Living in the Philippines: Cellphones
I get a lot of questions from people asking about cellular phones here, and most of the questions make it pretty clear that most foreigners don’t understand how cellular phones work here in the Philippines. Because of this, I thought I’d write a column about cellphone use in the Philippines, billing and such.
Back in the States, where I come from, and I believe in most of the developed world, you go sign up for a cellphone plan, and you get, or buy a phone to go with the plan. They will have a number of plans to choose from, and for a certain price per month you will get a certain number of minutes of use for the month. If you go over the number of alloted minutes on the plan, your bill will have some extra charges for the extra minutes that you use. Some other plans offer great incentives like free minutes on the weekends, unlimited Internet usage via the phone or other perks. Basically, you sign up for the plan that fits your usage best, and they send you a bill every month for the plan charges, and any extras.
Now, that is probably the kind of system you are used to when it comes to cellphone use. The first thing that you should do when you start looking at cellphone use in the Philippines is to forget everything that you already know. As with so many other things in life, that just doesn’t apply here in the Philippines!
So, how does it work here? Well, basically, there are two different ways that cellphone usage works:
1. Postpaid. Actually, if you get a postpaid plan, it is somewhat similar to what you are used to in your home country. Problem is, probably only about 10% of the population uses a Postpaid plan. The fact is that most people in the Philippines do not have a credit reputation that can be verified, so the Cellular Communications Companies will not allow them to sign up for a Postpaid Plan.
2. Prepaid. It is my estimation that about 90% of the people here in the Philippines are using a Postpaid method to fund their cellular use. What is this “prepaid?” Well, there are a few different ways it can work, but basically, they pay money in advance to purchase “credits” that are “loaded” onto their phones. Let’s say you purchase P100 worth of credit, once you have used up P100, you cannot use your phone any longer until you purchase more credit. If you are in the middle of the call, it will be disconnected. As I said, there are different ways of doing the postpaid loading. The most common way in the past was to go to the store and buy a “prepaid phone card” and type the code number into your phone, along with a Pin number, and the credits were then applied to the phone. These days, although cards are still available, it is more common that this is done electronically. The way that happens is that you go to a store or “e-load dealer” and pay them, then they use a cellphone to send a code to your phone that loads the value for you automatically.
Like I said, it seems, from the e-mails I receive that a lot of people don’t understand this whole system. They expect that getting a cellphone here is just like it is in the USA or whatever country they came from.
If you decide you want to try to get a Postpaid account, and you are a foreigner, it is actually pretty difficult. You see, as a foreigner, they consider you a “flight risk,” or that you might run up a bill and then go home to your country of origin, and thus they won’t be able to come after you to get payment. I have had a Postpaid account in the past (although I am prepaid now), and as I recall, the things that you need to do this are:
- A legal residence visa. If you are not a permanent resident, you will not get a Postpaid account.
- Proof of billing from places like an Electric Utility, Water Company, regular Phone Company and such, so that you can show that you have indeed been paying your bills.
- Passport.
- A wife or spouse who can kind of “co-sign” with you, and she must be a local resident.
So, getting that Postpaid account is not easy. What do you need to get a Prepaid phone going?
- You need to go to the store and buy a Prepaid Sim card, about P200 or so. When you buy this Sim, you will get maybe P100 or so in free credit to use the network.
- Put the Sim card in your phone, and start using it!
- That’s it!
So, as you can see, getting going with a Prepaid system is very easy, and you can be on the network in only a manner of minutes, no more.
Now, what about a phone? In the States, you sign up for the plan and get your phone at that time. If you are in the middle of your contract and want a new phone, generally speaking you are out of luck. Here, it is nothing like that! Whether you are prepaid or postpaid, you can get a new phone every week, if the desire strikes you! All you do is go to the store and buy a new phone anytime you want one, take your Sim card from your old phone, put it in the new one, and you are finished! That, in my opinion, is much better than the system back in the States!
So, I hope that this little article has cleared up the confusion a little bit about how cellphones work here in the Philippines. Have a question? Just use the comments to ask away, and I’ll be happy to answer if I can.
So since the iPhone uses a Sim card can you get away with using that phone there without a plan or not?
I know there are hacks now so that it can be used with any plan and not just AT&T.
Thanks in advance and you are providing a great service.
Hi Bob,
The system there in the Philippines is the same as here in New Zealand where you can have both systems but for me I have always bought a prepaid because for me personally it allows me to keep a tab on my phone usage spending wise. The questions I’d like to ask is: if I bring my mobile from NZ to the Philippines would I then just need to replace the sim card. I’m assuming that sim cards are individual for each country. Can you advise on this please.
Another difference in the systems is that you only pay for the calls YOU make on your phone. It does not cost anything to recieve a call or text. soeaking of texts, texts are cheap! 1-2 pesos per text to send, nothing to recieve. Many people here never make calls on their phones, they only text, for economic reasons.
Another reason to not get a postpaid program is that, like the contracts in other countries, they are in effect for 1-2 years. This is not a problem if you will be here all that time, but a prepaid program is the best if you are here for a short visit.
If you want to bring your own phone, be sure it is either dual (Europe) or tri-band (USA) and has a place for a sim card. You can get your AT&T or T-Moble phones ‘unlocked’ here for a very reasonable fee, but it has to be one that can use a sim. Sim cards are indivudual for each company within each country. We had no problem using a Thai sim in our phone when we went to Thailand last year.
Hi PJ - Not sure that I understand your question. The answer is yes, you don’t need a plan, you can just go prepaid, but since that is pretty much what the article is about, I suspect that I am not understanding your question.
Hi Richard - As long as your phone is GMS, which in New Zealand it should be, that phone should work fine here. Just buy a Smart or Globe Sim when you are in the Philippines, put it in the phone, and you should be in business!
Hi AmericanLola - You make some good points that I forgot to say. Firstly, not having to pay for incoming messages and calls is a big advantage over cell plans in the USA.
Hi PJ, your iPhone probably not ‘unlockable.’ It sounds like the ones who have unlocked iPhones in the USA have had to do some hardware changes to make it work. Also, a phone has to be out for a while for the unlocking software codes to get into general use, although with Nokia phones, that is pretty quick.
In the USA we call getting a phone so it can be used under any system, ‘unlocking,’ I should mention that here they call it, ‘open-line.’ If you say ‘unlocking’ they will not know what you are talking about.
Hi PJ & AmericanLola - Oops!
I misread PJ’s original comment, and didn’t realize that he was talking about an iPhone. Not to worry, though, if you want to use an iPhone in the Philippines, they will be available here very soon, from what I read. AmericanLola is right, though, right now it is probably not usable here.
Another thing to mention is that if you do not use your sim card within 6 months it will deactivate and you will be forced to buy a new card. I find that this is the only drawback to the system in the Philippines. I have spent time in many countries and I like the system in the Philippines the best. It is cheap!!! Plus there are Globe and Smart retailers at nearly every sari-sari store. If you are driving in the middle of nowhere and you run out of load its easy to reload.
Hi Garret - Ah yes, for somebody who only visits the Philippines the 6 month deactivation of the Sim could be a problem! It’s not a problem for residents, because I guess everybody uses their cellphone at least once every six months. You are sure correct that cell use is cheap here, and also load can be purchased in thousands of locations!
Hi Bob - Just a short confirmation of what you and AmericanLola have said. When I arrived for a visit to the Philippines with my European Nokia cell phone it wouldn’t work. I could access the Smart network and send a text message but no voice calling. A purchase of a Smart SIM and inserting into my phone and it would still not work except for text messages. Finally, after it was “unlocked” as you say, it worked great and for my 3 week visit I had no problems. Have never done so much texting in my life!
Someone told me there’s a store in NCCC Davao selling an unlocked iPhone for Php55K. I don’t know if it’s true though…
Apple bites back!
“Apple has warned iPhone owners who have used unauthorised programs to unlock the cellular service feature of their handsets that they may end up with a phone that doesn’t work after the company’s next software update for it.
Since the iPhone debuted in June, hackers have posted a number of methods online to make it possible to use the iPhone on cellular networks other than AT&T, which is the exclusive official carrier for the iPhone.
The news will come as a blow to scores of Australian iPhone enthusiasts who have brought the $US399 phones out to Australia and hacked them so that they can work on local mobile networks.”
Hi Bob this conversation is dear to my heart, I am paticularly interested in the threa about the Apple I Phone which is due to be launched in UK on November the 9th, some of my mobile phone enthusiast freinds are going to take a wait and see approach, because Applie have signed a deal with O2 which means the I-phone will be on a long contract and at a cost of £300.00.
There is also a bad feeling here in UK that it costs £300.00 ($600.00) and yet in U.S.A. the same phone is being sold at £200.00 ($400.00).
Steve Jobs has cited “Sales tax issues” and “Cost of doing business in UK” and its also thought that the Apple I-phone will not be 3G, and if its not 3G why should cosumers switch to it, apart from its web browser and Ipod package, ther isnt much else about it to jump for joy.
UK Consumers expect a hi end specification, and after the honeymoon wears off, they may find they are stuck with a contract phone that doesnt do what they thought, thats why we are recommending a wait and see approach, there is a rumour that Apple are having to change the communication specification to bring it into line with UK market expectations, if this is true, then good.
But to back up the other posters here on this thread, the rumour here also is that the phone is simlocked to O2, and will not work on other networks, Apple also say the software on the phone means it cannot be used on the network of choice of the consumer, this again is irritating since here in UK, taking out new contracts means either 12 months or 18 months and technology changes so fast.
I myself prefer a pre paid sim card, and change my mobile phone as often as I like, contracts phones may give you the leatest phone without much up front payment, but generally, its cheaper in the long term to buy the phone yourself and then pre pay your sim card, I pre-pay mine with about £150.00 or $300.00 per month, and it works fine for me, if I get bored with the phone I change it, plus I never buy my phones in the UK, I import them from Hong Kong, by fedex, where they are as much as 40 per cent cheaper, the UK Sales tax is a big killer, I have them sent to me as personal gifts by the seller, and it works.
I am sure in Hong Kong they will find a way to obtain the I-phone in due course, unlocked as well knowing them.
Hi John - Glad to hear that you were able to get your phone working here!
Hi Rey - Wow! P55k, that’s over $1,000! If they can get that price, they will certainly be making a nice profit!
Hi Laurence - Perhaps those hacked iPhone users can enable a setting which will stop any updates to the software?
Hi Pete - Yeah, I have been hearing about the iPhone situation in Britain on the news. I don’t blame people there for being upset with such an inflated price. Personally, I have a Nokia N95, and it does way more than an iPhone does anyway, so I am happy with that!
Hi Bob!
Cellphone users in the Philippines are enjoying a lot of offers like “Pasa load” system. Passing own load to somebody even just for 1 Peso only so the text receiver can able to text back if he/she has no load anymore which is very common. I missed this system when i went back here in Europe after spending my holidays there few years ago. I find it very practical, I could be used for my daughter if its only available here. She owns a prepaid card phone, no matter how much load she has, she consume it in a very short time. I send a text very seldom and then most of the time remained unanswered. When she come home “Sorry Mom no more load”. In addition to this, the more load to buy there the more free texts availed. Unlike here in Germany, I!ve been using Prepaid Card for how many years already but I haven!t avail free text at all.
Hi Bob, Pre-paid plans are becoming popular in the states also. The most popular is an AT&T/Cingular plan called go phone. I always had a plan like you alluded to and I always seemed to spend more money. I switched to the go phone after I saw how it worked there and I not only like it I am saving around 35 dollars per month. With the plans there are useage fees, taxes, etc that always raised the bill. With the go phone I pay for a certain amount and when its gone I buy more over the internet. The issue of six months is true but Marlou has found a way around it. She sends a text message once in a while and that keeps her card activated. She has globe or smart sim cards here. For here she takes out the sim card from there and puts in her AT&T card and used her phone here in the U.S…. By the way Marlou gave birth Monday morning to Isabelle-both mom and baby are healthy and we are happy beyond description. Ron
Hi Luz - Yes, the pasaload is very convenient! It seems, though, that I am always on the “pass” end,not the “receive” end! ha ha… always seems I am sending load to one of my nieces or another.
Hi Ron - Wow! Congratulations big time! I am very happy for you and Marlou on the birth of Isabelle! Regarding the phones, I have also heard of “trac phones” in the States, which are prepaid cellphones. My feeling, though, is that prepaid is not that popular in the USA, what do you think? Like you, when I switched from Postpaid to Prepaid, I found that I saved about 50% on my costs!
An excellent chart here that shows is simple color codes where your phone will work/not work.
http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roadwarriorcontent/quadbandphones.htm
There are 4 major “bands” of frequencies assigned to cell phones, in all countries except Korea and Japan … Korea and Japan are completely different they do not use the GSM standard at all. Each country is assigned 2 or the bands for their use.
All GSM phones are dual band. A base-line dual band phone from the US won’t work in the Philippines (and vice-versa) because both bands in each country are different. Bottom of the line dual band phones from some European countries will work because the bands are the same.
You can buy try band phones that will cover one of the other bands … theseanill work (50-50) in both countries. Even more expensive quad band phones are avilable, that will work in every country in the world … except Korea and Japan.
So if you have an expensive, “special” US phone, or you’re just coming for a short trip, check the specs of the bands your phone uses … it may ot may not work here. If your phone is older or “nothing special” just store it an buy a cell phone here on the day you arrive … it will be much simpler.
If you bought your phone in the US it is probably locked to your original carier. Most carriers will unlock your phone on request if you tell them you are traveling. If they will not unlock it, it can be unclocked in the Philippines for a few pesos. Then you put SIM from you’re carrier of choice and some load and you’re on your way. Baseline phones like my Nokia are quite cheap, there are half a dozen shops in every mall selling them … and It’s so much better than the clunky US phone I left behind I am glad my old po’ne didn’t work here.
My average cell phone cost per month is about $5, text and voice. My wife talks to family a little more often, heres is about $10 a month. There is no other cost, extras, checks to mail in, etc. In addition to the prepaid cards avilable in stores, virtually every little sari=sari store can “eLoad” your phone instantly, over the air in seconds.
Several of the major banks have “phone cash” systems where you can load money to your phone at the bank and then text money to merchants at the store to pay at the cash register.
And, if you’re a tourist, remember that 5 mega pixel and up cell phone cameras are readily availble here so you can buy a phone, talk and take poictures and still have a decent camera when you go home. I saw a little shop selling “film” the other day … how quaint LoL
A little final warning about US phones that can be used in the Philippines .. check your _rates_. You may easily incur $4 a minute rates for “world roaming” phones, leaving you a really nasty surprise of a phone bill when you get home.
Hi Dave - Thanks for sharing that wealth of information! Great advice on the “World Roaming” charges too!
Thank you for the congratulations. I read in the Wall Street Journal that pre-paid in the U.S. is the fasted growing segment of the cell phone business. The only draw back is that pre-paid is basically just a phone-plans allow you to use the internet and all of the other new toys they have brought out. I should correct myself for that comment-your pre-paid will work for everything but the costs will rise accordingly. For me however I want a phone not a portable office and pre-paid is the most economical for me. Other phone companies like a new on called “Cricket” are offering unlimited calling in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico for 49.99 per month. So in general the costs are coming down. We did receive a notice today via text message that AT&T was raising its text cost from .5 to .15 per text starting Oct.1 - that was a little disappointing. I have also never heard of Trac phones-sorrry. Ron
Hi Ron - I think I had that name “trac phone” right, but perhaps not. It is my understanding that they are sold at Wal Mart. Nice thing here in the Philippines is that we can indeed access all the different services like Internet and such through the Prepaid, and even that is quite affordable. I was actually blown away when you mentioned $49.99 per month. I use my cell all I want, and I rarely spend more than about $20 per month!
I hope I don’t sound dumb here but no one here has mentioned it.
If you download Skype (free at http://www.skype.com) you can make computer to computer calls for free or computer to regular phone calls for a very cheap rate. It is quite an amazing application and works for Macs and PC’s. Not sure how it does on dial up though so beware if that is what you have.
Apple also has an app called iChat where you can have voice conversations that way also. There are free widgets that let you send text messages through the computer to cell phones so if you wanted to bypass a phone altogether, it is possible. Or you could at least cut down on texting, etc.
If you want to keep your phone active, you could always sign up for some sort of automatic text messages to your phone. Lottery updates work for me!
Hi PJ - Thanks for your mention of Skype. For this particular post, I was mostly talking about cellphone use - like for use when you are out around town and such. Hard to use Skype at the mall!
That’s OK, though, it all fits into telecommunications!
If anyone is interested I can get an iPhone knock off from Bejing for P15,000. It does everything the iPhone does and is a pretty nice piece of work for being a “clone” it comes unlocked/open line, has slots for 2 sims (easily switch between the 2), micro sd card… etc. It’s also tri band so it works anywhere in the world with a GSM network. I personally use this phone so if anyone is interested in seeing it e-mail me. Sorry for the business plug Bob, just trying to help. It is my understanding that apple will keep up with all the hacks and as the software is updated the hacked phones will be useless.
Louis, shoot me a photo to: huangcyx@aim.com or post here.
So, does this work fine when syncing to a mac?
Can you do the pre-paid like you do with TracFone?
Bob, you could always take the laptop to the mall (assuming there is wireless around). Speaking of which, does anyone use one of the cards for laptops for internet that lets you connect via satellite? Will that work over there if it is bought here first? I think the plans are steep- 60 a month but if it worked and worked well…might be worth it.
Hi Louis - I didn’t know there were any iPhone clones out there yet, but I guess it shouldn’t surprise me. Can you e-mail me a photo of it? I’d be interested in seeing it.
Hi PJ - When talking about cellphones for everyday use, carrying a laptop around is not really practical. Frankly, it’s a totally different subject in my opinion.
Hi Bob,
Are BlackBerries used there?
Hi Tina - I have never seen anybody using a Blackberry here. However, about a year ago, one of the network providers ( I think it was globe) had a newspaper ad saying that they now offered the blackberry. From what I can tell, though, it never caught on.
I saw a businessman in Manila working with what looked like a Blackberry. Can’t be sure though as I didn’t want to be rude and hang over his shoulder looking at it. Bob I will e-mail you pics and specs as soon as I take some.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the information on the house rental, understand the yearly rent…wish I could stay for a year…will continue looking…on another note, can I reload a cell phone used by my girlfriend in the Philippines…I thought you had it listed (reload) one time on your website. Can I reload her phone by her phone number?
Appreciate your time,
Thanks,
Randy
Hi Bob,
My name is LIRA,i just wanna ask you about roaming system..I live in philippines,and my fiancee live in USA..My problem is,i bought a KABABAYAN GLOBE SIM for 2,one for my fiancee and one for me.The sim i brought for him was activated already for roaming,i mailed the SIM to him w/ the nokia 2630,and he just received it yesterday..He tried to call me and text me but still no network coverage,what should we do about it?it is my idea to mail him the roaming sim w/ the phone so that he can save for the phone bill…please help me about this…thank you and more power…
Hi lira - I am sorry to say, but I really don’t have any expertise on this subject. I would recommend that you talk to the people at the Globe office, I bet they can help you sort this all out. Good luck to you.