Temporary cell phone (or phone card) in Indonesia / Bali?

I will be travelling in to Bali and Java in September. Any recommendations for a temporary or emergency cell phone I can purchase to use while there? Else, what are some of the best phone cards to use there?

2nd hand used cell phone is fairly cheap in Indonesia and you can get a prepaid card almost every where and they are very very cheap as well. if you are Western/European price would slightly expensive for you tho, just try to bargain as low as you can when it comes to buying the cell phone.

I would say Simpati would be the best.

If you already have a GSM mobile then bring that with you, as long as its not locked by your hone network then you can use it here.
Pick up a local prepaid SIM card for 2 or 3 USD. The largest operator in Indonesia is Telkomsel, they have the best coverage through the country, their prepaid brand is simPATI. The second largest operator Indosat also have extensive nationwide coverage and their prepaid brand is Mentari.
Either one of those should do, you can txt to Asia and Europe with either one which shuold keep you in touch

You can easily buy 2nd hand cellphone in Indonesia. But it is a little bit dangerous in bargaining. If you have cellphone itself(GSM) why not just bring over and use it.

About handphone SIM card, I can say that Indonesia prepaid card offer the cheapest around Asia Pasific. We have few cellphone network provider. National network provider is Telkomsel. It offer a nation-wide network service. The signal is the best among all but the price a little bit high. The price of the prepaid card will be Rp. 20000 (US$2) and inside the card already have value of Rp.20000. Another network provider is Indosat. The signal is so-so but the card has lots of promotion. I just bought one new prepaid card for only Rp. 7000( US$0.7) and the value inside is Rp. 15000. Amazing cheap. And they have promotion if you send 5 sms perday, they will give you 5 sms for free.

Enjoy your trip...

As a frequent visitor to Indonesia, I keep a Mentari pre-paid mobile card, which can be topped up easily. The service also allows international roaming provided you top it up before departure. You can buy a Mentari or any other SIM card at any mobile shop at malls/ markets in Indonesia. There was a small stall inside the Soekarno-Hatta airport in Jakarta but during my last visit in October 2006, I found it closed...maybe temporarily.

If you do buy an Indonesian SIM card, ask an Indonesian national to activate and top it up since most service instructions are in Bahasa. Any hotel staff would do it.

Do as i did last time around. Bring your mobile and buy a prepaid card in Bali.

Cheap to run and people will be able to reach you there, hotels etc...

Do get help to activate it, it is in bahasa... I enrolled a waitress at a local restaurant in Ubud to help me, she had fun....

By prepaid phonecard from Telkomsel. It's cheap and durable.

Get SIMPATI. They are sold everywhere. Even in the small villages

I recommend Simpati as the SIM card.. best calling card for calling in Indonesia, I think it's Beken Calling card but for international, I have no clue..