I’ve had a Chunghwa Ideal Card for about 10 years. I don’t live in Taiwan anymore but keep the thing going as a number of contacts have my number.
I got an HTC Desire this summer and returned to Taiwan for a couple of weeks. I assumed it would just “work” (albeit at a price) - but there was no internet availability. Just had normal GSM telephone availability. Now returning to Taiwan for longer. It would be really handy to have internet working on it.
Friends have given various responses, calls have been made to Chunghwa and shops visited. The gist is: I really need a 3G SIM card, probably better from another network and anyway it would involve a change of number. Not really sure what a 3G SIM card is - by UK SIM is 9 years old and just worked - didn’t think SIMs would be fixed to a particular network technology.
Anyway, I don’t really want to sign a contract (probably wouldn’t be able to anyway) or change my number. Happy to change networks. Cost of data/calls not important as it’s light usage. Any suggestions for getting 3G going on my phone so I can pickup emails etc?
I could consider a second SIM, but I already carry two other phones (which roam in Taiwan) so would prefer not to do this.
You need to switch the APN to “emome”. Then data will work, but at a very steep price. I would go to a CHT and ask them to see if you can get set up the card to be prepaid unlimited data (eg: for days or a month at a time) with prepaid voice.
Taiwan Mobile (MyFone) also offers a prepaid card that lets you get unlimited data in 1, 3 and 5 day increments. It is 350 for 5 days. There is no longer term option, but 2100/month is not too bad if you can’t get a contract due to being a traveller. They only require a passport and an ID from your home locale.
If you want to access the 3G network then you need a 3G card. Some networks around the world don’t distinguish between their 2G and 3G sims (technically “3G sims” are actually UICCs running the USIM app). Others like Chunghwa do. Anyway the 3G sim is green. Just go into a CHT office and request one and they will happily replace your 2G sim. It might take a few minutes if you want to have the balance of the 2G sim transferred over.