Please Note:

Your Philippines SIM Card (Buddy) will require a SIM-unlocked GSM 900 / 1800 compatible international cell phone. If you do not have your own international cell phone, we have several models available for rental or purchase.

Your Philippines SIM card will provide you with a Philippines cellular phone number, which can be found on the back of your SIM card inside your SIM card package. The number begins with 91.

Customer service for your Philippines Buddy prepaid SIM card is available 24 hours a day by dialing *888 from your mobile phone.

For emergencies while using your local Philippines GSM SIM card in the Philippines please dial 112 from your cell phone.

*You will need to snap out the thumbnail sized Philippines SIM card along the perforated edge of its holder and then insert the Philippines SIM card into your international cell phone with the gold contacts of the SIM card facing the metal contacts of your international cellular phone.

^Your Philippines SIM card requires a 4 digit PIN code which can be found under the black tab located under the Philippines SIM card. The PUK is only required to unblock your phone if you enter a PIN code incorrectly. Follow your cell phone manual instructions to correctly use the PUK to unblock your phone.

**When calling overseas from the United States to your Philippines cell phone, callers will need to dial 011 followed by the country code 63 and your Philippines cell phone number. To call abroad from your Philippines cell phone simply dial 00 (or +) followed by the country code and phone number.

Domestic rates are per minute for outgoing calls within the Philippines from your Philippines SIM card while you are in the Philippines. All incoming calls, regardless of where they originate, are free with your Buddy SIM card.

*National Direct Dial: 3-4-5- toll for calls to different areas within the Philippines. There is a domestic long distance per minute surcharge.

Outgoing SMS messages (text messages) may be sent for 1 Php ($0.02 USD) per 160 characters. Incoming text messages are always free.

International Calls

Making international calls from your world cell phone has never been easier than with your prepaid Philippines SIM card. All rates are per minute for international outgoing calls from a Philippines prepaid SIM card while in the Philippines.

There is a flat rate of $0.40 USD per minute for all outgoing international calls.

International SMS messages are charged at a flat rate of US$0.20 per message.

Roaming Calls (calls placed when traveling outside of the country)

Roaming is currently not available with your Philippines service.

GPRS Data Rates (Wireless Internet)

GPRS is available with your Philippines service. To activate GPRS for your Philippines SIM card, call customer care on *888. A GPRS compatible phone is required to access this service. GPRS rates are 0.25 Php per KB for text, 15 Php ($0.28 USD) per KB for Polytones and 2.50 Php ($0.04 USD) per KB for downloads.

In order to add airtime to your Philippines SIM card, please follow the instructions below. You may purchase additional airtime from most convenience stores, tabac shops and petrol stations in Philippines. Additional airtime purchased locally, is available in denominations of PHP 300 (US$5.60), 500 PHP (US$9.35) and PHP 1000 (US$18.70).

To check your balance on your Philippines service, please

* Dial 1515 and follow the voice prompts airtime in form of scratch cards, where you will need to scratch off the gray protective layer to reveal your recharge voucher code.

REMEMBER: Do NOT purchase another SIM card when your airtime credit is depleted! You only need a recharge voucher! Your incoming calls are always free, even when you run out of airtime.

When your account balance reaches zero (0), you are given 120 days to recharge your Philippines service in order to keep your account active.

During this period, you can continue to receive incoming calls and text messages and make outgoing collect calls and calls to toll-free numbers.

Failure to reload within this period will lead to disconnection of your Philippines service and you will be required to purchase a new SIM card.

More Information and Resources

Keeping in touch while in Philippines can be very a frustrating and expensive experience without an international cell phone and Philippines SIM card.

Sometimes a payphone takes coins (But how many is anybody's guess!!!), other times a proprietary calling card and still others only a credit card will do with accompanying instructions that would take a week to understand.

Philippines cellular phone rentals can significantly cut down on the frustration of calling home while abroad but the airtime rates would bankrupt all but the thickest of wallets. Airtime rates for a Philippines cell phone rental can typically start at $1.50 and may be as high as $2+/minute.

Think you got a deal on your world phone and plan on doing some international roaming? With international roaming charges the airtime rate you will pay is out of this world.

The Philippines prepaid SIM chip is a quick and easy way to convert your existing world phone into a prepaid Philippines cell phone for Philippines and as discussed is more economical then a Philippines cell phone rental. For your next assignment or vacation in Philippines, this SIM chip (combined with an unlocked GSM World cell phone) helps you stay connected while avoiding those international roaming surcharges that always accompany your 'home' SIM card while abroad. We offer a growing selection of prepaid SIM Cards for other international destinations as well as a wide variety of GSM cell phone accessories and GSM international cell phones.