Tigo... vs Verizon, Cellular South, AT&T... and any other American Cellphone Company

I used Cellular South and recently switched to Verizon before coming to Laos. They both seemed ok....UNTIL I met Asian cellphonage.

I still complain bitterly when Tigo drops my calls or doesn't come through on a deal I signed up for. They don't reach everywhere (but hey, this is a 3rd world country too) and they don't have any easy payment plans (that I would trust). They DO have a 3G network in extremely limited areas (which actually does connect to the internet).

However! Here are a few tidbits that I think I like much better than ANY American company.

First, the rates a pretty simple: 100kip (1.2 cents) per text message and 900kip (11 cents) per minute calling. They also have a deal going on now: 3,000 kip (35 cents) for 10 minutes (or about 3.5 cents per minute). I made a nice phone call for over an hour and paid only 23,000 kip (about $2.70). This is all Tigo-to-Tigo of course, and the rates go up a little to call other cell phone companies.

Second, HERE's the real catch: you don't pay to receive calls or text messages!!! In other words, I only pay when I send or make a call. If someone calls me, there's no charge. B-E-A-U-T-I-FUL! I always thought this was unfair in the US. Someone calls you and you get charged for it! Nevermind that you didn't want to talk with them!

Third, there are no random taxes, insurances, emergency costs, or completely idiotic line items on the bill. I remember getting a Cellular South bill and getting charged for something like "Emergency Services Tax"... right! Like the government doesn't take enough from my meager student budget. Tigo is a card-refilling service that doesn't have plans (good and bad), but also doesn't have random costs. Love it.

SO, this brings me back around... I dislike how American Cellphone companies make you pay exorbitant prices to send a text message or receive a call. At least make it a cheaper rate for someone to call you!

Anyway... my little rant.