New Mobile Phone Service Providers (098)
Tuesday, November 6, 2007 21:05Applifone Co. Ltd is leading technology from Swedish telecommunication giant Ericsson to invest one more mobile phone service provider, Star-cell: 098, entering into Cambodian market, by expecting to invest US$150 million by 2017. Start-cell provide customers with services such as call waiting, call forwarding, conference calling, MSM SMS, voice mail and fax transmission.
During promotion campaign, company provide free calling to Star-cell (098) but charge for calling to other networks. It is free to connect internet with mobile phone.
It is because of free internet connection with mobile phone, I spent 2 hours to buy Star-cell SIM card (098) on Saturday morning in order to use internet by connecting with my mobile phone (N93). After connecting with my mobile, its speed is fast but not so stable. Now, it is available for me to use internet at home by connecting with Star-cell.
Besides Star-cell, there are existing three companies providing mobile phone service into Cambodian market: MobiTel (012), Camshin (011) and Hello GSM (016).
I noted that most of new customer who are waiting to buy Star-cell’s 098 service are young youths, because it is free of charge for calling the same 098.
 Youths are waiting outside company office before working hour starts.
 Youth customers are sitting in the waiting room on the round sofa, waiting for calling chosen number from staff.
kosal says:
November 6th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
yeah it’s really good, i’ve just bought two simcard. lucky i know the staff who worked there so i no need to wait, just fill the form and choose the phone number. hehe now i’m enjoy talking with my girlfr without pay at all. good star-cell.
Thomas Wanhoff says:
November 7th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Ok I think they will offer the free calls just to get more customers during the promotion period. I am using cellcard right now, and I am not sure to switch or not. So does Star Cell work in the whole country? Or at least in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville? And by the way: My german Nokia seems to be sim-locked, any experts here who know how to unlock?
khmertale says:
November 7th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
they give us two months to decide whether to stay or go. you don’t lose anything just 5$ and you ready to make call for free. if you have no one to call you can call me
.
vutha says:
November 7th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Kosal, you are luckier than me, no need to wait for 2 hours.
Thomas: As i know this service is covering in Phnom Penh and Takmoa only. they will extend area services next year. it is only free charge during promotion.
you can go to check with Phone Shop in Phnom Penh to unlock your phone.
Khmertai: I have no one to call with, hahahah, What is your number? my number is 098614535 but i never use it for calling, i use it when i need to connect internet.
khmertale says:
November 8th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Global Voices Online » Cambodia: Mobile Internet says:
November 9th, 2007 at 1:11 am
[...] A new mobile telco is offering free mobile internet and attracting the geeks in Cambodia. Share This [...]
VuthaSurf says:
November 9th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Khmertail, yes it is true. in fact, i am not the kind of that person. Hahahhaha. If I have your number, i just want to contact you for some works in case i want to ask you.
khmertale says:
November 9th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
hehehehe we used to be co-worker. you can get my number from TaCam…
vutha says:
November 9th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Khmertail, what is your real name? If we are really co-workers. I know you too, right?
Free wireless Internet! « Details are Sketchy says:
November 10th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
[...] November 10th, 2007 That’s what Vutha says. Surely there’s a catch? Posted by DAS Filed in Cambodia, Tech [...]
sophea says:
November 12th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Please help me to configure 098 to use internet.
My phone is Pocket PC O2 mini.
I have set up on my phone (internet setting)
such as :
connection Name : Star-Cell
Access point name : internet
modem : Cellular Line (GPRS)
I connect my phone with PC via USB cable. The PC can communicate with Phone successfully (driver installed).
What should i do ? please help
VuthaSurf says:
November 12th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
In fact, I am not specialized in IT. Now, I try to tell you. what u told me is that you installed program of your mobile phone already.
You have to connect your phone to PC and then choosing program of your Phone in PC. next, selecting “Setting” in order to choose your phone’s modem and click next. And then you fulfill “internet” into “Access Point”. while “user name” and “Password” keep it blank. and finally connecting it.
Right now, u can check internet directly on your phone?
if it does not connect it, you should go to Star-cell company for assistance.
I now always connect internet with phone to laptop but its speed is not fast.
Borin says:
November 15th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Hey here’s help to activate your GPRS service:
Press *120# ==>Press Dial
there you’ll have the option to activate or deactivate many services.
By doing so you can save time, cuz without having to go back to the long waiting at the company.
Again, the access point is: internet
No password required
One more access point is: wap
Also, no password required
vutha says:
November 15th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Thanks Borin for your help.
Lee says:
December 1st, 2007 at 3:09 am
Thanks Borin, Vutha & Sophea for your sharing. I just got a simcard and don’t know what to do with it beside make a call. Now i can do what i want. Thanks again. Have a nice day!
Borin says:
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:58 pm
See places where you can buy 098 sim card here:
http://borin.ws/?p=49
Borin says:
December 4th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
User Manual for 098 available here
http://borin.ws/?p=51
Virek (013878887) says:
January 15th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Star-Cell charged cheap rate in outgoing call, Good. But when someone need to order number. Wow It is very expensive. So how the company have policy to reduce the price? As my tel no buying, It is not too cheap and expensive.
AG says:
December 13th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I have two questions. Please help if you can. First, what is the best, cheap cell phone service in Cambodia now? (I don’t care about special services, but just cheap fees and rates in the country.) Second, I want to get a cell phone now, but then I will leave Cambodia and come back 4 months later. Will I lose my phone number? Can you recommend the best service for me? Thanks.
vutha says:
December 14th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hello AG, i use Mobitel and Metphone, it means that i am using two service. The price of each phone service provider is similar if you call interconnection network. For my idea, I recommend you to use Metphone (prefix 097xxxxxxx) or other services if you like. You will not lose your number if you do not use your number during 4 months. in case, when you come back to cambodia and your number cannot get incoming call, you should contact phone service provider in order to activate your number again.
If you need to know more detail information, you should contact with phone service providers where you use.