Thai Cell phones now 10-digits

[wowpow]

(TNA) The National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) on Thursday confirmed that all mobile phones in Thailand would become 10-digit numbers in September.

From 00:01 a.m. on September 1, all domestic mobile phone systems will be totally altered to be the 10-digit based, according to an official NTC statement.

Number "8" would be added after "0" to the existing 9-digit based numbers, said the statement.

For example, the existing 01-2345678 will become 081-2345678; 09-2345678 will be 089-2345678.

The change is aimed to accommodate expanding mobile phone numbers to meet increasing local demand.

The country's basic telephone numbers for households and business buildings will continue with its 9-digit based system, according to the NTC.

The general public are welcome to seek more detailed information from the NTC at Tel. No. 02-2713511. 04-7511026, or at local mobile phone service centres across the country.

Bangkok Post

Does this apply when calling from outside Thailand to a Thai mobile phone? Still leave the "0" off, but add an "8"?

DELETED

... of asking whether the 8 should be prefixed when dialing international. I have learnt not to assume, anything is possible

Thanks Whitedesire. I thought it was a legitimate question. After doing my own search, I did see that there is a grace period of a few months where the new and old way will both work. But I still don't know why we need to drop the "0" when calling from outside Thailand. And then within Thailand there are some other idiosyncracies whether in BKK or outside, whether using one of those long distance calling options, etc. I have a hard time keeping track of all the calling card options, pin numbers, redial special characters, SIM card changeouts for multi-band phones, whether using a local phone or my US phone on international roaming, international access codes and on and on that I take nothing for granted. I need a whole notebook just for calling instructions.

Thanks Whitedesire. I thought it was a legitimate questionClearly some people are even more technologically challenged than even I had thought possible. It's just so obvious that it would be required.

[Davidjewel]

Does this apply when calling from outside Thailand to a Thai mobile phone? Still leave the "0" off, but add an "8"?

When dialing phone numbers OUTSIDE of Thailand you can not dial the short prefix of 0. You have to dial the whole number. Example - when I dial my bf cell INSIDE of Thailand I dial 09-781-****. From OUTSIDE of Thailand I have to dial 011-669-781-****.

I understand when september comes INSIDE Thailand I'll have to dial 089-781-****, but what about dialing from OUTSIDE of thailand? Will I have to dial 011-6689-781-****?

[wowpow]

GSM advance Customer

Subject : Information about 10 Digits
Thank you very much for your continuous support of our services. We are pleased to provide you with following information:

We are writing to inform you a change of 9 digits to 10 digits telephone number in order to support the increasing in telephone usage and for an adequate telephone number needed.

AIS give a response to the National Telecommunication Commission of Thailand (NCT) policy that would like every telephone provider increase the digits of number form 9 to 10. This will start on September 1, 2006 that the customer who want to call 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 09 need to put 8 after zero both form mobile or landline. For example:

Old Style : mobile phone code 2 digits + mobile number 7 digits (01-8110888)
New Style : mobile phone code 3 digits + mobile number 7 digits (081-8110888)

Nevertheless you can dial with the old method for 3 or 4 digits numbers such as 1175 or 001 or 009 or 1900-xxxx-xx or other special numbers.
To differ the mobile phone number from the landline number, please check the second to the forth digit of the number. Below is the group of mobile phone code help to distinguish the mobile phone number and the landline number

Mobile Phone Numbers starting with...
01
030-031
033
040-041
0451
046-048
0490-0499
050-052
0561
057-058
0590-0599
060-066
0670-0679
068-072
0730-0731
0738-0741
0749-0751
0760-0761
0767-0771
0777
078-079
081
090-099


Besides are the landline number and the special number that remain unchanged.


In addition, you need to change "Message Center Number" to send and receive SMS :
1. GSM Advance: change from +6618110888 to be +66818110888.
2. GSM1800: change from +6613101800 to be +66813101800.
3. 1-2-Call: change from +6618310808 to be +66818310808.

For your convenience in this changing, you can contact us at any AIS O

[Davidjewel]

[This will start on September 1, 2006 that the customer who want to call 01, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08 and 09 need to put 8 after zero both form mobile or landline.]

According to this, it affects landlines as well as mobile phones. Again it addresses making calls INSIDE of Thailand. What about calls OUTSIDE of Thailand where you have to dial full prefix (country code) in addition to the number?

what about dialing from OUTSIDE of thailand? Will I have to dial 011-6689-781-****?Yes, why wouldn't you? It's just so obvious

Or one long-running blond joke? Similar to the one about directions for pouring piss from a boot?

DELETED

There are some bloody stupid people around homitern.Many of them have already made my {Ignore} list

[catawampuscat]

I had quite a few posters on "ignore" for so long , I couldn't remember why so I deleted all and no longer have anyone on ignore..

It is quite confusing to some, when major changes occur and not everyone is not so young and sharp as homintern and JB.. It is even
possible to forget that you drop a digit when you are overseas or what the country code is etc.. A little patience is a virtue and a little
compassion just shows you are human.. You should also know you are in deep doodoo when you agree with with these two great minds.. :cat:

[wowpow]

Today is the 31st so Tomorrow's the day -

Today is the 31st so Tomorrow's the day -

Thanks for the bounce on this one, TeePee. Obviously my Thai cell phone and number (which I don't use while home in SF) changes also, and that's a good thing to know. Otherwise, I might have been confused when I return in October. :drunken:

[llz]

You can still use the old number until the end of November.

Has anyone tried the new prefix yet? I've tried text messaging to a few people using T-Mobile and it doesn't work from the US. Haven't called anyone yet.

Does anyone know about registering your phone yet, when is it becoming enforceable? In Malaysia its all set for 15 Dec

I am in Singapore right now and my friend from Thailand emailed me to remind me of the change in the telephone number. I called him using the additional 8 .. eg 0066811234567 ... it couldn't work. Not sms too. Tried the old nbr....006611234567... it worked. So maybe there's a time grace for using the old number?

[sjaak327]

I am in Singapore right now and my friend from Thailand emailed me to remind me of the change in the telephone number. I called him using the additional 8 .. eg 0066811234567 ... it couldn't work. Not sms too. Tried the old nbr....006611234567... it worked. So maybe there's a time grace for using the old number?

Strange, I have been calling two persons in Thailand today, my boyfriend, and a good friend of mine in Chiang Mai, both times the old numbers wouldn't work, the new numbers (with the 8 prefix) were working fine.

Oh forgot, yes you should be able to call with the old number until november 30, (even though for me it didn't work today).

[RonanTheBarbarian]

I tried to call a Thai friend on Sunday using the new number, it did not work.

The old one did however.

Don't know whats going on there.

Ringing my boyfriend from here in the UK both new and old numbers work. He doesn't seem to know anything about the change and didn't know what I was talking about.

[wowpow]

Yesterday I went into Tle-Wiz to pay my monthly bill. There was a desk with a sign 10 Digit Telephone numbers. It seems that the regular sim cards in phones need rerplacing with a new one to take the ten digit numbers. On most phones you can store so many numbers on your Sim card and so many on the phone. This is done for free but their computer went down as I got to the head of the line so I have to wait.

Update Tuesday 12th - Yesterday I went to Telewiz Pattaya and they said it was only very few cards that will not take 10 digits. However you can give them your sim card and their computer will automatically change all the number by adding an 8 after the zero.

some days it works - some it dont. Maybe thunderstorms affecting system?