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03-03-2010, 08:45 PM
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#1 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
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| Prepaid cellphone in Hong Kong?
I am going to HK next month (for a few weeks) and am considering a cell phone to help with emergency calls (ie. if I get lost and cannot find a taxi I will call my relative). I randomly came across this smartone cell company. I am looking at their rates and find:
$68 preloaded HKD SIM card with incredible rates ($0.15/local min, $0.8 for local SMS)
I already have an unlocked quadband phone. Am I set to go and get a fully usable HK phone for $10CAD? I am just curious to any hidden fees.
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Originally Posted by JSALES  While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart. | | 
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03-03-2010, 09:22 PM
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#2 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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Yup, you can get them even cheaper too, as low as $28 HKD for a card.
There are IDD ones too, if you will be calling Canada more than HK you can get one of these instead. All calls (to Canada and HK) will be $0.25 HKD per minute. Very useful for visiting HK.
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03-03-2010, 10:24 PM
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#3 | | I answer every Emotion with an emoticon
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Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp Yup, you can get them even cheaper too, as low as $28 HKD for a card.
There are IDD ones too, if you will be calling Canada more than HK you can get one of these instead. All calls (to Canada and HK) will be $0.25 HKD per minute. Very useful for visiting HK. | yup. HK phone plans are dirt cheap.
once you arrive there, go to PEOPLES (or China Mobile) and get a prepaid sim card. load up $100 HKD and you should be okay for about 2 weeks.
it's only 0.25HKD per minute for local calls and calls to Canada. I use it just like a normal cellphone.
for unused minutes, you have 180 days until your credit and phone number expires. to reload, you can go to any convenient store.
*#139# to reload
*#130# to check balance
it is very very expensive to use your fido phone in HK. it's $2/min + roaming + airtime, $0.75/sms, $30/mb for data!!!
have fun!
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03-04-2010, 02:58 AM
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#4 | | Need to Seek Professional Help
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Not sure if this fits in to your plan but when I first visited HK I just picked up a cell in the airport and it came with minutes. been through HK about 5 times since then and havent run out of time yet.
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Probably because he tells it like it is and knows hockey better than you two dipshits? People respect his opinions, not like you two dipshits? He has a solid income, not like you two dipshits?
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03-04-2010, 03:13 AM
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#5 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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You can even save a few bucks off the sticker price buying from a sleazy vendor in Sum Sui Po  | |
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03-04-2010, 04:01 PM
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#6 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
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Awesome, this shall make my trip a little more easier! Thanks.
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by JSALES While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart. | | |
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03-04-2010, 06:29 PM
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#7 | | YOU CANT CUT BACK ON FUNDING! YOU WILL REGRET THIS
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now you know why some people complain about Vancouver/Canada's horrendous rates =.=
I miss my video calling 
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Where the hell am I
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03-04-2010, 07:56 PM
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#8 | | Raping Captured Dolphins since 2002 on EZ board days
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Originally Posted by Captain Picard now you know why some people complain about Vancouver/Canada's horrendous rates =.=
I miss my video calling | Can't really compare. The salary mean is $10,000HKD which is roughly $1,330CDN a month which working 8 hours day (which does not happen in HK) that's just above minimum wage for Canada.
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Originally Posted by asian_XL apparently, freedom of speech does not exist on RS
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03-04-2010, 08:06 PM
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#9 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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Originally Posted by RFlush Can't really compare. The salary mean is $10,000HKD which is roughly $1,330CDN a month which working 8 hours day (which does not happen in HK) that's just above minimum wage for Canada. | Even compared to countries with similar (or even higher) mean salaries, Canada's rates look terrible. The most absurd example of this IMO, is that in Canada you have to pay $50 to NOT get a phone when starting a plan. What the fuck is that?
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03-08-2010, 09:06 PM
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#10 | | 10psi aint enough...
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Originally Posted by TRDood yup. HK phone plans are dirt cheap.
once you arrive there, go to PEOPLES (or China Mobile) and get a prepaid sim card. load up $100 HKD and you should be okay for about 2 weeks.
it's only 0.25HKD per minute for local calls and calls to Canada. I use it just like a normal cellphone.
for unused minutes, you have 180 days until your credit and phone number expires. to reload, you can go to any convenient store.
*#139# to reload
*#130# to check balance
it is very very expensive to use your fido phone in HK. it's $2/min + roaming + airtime, $0.75/sms, $30/mb for data!!!
have fun! | HAHAH...I was gonna post the same as well.
Theres a PEOPLES store inside this mall where I live close by.
I use the same as well...load up $100 HK and charges $0.25 HKD local/and Canada.
IMO, PEOPLES reception is very clear...I havent experienced any interrupted connection. Easy to load more money if necessary and something simple if you need to make emergency calls or quick calls.
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03-09-2010, 10:26 AM
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#11 | | I subscribe to the Revscene NWS thread(s)
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Originally Posted by HondaGuy HAHAH...I was gonna post the same as well.
Theres a PEOPLES store inside this mall where I live close by.
I use the same as well...load up $100 HK and charges $0.25 HKD local/and Canada.
IMO, PEOPLES reception is very clear...I havent experienced any interrupted connection. Easy to load more money if necessary and something simple if you need to make emergency calls or quick calls. | If I recall correctly, you can get the Peoples prepaid SIM at 7-11 as well. I believe that's where my folks get theirs when they head to HK. Their rates are pretty low (I think 5c HK/min during off peak and 12c during peak hours?)
As for Canda's crap rates, I think it has most to do with population density of our country. There's a whole lot of empty space between major urban areas where the carriers still provide cell service for. Towers cost money, and most likely, the profit from subscribers in the urban areas go to subsidize the infrastructure in the rural areas where they provide service. I'm sure if we had Canada's entire population squeezed into Vancouver Island, I bet our rates would be dirt cheap too.
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03-09-2010, 03:47 PM
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#12 | | I answer every Emotion with an emoticon
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get off the airplane, go the the MTR place (arrival area right at the middle)get one of those octopus card then walk across to 7-11 and get a prepaid card. BAM, done. and then u can take the bus to the city.
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03-09-2010, 06:15 PM
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#13 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
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We need octopus cards rather than the new polymer bills here in Canada for major cities.
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by JSALES While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart. | | |
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03-11-2010, 03:48 AM
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#14 | | I am Hook'd on RS
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by syee If I recall correctly, you can get the Peoples prepaid SIM at 7-11 as well. I believe that's where my folks get theirs when they head to HK. Their rates are pretty low (I think 5c HK/min during off peak and 12c during peak hours?)
As for Canda's crap rates, I think it has most to do with population density of our country. There's a whole lot of empty space between major urban areas where the carriers still provide cell service for. Towers cost money, and most likely, the profit from subscribers in the urban areas go to subsidize the infrastructure in the rural areas where they provide service. I'm sure if we had Canada's entire population squeezed into Vancouver Island, I bet our rates would be dirt cheap too. |
dont they charge calls as roaming if they are not made within tri city??
my sister went to whistler only to find that she was billed 70 bucks for using her phone.
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03-11-2010, 09:15 AM
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#15 | | I subscribe to the Revscene NWS thread(s)
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Originally Posted by chk dont they charge calls as roaming if they are not made within tri city??
my sister went to whistler only to find that she was billed 70 bucks for using her phone. | Whether you get charged for roaming would depend on your plan. You should check your providers maps for roaming areas. I think the general rule of thumb is if you see the roaming sign (usually a triagle next to the carriers name) or a different carrier displayed on your phone, then you're likely going to be hit with roaming charges. Back in the day when I used to be with Fido, I do remember certain parts of the Sea to Sky Highway and Whistler were roaming. Not sure if it's the same now or not.
As for the part you bolded, sure roaming rates MAY cover a portion of the cost but I'm willing to be there's hundreds (if not thousands) of towers out there that are under utilized and probably never generate enough revenue to cover their cost. We, as urban subscribers ultimately end up subsidizing these towers.
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04-13-2010, 06:37 AM
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#16 | | Even when im right, revscene.net is still right!
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I manage to get PEOPLE mobile. I had the clerk help me activate a $48 card. I only plan to use it in emergency circumstances or meeting up with people
__________________ Quote:
Originally Posted by JSALES While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart. | | |
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04-13-2010, 06:56 AM
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#17 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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The best all day plan is from CSL. It's $0.10 per minute all day. Others are only cheap during off-peak.
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05-10-2010, 07:36 PM
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#18 | | Retired moderator
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*sigh* I miss HK for their cheap phone plans.
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05-10-2010, 07:57 PM
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#19 | | OMGWTFBBQ is a common word I say everyday
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Originally Posted by 6793026 get off the airplane, go the the MTR place (arrival area right at the middle)get one of those octopus card then walk across to 7-11 and get a prepaid card. BAM, done. and then u can take the bus to the city. | if you are just there for 1 visit, don't bother getting the octopus card, its not like its any cheaper just more convenient, you will never get the 50$HKD deposit back. Unless you are willing to sacrifice 50$ to experience what the whole north america is missing out on.
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05-10-2010, 08:13 PM
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#20 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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You get the $50 deposit back, unless you return it in less than 3 months. In that case, you get $43 back.
It's not hard to save $7 HKD by using it - MTR fees are always cheaper when using Octopus.
There's no reason not to get an octopus card no matter how many days you are in HK.
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06-21-2010, 04:05 AM
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#21 | | RS controls my life!
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bumping an old thread
I'll be going to HK in a few weeks and I was just wondering which cell phone company has the best rates for data for prepaid cards??
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06-21-2010, 07:02 AM
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#22 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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I priced out several in another thread in this forum, do a search
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