Good afternoon All.
I've read recent posts about using Bali SIM cards to enable both local and international communications on your mobile while on holiday. I have a Telstra pre-paid mobile (Nokia 2600) that is currently "locked" into the Telstra network. If my understanding of recent posts on this subject is correct, I believe I should do the following to enable my Nokia phone to be used in Bali:
1. Arrange for my phone to be "unlocked" from the Telsta network (either in Australia prior to departure or upon arriving in Bali). Enquiries I've made regarding doing that here (in Perth) indicate this would cost about $35 through various mobile phone dealers - or $50 to get Telstra to do it. Does this sound right?
2. Alternatively, the "unlocking" of the phone could be done in Bali - can anyone confirm this and what price would I expect to pay over there? Are there pitfalls/risks in doing this in Bali?
3. Once the phone has been "unlocked", you can then purchase a local SIM card which uses the local Indonesian Telco. (I presume we are only talking about a pre-paid arrangement here, rather than a local Indonesian "plan" - am I correct on this?) Is there a separate cost for the purchase of the SIM card itself, and then a separate cost for whatever amount of credit one wishes to purchase? I've seen recommended in previous posts a PRO XL SIM. Would fellow Forumites concur with this choice of SIM card, or are there better?
4. With a Bali SIM card, I presume I will have to have a different number, not the one I have back home - is this correct? If this is the case, therefore, I will need to call/text those back home whom I want to keep in touch and inform them of my new number (which will apply for the duration of my stay in Bali.
5. When I leave Bali, I presume I must remove the Bali SIM card and re-inset the Aussi SIM card that was taken out to renew access to the local Aussi network - and return to using my previous mobile telephone number.
Feedback and/or corrections with regard to the above would be appreciated.
Again, thanks to the Forum for its useful information on Bali.