a cheap mobile for the roaming sim, can it be a UK mobile? And if so, does it have to be unlocked to all networks or can it be any network? Sorry, am a bit of a newb with all this stuff!

[darren-b]

Thanks for the help everyone! So if I get a cheap mobile for the roaming sim, can it be a UK mobile? And if so, does it have to be unlocked to all networks or can it be any network? Sorry, am a bit of a newb with all this stuff!

A UK mobile will be fine, but it has to be unlocked.

[JimOttley]

I use this company when loading up my wife's smart sim.

http://www.plugntalkload.com/

They are actually a bit cheaper - ~£4.34 ($7.19) instead of £5 for PHP300 load. They also sell smaller amounts.

That's good to know, just had a look and via Paypal they charge 4.52 for PHP300 load still better than the site I use.

I'll give it a try on payday and see how quick they are at loading the phone, I have remote online access to all our phone accounts which is what I really like about Smart.


Jim

[darren-b]

That's good to know, just had a look and via Paypal they charge 4.52 for PHP300 load still better than the site I use.

I'll give it a try on payday and see how quick they are at loading the phone, I have remote online access to all our phone accounts which is what I really like about Smart.


Jim

The first time they did request email confirmation which slowed it down, though since then they have been very quick.

[South-east boy]

Just bought an unlocked phone, and looking at the roaming sims-this one is a Smart one, but what does this mean?!: "P10 lang per text mula abroad to the Philippines"

[maria_and_matt]

Just bought an unlocked phone, and looking at the roaming sims-this one is a Smart one, but what does this mean?!: "P10 lang per text mula abroad to the Philippines"

10 pesos to text from here to the philippines :)

[South-east boy]

10 pesos to text from here to the philippines :)


Thanks, just not heard of lang or mula before! :icon_lol:

[maria_and_matt]

Thanks, just not heard of lang or mula before! :icon_lol:

:icon_lol:thats a pretty good deal, i am on globe and its 25pesos per text.. i am just using up my credit and i am switching to smart

[aposhark]

My wife uses Chikka text all the time to send texts to Phils, and also has a roaming sim card in an unlocked UK phone here in the UK for receiving too.

[darren-b]

My wife uses Chikka text all the time to send texts to Phils, and also has a roaming sim card in an unlocked UK phone here in the UK for receiving too.

My wife does the same. Plus she has a smart plug n talk device that lets her send messages for 1 or 2 pesos when she can't use Chikka, and allows her to send load much cheaper than Chikka.

[South-east boy]

:icon_lol:thats a pretty good deal, i am on globe and its 25pesos per text.. i am just using up my credit and i am switching to smart

The thing is, is that it isn't actually as cheap as 10 pesos per text, as for 200 pesos you'll get 20 texts, but the 200 load costs £10. If there are 70 pesos per pound, really if you're paying £10 you should get a 700 pesos load, so you can see how much money they'll make! So £10 for the 20 texts you'll get works out at 50p per text or around 35 pesos per text.

Edit!: That's with the sim card, with the loads it's:
P200 (doesn't say how long valid for) x3 -£10
P300 valid for 75 days -£4.80
P500 valid for 120 days -£7.50
P1000 valid for 120 days -£14

[South-east boy]

I don't know if I'm being thick, but I now have an unlocked phone and also now have the Smart sim card, but what is my phone no./where do I find it/how do I get one?!

[EdwardB]

I don't know if I'm being thick, but I now have an unlocked phone and also now have the Smart sim card, but what is my phone no./where do I find it/how do I get one?!

Nmber is top right of the reverse side of the Smart card that the actual sim presses out of. You need need to decipher the actual number slightly. Effectively you need the last 9 digits -preceded by +639

or google your phone model for the key sequence that will tell you your number - it varies by phone model.

Bad news is that the sim may need to have been activated for roaming in PI - but I forgot to do that last week & it is still worked in Hong Kong, China & now in UK.

[South-east boy]

Nmber is top right of the reverse side of the Smart card that the actual sim presses out of. You need need to decipher the actual number slightly. Effectively you need the last 9 digits -preceded by +639

or google your phone model for the key sequence that will tell you your number - it varies by phone model.

Bad news is that the sim may need to have been activated for roaming in PI - but I forgot to do that last week & it is still worked in Hong Kong, China & now in UK.

my phone number starts in 0921, so what no should she start with when sending me a message? Or will it work if I send her a message and she relies to it?

Edit: Actually, I think I've sussed it now as I think the '9' is the end part of the '639', so it's 0063, then the rest of my number after that. Annoyingly, everytime I send a text, the phone freezes/locks up and you can't do anthing but take the battery out, then start up the phone again! Then I find that the message hasn'r gone or been saved, so I have to type it all again, click send and it freezes all over again! Grgghh!

[Florge]

hmmm.. nice info....

i am currently using chikka to send text to my family in pinas... i ask them to answer me to my smart roaming... and once in a while to my chikka number (which costs 2.50 pesos for them)..

as for calling the landline/cellphone in pinas, i am hoping to use skype... anyone done that? is it good?

[EdwardB]

hmmm.. nice info....

as for calling the landline/cellphone in pinas, i am hoping to use skype... anyone done that? is it good?

My experience of using Skype for calls to RP from The UK is very poor. Landlines in Manila are OK about 50% of the time. Calls to mobiles are a waste of money. Expensive as well 14.1p + VAT per minute.

What is particularly frustrating is that calling the same numbers from Skype when I'm in Asia (usually HK or SG but even China) the call quality is perfect.

That said I also have one TalkTalk line & that isn't much better than Skype. It is clearly a routing issue with the calls going a strange path in order to get the cheapest rate for the telephone company.

The best calls I get to RP are Skype to Skype! Even conference calls are good.

[Steve.r]

Before I left Phil last week, I bought a cheapo mobile and a roaming sim, it came in a pack of 3 sims. One for here to receive sms, one for in Phil to make and receive sms, and one for my Mahal to send and receive sms. For her to sms me it is 1 pesco/sms, I think it is 20-25 for me so send, but I emd up using my Orange contract phone to sms her, at 17pence a shot (or that is what my last bill told me)
I am looking into a new contract for my mobile, and have been recommended a phone that has Skype installed, free to call anywhere in the world (i think) from the Uk. I was told by the salesman that you can buy a purely Skype phone for £30-40, which I could send to my Mahal, she could then sms me if she needs to talk, and I call back for free over Skype. Just an idea, I am looking at other options, I'll post up if I get more info on good deals.

Steve

[EdwardB]

Before I left Phil last week, I bought a cheapo mobile and a roaming sim, it came in a pack of 3 sims. One for here to receive sms, one for in Phil to make and receive sms, and one for my Mahal to send and receive sms. For her to sms me it is 1 pesco/sms, I think it is 20-25 for me so send, but I emd up using my Orange contract phone to sms her, at 17pence a shot (or that is what my last bill told me)
I am looking into a new contract for my mobile, and have been recommended a phone that has Skype installed, free to call anywhere in the world (i think) from the Uk. I was told by the salesman that you can buy a purely Skype phone for £30-40, which I could send to my Mahal, she could then sms me if she needs to talk, and I call back for free over Skype. Just an idea, I am looking at other options, I'll post up if I get more info on good deals.

Steve

If you bought the Smart Pinoy sim or equivalent it is only 1 peso or less for her to call you from RP - but replying directly from the UK using the same sim will be 20 pesos. You will need either to carry a dual sim phone (= rip off) or a separate phone dedicated solely to recieving txts from RP!! I can't remember where I leave one phone so two is a none runner!

There is a very attractive PAYG deal from Three that gives you unlimited Skype including voice calls - look at the terms. It also gives quite a lot of data so you can also access the internet. A txt is 3.7p to RP plus Vat - voice calls are whatever I posted previously. The sim works in several phones so if you have the right model all you need to pay for is the sim and basic top up package.

BUT you cannot send it to RP & expect it to work. Unless you are on contract in RP accessing a data package that will access Skype is a non runner. If you know what you are doing you could use one of the 3g data cards like SmartBro in a 3g phone but they are 10 pesos per half hour (used to be 15 until a few weeks ago, correct me if I'm wrong on the price drop)

Your best deal is she txts u on a Smart Pinoy or equivalent package & you rendezvous on Skype or other voip service. Alternative is to be permanently on one of the IM services, on your only mobile - the Three package also includes unlimited messaging use.

[joebloggs]

Before I left Phil last week, I bought a cheapo mobile and a roaming sim, it came in a pack of 3 sims. One for here to receive sms, one for in Phil to make and receive sms, and one for my Mahal to send and receive sms. For her to sms me it is 1 pesco/sms, I think it is 20-25 for me so send, but I emd up using my Orange contract phone to sms her, at 17pence a shot (or that is what my last bill told me)
I am looking into a new contract for my mobile, and have been recommended a phone that has Skype installed, free to call anywhere in the world (i think) from the Uk. I was told by the salesman that you can buy a purely Skype phone for £30-40, which I could send to my Mahal, she could then sms me if she needs to talk, and I call back for free over Skype. Just an idea, I am looking at other options, I'll post up if I get more info on good deals.

Steve

for many years i used http://www.chikka.com/to send sms to my misses mob from my pc at home and work for free :xxgrinning--00xx3:it must have saved me £100s if not £1000s over the years :rolleyes:

but get her to reply to your mob, not thru chikka as i think it would be more expensive :D

[Steve.r]

Edward, yes, the 3 deal was the network i was looking today. Because I also want broadband in the package, the Skype is available via the new mobile they would give me. The actual skype phone is an extra £30ish which I could send over to Phil for my gf. The 3 deal also gives unlimited calls to Singapore where my gf is going to be working for the next few months. If my facts are wrong, just correct me, the salesman was talking so quick, and I wasn't 100% concentrating as I was busy at work when he called. :)

[EdwardB]

Edward, yes, the 3 deal was the network i was looking today. Because I also want broadband in the package, the Skype is available via the new mobile they would give me. The actual skype phone is an extra £30ish which I could send over to Phil for my gf. The 3 deal also gives unlimited calls to Singapore where my gf is going to be working for the next few months. If my facts are wrong, just correct me, the salesman was talking so quick, and I wasn't 100% concentrating as I was busy at work when he called. :)

Let's split this in to a number of different sections.

1. Skype on mobiles. Skype software is now available for many mobile phones. Check your phone's compatibility on skype.com or your mobile network provider’s website. To use it you will either need a data package (3G) or Wi-Fi. As a general rule you will only be able to use the messaging plus send txts whilst you are on the 3G network. If you connect by WiFi you should get full Skype functionality. This information applies anywhere in the world.

2. Skype with 3 UK. 3 has a unique offering. They have special settings for a large variety of recent model handsets. If you subscribe to their service – including some pretty basic PAYG packages – you get full Skype functionality wherever you can get a 3G signal, which is most populated areas of the UK. BUT this is a UK only service you cannot get the same functionality overseas – effectively you just revert to the functionality above, and if you use roaming on your 3G sim you will probably be declared bankrupt by the time you get home.

Re your specific points

1. Free calls to Singapore. Make sure that it includes calls to mobiles. Or even more dodgy, check it doesn’t exclude calls to numbers with a certain number range – these are usually PAYG mobiles.

2. Calling/Txting from Singapore. Unless you take out a contract in Singapore getting a 3G data service is extortionate – far more expensive than in The UK. Data sim cards can be bought from Starhub. They can be activated on a daily or even hourly basis. They are expensive to use and maddeningly they only give data & txt functionality. If you want to make or receive telephone calls you either have to swap sims or carry two phones.

3. Wi-Fi in Singapore. This may be your answer. Most busy areas of Singapore have free public Wi-Fi – register for wireless@sg on SingTel’s website. That said it is pretty low bandwidth at most locations and struggles to hold a Skype call. You can always go in to a Starbucks where they usually have a very good free Wi-Fi service.

[SteveTalaga]

Since it is free to receive an SMS when you are roaming and only costs when you send one, why not use a roaming Smart or Globe SIM in a handset in the UK and give your lady a roaming UK SIM to use in the RP. She can text you on your Smart / Globe SIM for P1 and you can text her on her UK SIM for a similar amount of for free (depending on your package).

Exchange SIMs next time you see her or get someone from this forum who travels between UK / RP to transport the SIMs for you. I head back to Manila in January and would be happy to post a SIM on when I get there.