In Reply to: Mobile Phones. posted by salty on Tuesday, 27. September 2005 at 11:49 Bali Time:
1. I only use Pro XL cards in my UNLOCKED phone. There is about another 2 or three companies who sell pre paid cards.
2. Pro XL are everywhere but I only deal with the little shop near the back door of Mataharri's. They put in the card. Doo all that is necessary and you walk out with a working phone.
3. About 80,000rp or $10 will get you a starter card and about $7 in calls. SMS to home (AUST) is 7 cents an SMS and even phone calls to home are cheaper. It is also easier to call local bali numbers.
4. CDMA phone will not work in Bali. They do have a CDMA network but it is not compatable with ours. Make sure your phone is not locked to a network. Test by using someone else's card from a different provider in your phone.
The phone card has only got a life of about 2 - 3 months depending on your credit when you bought it. Then it is de-activated. Take back to the shop and buy more credit on a later visit. This new credit is added to your old credit and away you go again. Some will say you cannot re-activate but my daughter just took my phone back after 5 and a half months recharged it and away it goes. Lend the card to friends and they can tell their friends their Bali number before you go. Remember your charger and adapter.