Price: $47.95 You'll need a GSM Phone to go with this card!

The prepaid SIM card for Philippines is easily the least expensive solution for making and receiving cellular phone calls while you are in Philippines. ALL incoming calls, regardless of their origin, are always, absolutely FREE! Outgoing rates, as outlined below, are extremely inexpensive as well. And since these cellular phone cards are prepaid, there is no need for a contract.

Having a cellular phones while travelling internationally is indispensable in terms of security and convenience, and with a prepaid Philippines SIM card, it is now also affordable! We also offer other overseas destinations. Click here to view our complete list of prepaid SIM cards!

Features:

• FREE incoming calls - always!
• Philippines Buddy prepaid SIM card
• A local Philippine cell phone number
• US $11 worth of talk time FREE
• Voicemail / SMS (text messaging) / WAP
• International SMS
• No yearly contract, monthly charges or credit check

note: Country specific SIM cards can only be used with GSM cellular phones. You will need to rent or purchase one of our unlocked GSM phones designed for overseas use. For the Philippines SIM cards, you will need a GSM phone with 1800 MHz compatibility.

Call from the US to your Overseas SIM CARD number at SUPER-LOW RATES with International Calling!

SIM cards that are opened are non-refundable.

Package Deals:

Motorola RAZR V3* and the PHILIPPINES SIM Card Both Together Only $207.95!  You Save $49.95
More Info	Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz Bluetooth and USB connectivity 260K colors LCD screen 3.86 x 2.08 x 0.54 inches 3.35 ounces

PANTECH U4000 and the PHILIPPINES SIM Card Both Together Only $172.95!
More Info	GSM 1800/GSM 1900/GSM 900/UMTS 2100 LCD (Color) PANTECH U4000 / U-4000 BLACK UNLOCKED (Full Pack)

Motorola SLVR L7 and the PHILIPPINES SIM Card Both Together Only $217.90!
More Info	Motorola SLVR L7 Quad Band GSM GPRS2 Class 10( 2U/4D) MMS2, EMS 5.0

*These phones will also work with all of the other SIM cards we sell. See all our SIM Cards

Activating Your Service:

• Be sure that battery is charged
• Insert the Buddy SIM card into the mobile phone
• Turn on your phone
• Type in PIN 1 (if required 1234 is the default)
• Start calling

Your Philippine telephone number is located above the bar code on the SIM card and begins with 918.

Adding Talk Time:

To refill reload or otherwise recharge your Buddy prepaid SIM card you will need to purchase an airtime voucher also commonly know as a prepaid card (NOT to be confused with SIM card!!!). These prepaid cards add airtime to your SIM card. Airtime vouchers are available locally at most tabac shops, convenience stores and petrol stations that display the Buddy logo.

Depending on the amount of airtime you would like to ad to your SIM card there are 3 denominations available: Php 300 (US$5.60), Php 500 (US$9.35) or Php 1000 (US$18.70). To reload simply:

• Scratch the card to reveal a 14-digit code.
• Dial 1510 + 14 digit PIN and Send.
• A voice prompt will confirm your successful reload attempt.
• The total of the card is automatically added to your calling credit.

For balance inquiries simply dial 1515 [send] and a voice recording will state your remaining Peso balance.

Rates:

Philippines Domestic Rates (per minute)
Call Type	Peak	Off-peak
Local	Php. 8 (US$0.15)	Php. 4 (US$0.07)
NDD*	Php. 8 (US$0.15)	Php. 4 (US$0.07)
SMS (Text Msg.)	Php. 1 (US$0.02)

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

Philippines International Rates (per minute)
Area	Peak	SMS
USA	$0.40	Php. 15 (US$0.28)
European Union, Switz. & Norway	$0.40	Php. 15 (US$0.28)
Australia	$0.40	Php. 15 (US$0.28)
Japan	$0.40	Php. 15 (US$0.28)

Service Life:

The SMART Buddy prepaid SIM card must be ‘used’ before the stated expiry date printed on the back of the card. If you do not arrive in The Philippines with your SIM card before the expiry date then the SIM card will be invalidated.

You have 60 days to consume the value of a SMART Buddy prepaid card (airtime voucher) from the date it is loaded into your SIM card account. Any remaining value will be forfeited after the 60-day period.

When your account balance reaches ZERO you have 120 days to reload more airtime to keep your account active. During this time period you can continue to receive incoming calls for free.

Coverage:

Cellular coverage in Philippines is excellent, far exceeding typical cellular coverage in the US.

Ciphering the Tagalog Language

By: Ted Wiersma - [travel]

Posted 12/03/05

Learning the Tagalog Language is essential if you plan to communicate in the Philippines. Tagalog is sometimes also called Filipino or the Pilipino Language. So as not to get confused, let me explain the difference between the terminologies. Tagalog is the national language of the Philippines. It is spoken by about 23% of the population. The remaining spoken languages, the remaining 77%, is divided among approximately 175 other dialects. Tagalog, being the Official National Language of the Philippines, is considered as the base language. If you look at the other dialects, you will see numerous Tagalog and Tagalog derivatives in them. And most who do speak these other dialects, understand some Tagalog. So learning Tagalog is essential.

That being said, you may wonder what Filipino or Pilipino is. This is a combination of both Tagalog and other dialects and languages. Filipino or sometimes Pilipino (its older name) is an amalgamation of all the Philippines languages, English and Spanish combined together. Since English as well as Tagalog is taught in the schools in the Philippines, many people tend to speak Tagalog with English words mixed in the sentence. At that point they are talking Filipino. So now you see how important it is to learn Tagalog. Once you take the time to learn some Tagalog, you will be able to communicate in Tagalog as well as Filipino.

I hope this information has given you insight into the differences of the terminology which sometimes becomes confusing. Please feel free read my other articles which will help provide a crash course on the essential knowledge you need about the Philippines.

Salamat !

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