mobile phones in india

Oli179844 · Apr 26th, 2003, 18:30

Thought you guys would be the best to ask ... if I take an unlocked mobile phone to India and buy a pre-paid sim card locally (I've heard they're only Rs200 - 300) am I ready to call just like that?! Do you automatically get an Indian number with the card? Technology always confuses me!

Apr 27th, 2003, 08:48

yes, you automatically get an indian number assigned...

Amit · May 15th, 2003, 14:27

ya...but dont forget to whisper abracadabra before switching it on! open seasame is also reputed to work just as well! and calls in india can be cheap compared to uk...

Alan D · May 15th, 2003, 17:31

Amit, don't they also work better if you shout into them very loudly?

Amit · May 16th, 2003, 11:30

One does get that impression!! Especially in Delhi, where for some reason they seem to think exactly that!! The smaller the phone the louder you shout!! tis not that bad in Mumbai, except in the local trains, but then thatz probably understandable! It is also true that as a Bombayite i am also slightly biased!! ;-)

RCrenshaw · Aug 16th, 2003, 20:04

I'm set with an unlocked GSM phone, and have to travel between Chennai and Delhi on a regular basis. I'm planning on purchasing two SIM cards and swapping them out from location to location to attempt to cutdown on roaming charges. Is there a better solution out there?

Thanks!

- B

Inity & Iditation · Aug 17th, 2003, 08:12

Hi, where can you buy these SIM chips, in say Delhi?? only at cell-phone stores?

what are the names of service providers there?

RCrenshaw · Aug 17th, 2003, 09:41

I purchased my card at the place I purchased my phone. Card was for the carrier named AirTel. I also saw a carrier named Hutch that was selling them for comparable prices.

Only been in country for a few days, so not real sure on the address of the complex I purchased it at, but believe it was at:

M-39, Main Market, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi - 110 048

-- B

edwardseco · Aug 17th, 2003, 12:15

My people swear by Airtel and try out SMS while you are there. Its amazing in India and my neice communicates daily by that. You can get guide books on it..

pooch · Aug 17th, 2003, 14:36

If you are landing in Chennai or Delhi just get yourself a Hutch prepaid card. It's reliable. Yeah Airtel's got great service too but right now Hutch has great offers like 200 SMS free, calls to any 3 local numbers (mobile or otherwise) absolutely free etc. Hutch or Airtel are not as cheap as a few other service providers but you will be disappointed and frustrated with those cheaper ones, coverage and quality of reception pretty poor and you will need those magic mantras.

bassology · Oct 24th, 2003, 10:08

Hi, I was wondering whether a normal dual-band mobile phone will work with an Indian sim-card or wether it would have to be a triple band as required e.g. fo the US? Thanks a lot!

pooch · Oct 24th, 2003, 11:32

Dual band will do.

bassology · Oct 24th, 2003, 12:03

Julls, thanks! Any tips on where best to buy a prepaid sim-card in Bangalore? How about contracts, are they available for foreigners and are they considerably cheaper in the long run? Thanks! B.

pooch · Oct 24th, 2003, 12:22

Walk into any Hutch shop as they are known. There is one on Brigade Road, don't worry you will be making a trip there in your first day or the next out of necessity or just call 9886098860, someone from Hutch will come to where you are. Contracts do work out cheaper in the long run, you would need some proof of address in India to get one though. Airtel is a good service provider too but you have to bear with the crowds each time you walk in to their outlets.

bassology · Oct 24th, 2003, 12:51

Julls, thanks again!

Apr 26th, 2003, 18:30	#1
Oli179844 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: UK / India Posts: 11	mobile phones in india Thought you guys would be the best to ask ... if I take an unlocked mobile phone to India and buy a pre-paid sim card locally (I've heard they're only Rs200 - 300) am I ready to call just like that?! Do you automatically get an Indian number with the card? Technology always confuses me!

Aug 16th, 2003, 20:04	#6
RCrenshaw Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: USA -- Expat to India Posts: 4	Further question... I'm set with an unlocked GSM phone, and have to travel between Chennai and Delhi on a regular basis. I'm planning on purchasing two SIM cards and swapping them out from location to location to attempt to cutdown on roaming charges. Is there a better solution out there? Thanks! - B

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Apr 27th, 2003, 08:48	#2
archits Posts: n/a	yes, you automatically get an indian number assigned...

May 15th, 2003, 14:27	#3
Amit Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mumbai Posts: 112	ya...but dont forget to whisper abracadabra before switching it on! open seasame is also reputed to work just as well! and calls in india can be cheap compared to uk...

May 15th, 2003, 17:31	#4
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	Amit, don't they also work better if you shout into them very loudly?

May 16th, 2003, 11:30	#5
Amit Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mumbai Posts: 112	One does get that impression!! Especially in Delhi, where for some reason they seem to think exactly that!! The smaller the phone the louder you shout!! tis not that bad in Mumbai, except in the local trains, but then thatz probably understandable! It is also true that as a Bombayite i am also slightly biased!! ;-)

Aug 17th, 2003, 08:12	#7
Inity & Iditation see yourself in others. then who can you harm? Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pure Veg Dhaba Posts: 69	Hi, where can you buy these SIM chips, in say Delhi?? only at cell-phone stores? what are the names of service providers there?

Aug 17th, 2003, 09:41	#8
RCrenshaw Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: USA -- Expat to India Posts: 4	I purchased my card at the place I purchased my phone. Card was for the carrier named AirTel. I also saw a carrier named Hutch that was selling them for comparable prices. Only been in country for a few days, so not real sure on the address of the complex I purchased it at, but believe it was at: M-39, Main Market, Greater Kailash-I, New Delhi - 110 048 -- B

Aug 17th, 2003, 12:15	#9
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,910	My people swear by Airtel and try out SMS while you are there. Its amazing in India and my neice communicates daily by that. You can get guide books on it..

Aug 17th, 2003, 14:36	#10
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	If you are landing in Chennai or Delhi just get yourself a Hutch prepaid card. It's reliable. Yeah Airtel's got great service too but right now Hutch has great offers like 200 SMS free, calls to any 3 local numbers (mobile or otherwise) absolutely free etc. Hutch or Airtel are not as cheap as a few other service providers but you will be disappointed and frustrated with those cheaper ones, coverage and quality of reception pretty poor and you will need those magic mantras.

Oct 24th, 2003, 10:08	#11
bassology Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Taiwan > Bangalore Posts: 8	Hi, I was wondering whether a normal dual-band mobile phone will work with an Indian sim-card or wether it would have to be a triple band as required e.g. fo the US? Thanks a lot!

Oct 24th, 2003, 11:32	#12
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	Dual band will do.

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Oct 24th, 2003, 12:03	#13
bassology Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Taiwan > Bangalore Posts: 8	Julls, thanks! Any tips on where best to buy a prepaid sim-card in Bangalore? How about contracts, are they available for foreigners and are they considerably cheaper in the long run? Thanks! B.

Oct 24th, 2003, 12:22	#14
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	Walk into any Hutch shop as they are known. There is one on Brigade Road, don't worry you will be making a trip there in your first day or the next out of necessity or just call 9886098860, someone from Hutch will come to where you are. Contracts do work out cheaper in the long run, you would need some proof of address in India to get one though. Airtel is a good service provider too but you have to bear with the crowds each time you walk in to their outlets.

Oct 24th, 2003, 12:51	#15
bassology Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Taiwan > Bangalore Posts: 8	Julls, thanks again!