The Philippine Cellphone System Made Easy !!! (New Contributor Justin)

[@dann547]

Appreciate you explaining the various options and tips for cell phones in the Philippines.

[@rfbos]

Before I came here, I ported my cell# to Google voice for $20 so that I had a method of receiving 2 step authentication with banks and ability to call VA or SSA. Upon arrival I purchased a smart magic data for P399 Non Expiry. 16GB and still have 10GB after over 7 months here. I also purchased P200 text plan and still have P91 left. Using gigalife app, I can easily add to the plans when needed without buying cards you have to install. So, for $10 for over 7 months is roughly $1.43 per month. And people still use costly plans that run $30-40 per month. Forgot to mention Google is strictly WiFi but I use my magic data sim for calls when away from home. Works great.

[@toomanyhobbies8351]

A Philippines video wouldn’t be the same without the roosters in the background. Great video Justin.

[@jefferystrong6852]

Some good info. I've been here 6 months and I learned a few things.

[@tomgerryinphilippines8817]

I got the magenta plan through t mobile before I left America. It costs me 70 usd and I still have my usa phone number. That helps me if I need to call my bank in USA or any other business that I need to get a text code back to my phone. It does cost me 25 cents per minute but I don't use it that often. I do get free text messages and use my home wifi for internet. I do get some free data but don't really need it as I only use wifi while I am home here in Philippines. It costs me 70 usd per month and have it on autopay. I know there are cheaper options as you mentioned but I like to keep it simple.

[@phil-be-health]

Much cheaper options out there. Google around and look!

[@acw2237]

70 usd per month and still must pay 25 cents per minute?

[@rfbos]

Calling VA or SSA you sometimes you wait about a minimum 20 min, then the actual call talking. That can cost you about $10, on top of your $70 plan. Very expensive.

[@ThePhilippinesProject]

Your videos are packed with information. I've got a whole list of stuff I'm going to look at now. I've been coming here since 2007 of and on and I never really got the phone system here. Thanks, that cleared a lot of it up!!

[@RichTravel1010]

Awesome, thank you!

[@DigitalNomadsExplore]

The Philippine cellphone system is complicated. So thanks for your tips.

[@NelsonCummings]

Yeah I was talking to someone and they needed more load. I guess we have unlimited for like 29 or 39 bucks. Okay so thanks for this channel. I'm watching it now. I'll figure it out. Yeah I didn't know landline is one price cell phone. Another price anyway, I had no idea. Thanks

[@andrewwatkins1561]

Very informative!

[@TheMuffie007]

Well done Justin, and your rocking the Hawaiian shirt...my man !😎

[@justininarkansas7792]

Its mainly what I wear since I was a high school teacher 35 years ago.

[@fishonaquabid]

Good job. Thanks for the info. Reminded me that I have to get my phone set up soon.

[@electro1145]

the new iphones do not have a sim card in the phone ,they use a e-sim,not sure if they have e sims in pi now

[@justininarkansas7792]

I have only heard one guy say he had to get a 1 year phone plan to get a esim. other than that I do not know. I am still using iphone 6 ,

[@timcastleberry6187]

I use basic googleFi with no data outside US but has to be activated while still in US. $25/month. Works in over 200 countries including Ph. E sim, then add local sim for data and local number. I can get texts from banks as if I were in US with my googleFi US #. Also have a google voice number free. Vpn so I can be in US as far as google is concerned using wi-Fi or data sim as well using google voice. So I have 3 phone numbers which includes the Philippines number included with data there. Did it this way in Mexico for 6 months without issue.

[@jlynnburton9718]

Great info, Thanks SO much. Where in Ark did you move from ?

[@RichTravel1010]

Moved to cash till I find another broker

[@kevink1214]

Thank you!! very informative and timely. I will be going there for my first time very soon.

[@justininarkansas7792]

my first time was last Feb. It is better than I ever dreamed.

[@jondoe7012]

Thanks, very informative, just left the Philippines will be back in 68 days. I purchased a pocket Wi-Fi with data.

[@thaidawg9231]

Hey Jon, what's pocket wi-fi and where do you get it , cost ?

[@justininarkansas7792]

I will jump in since Jon has not answered. Globe has pocket wifi. though signal can be spotty. I used Verizon pocket wifi in US but have not tried it here so do not know the cost.

[@mimiong4096]

​@@justininarkansas7792 as of now. It cost $12 to travel with your jetpack

[@Synfulz]

Actually you have to hold the 0 to get the + sign before you dial 63 if you're calling from out of the Philippines.

[@justininarkansas7792]

thanks for pointing that out. I appreciate it.

[@DigitalNomadsExplore]

Did not realize that thanks!

[@ThePhilippinesProject]

That’s a great point. The first time I saw someone do that I thought it was like magic!

[@MikeWalker-g7f]

What’s a good cell phone to buy in the us that I can get apps I need like viber

[@EarleHartshorn]

I use GOMO, part of Globe. Very happy with it for past 6 months. I mostly use data, rarely use phone or text (I use messenger with most Philippines contacts or Google Voice for most US contacts). You buy blocks of data from GOMO, I usually buy 30 Gb of no expiry data for 300 pesos when they have a promo (almost every month). You can convert Gbs of data to text messages or phone calls, so I have 25 texts and 30 minutes of calls along with my data. No expiration, so I don't need to watch the data and buy a card at the right day. You can add GOMO data with GCash, so absolutely no hassle, no running to the store for load.

[@cyndig1670]

Thanks for your insight!

[@rickylee6129]

Excellent VIDEO 📹 👏 👍 👌

[@throughblindeyesmyphilippi2015]

Good job Justin 👏👍 My plan is to have two phones. My main one (Galaxy S22) which I use for my camera most times and when I pay it off next year it will automatically be unlocked so that's a plus. My second phone will be a dual SIM so switching between Smart and Globe won't be as much of a hassle and I'll just use that for local calls etc. I have T-Mobile which has an international plan that will work in the Philippines (so they say anyways..) so I'm going to try that out for the few weeks I'll be over there initially and see how it fares with my good phone. There's Magic Jack yeah but I'm not sure if that will allow important things like texts and messages from my bank so I don't get locked out of my account if I can't respond to them etc 🤔 So I might just end up paying a little extra for the International plan through T-Mobile so making calls and texts etc will be an easy process. That's my plan anyways. Will it work out? Who knows? Lol I'm just going to have to keep telling myself it's more fun in the Philippines 🇵🇭 🤣 Take care man 👍

[@justininarkansas7792]

it is good to have a Philippine number, because those guys who only use US numbers never get call backs from hotels, apt rentals, or anyone else you want to call you. I use three iphone 6, one with US sim. one with PH and one spare.

[@richardhowe5583]

@@justininarkansas7792 who do you have your USA phone service with? Thanks

[@EarleHartshorn]

Look at your phone, make sure that it has the radio channels that Philippines uses. I bought a new phone just before I left US, when I arrived I had terrible time getting signal. Turned out that my phone only worked on one Philippines radio frequency. I bought a new phone here that works much better, a lot cheaper than my US phone cost me.

[@peterchapman272]

Smart is hands down the best Specially in the provinces if you’re going to hang around Manila globe will work but not outside the metro area smart works everywhere

[@mikesimpson9997]

Thank you. Good advice

[@GM-wf6el]

Hello. I live in US. If I visit Philippines, I wouldnt be able to register sim cards bec I dont have Philippine ID. If I download Airalo or Halofly or Maya before leaving US, will I have data in Philippines after arriving without the need to register the esim? Can I continue to buy additional data while I'm in Philippines? Thanks

[@RichTravel1010]

Yes, you can get a plan then no more need to register they told me

[@dovoso5685]

Very important info, tnx for sharing

[@jocunningham]

Also make sure your phone is unlocked b4 flying to the Philippines

[@jocunningham]

@@newtonlee10 so u can use your phone in the Philippines when you buy simcard from other carriers. Ask your carrier from the US or elsewhere to unlock it for you. You don't need to go to the store just call them.

[@justininarkansas7792]

good suggestion. I did not think of that because my 3 phones are all iphone 6.

[@justininarkansas7792]

an unlocked phone then can be used with any carrier. I think you have to pay off the phone and finish your service plan before they will unlock it.

[@ByronWatts]

Got [royally] bitten by trying to use WiFi calling because I made the mistake of doing a software update on the phone which erased my WiFi calling setting. AND, it is required to connect to a tower in the USA to have the phone know that WiFi calling is supported by my plan before it will let me turn it on again....and, I won't be back in the USA until September.

[@franciscusjohannesburger3720]

Thanks for the video !

[@brianadamson6607]

This is good information . Would be expats do the big stuff but sometimes forget the small stuff 👍

[@NelsonCummings]

Great info. Couple people said they had to keep putting load on their phone. And I just assume everyone had like unlimited like here in Florida, United States. I think it's mint mobile 29 and 39 bucks a month unlimited. Everything. Okay so I don't know why it's so different. Landline is one price. Cell phone is free or another price anyway. Then I got to figure out how much I'm going to use. Okay, I'll be going in February so I'm glad I'm doing the homework now and I have an unlocked phone so that shouldn't be a problem. All right? Thanks. Thank you guys

[@pilotdrh]

GOMO is owned by Globe. I got it because the data doesn't expire. You can convert some of your data for minutes and or texts. I'm glad they finally have number porting here....took them long enough.

[@deadbugdoug]

Make sure the phone you bring is unlocked.

[@ejtaylor73]

@@newtonlee10 Will try to keep it simple. A locked phone can only be used in the region it is locked for (i.e. locked to Europe or U.S it will only work in those countries). If you have a locked phone, you need to contact your service provider and ask them to unlock it, be aware some will do it, some won't. Some may tell you it's not possible to unlock your particular phone, but if you buy this brand new one they can do it, that's a lie, they can do it, but they're a business and want to sell more products. You can go to Amazon and find plenty of phone options that are already unlocked (Would be cheaper to ask your service provider to unlock it 1st though), with the unlocked phone you can swap out sim cards from different regions and use the phone as usual (i.e. An unlocked phone that has a U.S. region sim card, you can take it out and put in a European sim card and you're all set to use your phone in the new country). Hope that helps, if you want more in depth info you can search Google or KZbin on it.

[@justininarkansas7792]

ask you current carrier if they will unlock. Att verizon tmobile etc. if unlocked then you can use other companies. I bought a new Samsung A10e for $124 unlocked with dual sim slots and international frequencies. I could not learn android menus and went back to my iphones also once here Opo veans phones are cheap to buy if you do not want to carry an expensive phone

[@countryroads5234]

Most usa carriers now require the phone to be paid off or bought before unlocking them and you must ask them ahead of time

[@richardhowe5583]

Next time talk about setting up magicJack and Google phone and Google fi and show how to set it up and how it works.. thanks 👍👍

[@justininarkansas7792]

good suggestions. I bought Magicjack in US at Walmart for $40. put it on my laptop and chose a new Arkansas number. You can also chose to port your existing number on to magicjack. With magicjack purchase you get magicapp for your phone. I have it loaded on 3 phones. but can only use it on one phone at a time. I renewed for 5 years for about $150. I can call any US number for free from anywhere in world. and anyone in US can call me whereever I am. They can leave a voice nail. There is no text messages , no pics sent, no bank codes received. When I am on wifi the calls are great. when I am not on wifi it depends on signal. Houses here are block walls, small windows and metal roofs. so go outside to talk.

[@LB-ty6ks]

Good information.

[@undercover1968ru]

So your viewers know if your on Verizon you can not use wifi calling in the Philippines or other countries unless your phone is actually bought from a Verizon store I found that out after i bought a new phone ( not from verizon) it wouldn't work here so I called Verizon and they explained it have to have been bought and activated in a Verizon store

[@RedneckNFilipina]

Love the hat WPS. Northeast Arkansas here.

[@ronp8970]

Thank you for the information. Is Google voice a good option for expats in the Philippines for calling the USA

[@justininarkansas7792]

yes it is. however I like Magicjack, it costs about $35 per year with a 5 year plan. It does not need to use wifi and I can call US using the app

[@EarleHartshorn]

I use Google Voice daily here in the Philippines, very happy with it. It has been my main phone number for 10+ years both US and abroad. Only problem is that you can't pair it to a non-US number, so it doesn't ring directly to your Philippines phone, but they can leave VM and you can make outgoing calls from your Voice number and send and receive text messages with no issues.

[@pilotdrh]

I use it mostly to get bank codes, Social Security codes etc. Works fine for voice calls also. And you can't beat free. Just remember to get your number in the US.

[@davidshipman2623]

WPS Justin from Arkansas

[@banjammy7367]

Welcome

[@bj5083]

👍

[@countryroads5234]

Salamat for the excellent info…gonna have my fiancé in Duma get the better data plan for higher GB for a little more pesos

[@Cons2911]

I use google voice. Kept my US Number that way

[@danthedrivingman9294]

Do you have an email ✉️ address? Or way to advise me, personally, with compensation for your efforts? Let me know.... Greatly appreciated! * In the USA leaving & moving there soon, in 2024.

[@RichTravel1010]

[e-mail]

[@timlee5260]

Do you use WhatsApp?

[@justininarkansas7792]

no. I only got facebook this year when I came here. I am not a social media person or good with tech

[@olenygaard9430]

look for e-sim card air alo see you from ole denmark

[@horstguenterstahr7728]

girls from america are more expensive.

[@toddhomman2569]

Can I keep my AT&T? AT&T says they work in the Philippines, and that I should not have an issue there. I will just keep a mailing address in the USA if it does. I pay $80 (us) for lifetime unlimited everything including Intl calling/texting. "I got it when AT&T was caught stealing from me for 44 months (which btw I tried every month or every 2 months to tell them they were over charging me monthly, they did not listen until I FINALLY made even enough HELL that the Presidents office called me directly and someone finally listened. In the end they have to sent me a $5800 check for overages and compensation, and I worked out a special deal to stay with them which was lifetime unlimited everything. :)

[@RichTravel1010]

I’m not sure on this. You gotta call them to see if you could live here and still have use.

[@countryroads5234]

Better make sure it’s unlocked too…had a similar experience with the old Sprint overcharging a couple of years …T mobile made it right when they took over but had to call corporate several times

[@steveestep8916]

how do you keep your usa phone number

[@RichTravel1010]

You can port it over to MagicJack or MagicApp

[@justininarkansas7792]

one way to to keep paying your current US plan. I am keeping my Straight Talk plan through walmart for another year on one of my phones. other way is to port the number to magicjack. I am not sure if other VOIP companies allow you to port your current number.

[@Cons2911]

Use gcash, gcash is widely used in the country, even restaurants use them.