Free SIM are for people they emailed.
 

I called them and they said the free SIM promo was for people they sent an email to with the promo code.

Ah OK. SO I presume I will not get that free SIM I ordered with that code above, as at least a 1000 people have probably used the same promo code! :(

hmmm, having just looked back through some emails (to last Wednesday), I think I can confirm that the codes ought to differ

I think you have to make one call a month to keep it active, though I find their site very confusing and vague. Rates go up and down (up, up, up, mostly, actually). At first Canada rates was $.75 per minute and $1 per 1mb data, which was quite good, now it's $1.05/m and almost $3/mb... not so attractive anymore. USA local has gone up from $.10/m to $.15/m as well... anybody got their card yet? Does it work with Google Voice?

Truphone new 07408 sim card
 

Truphone has released there new "LOCAL" sim card. The mobile number used for the UK is now 074088 xxxxx.
This has a FM5 charge band.:eek: This is a higher call rate than there original truphone 079788 number (FM3) :nono:

So if you intend to use there data service to logon to truphone or use there roaming service, Looking at there rates as this could work out very expensive. NO FREE ROAMING :flush:

BT PRICE PLAN

- -- - Day - Evening - Weekend
fm1 - 12.41 - 11.74 - 3.61
fm2 - 24.01 - 17.03 - 7.65
fm3 -14.53 - 7.84 - 6.97
fm4 -13.33 - 10.84 - 5.88
fm5 -15.44 - 8.03 - 5.01
fm6 -21.54 - 16.11 - 3.93
fm7 -14.91 - 8.41 - 7.15

Just to note that we www.travelsim.co.uk use a FM1 charge band

I received the local sim card a few days ago. I'm happy with it so far, at least you can call and be called :) It is roaming on Rogers. A few observations/questions:
- I haven't managed to get data to work. I set it to "use data when roaming", but it won't connect to the Internet at all. I'd like it to work for emergencies... any ideas?
- Google Voice does not work with it, or at least it won't accept the voicemail option. Not a big deal really. I have not tried to call using GV yet.

So far, so good. I always wanted a cellphone without any subscriptions or ties. Here in Canada even prepaid cards force you to top up your card once a month with at LEAST $10, and you get all kinds of extra fees such as 911 access (mandatory fee), and number recognition/voicemail/call waiting (optional).

Now, with these international roaming cards, With these you have only one obligation and that is make one call a month to have it stay active. Now, let's hope Truphone doesn't go belly-up like some others...

Would a Canadian local sim be a better choice ?
 

You do know you have a inbound call charge of $0.70 per minute and to call within Canada will be $1.25 per minute.

999, 112, 911 services or any other emergency service is not available

Would a Canadian local sim be a better choice ?

i'm wondering how this could not be available - i mean this even works if you toast your SIM card... :-)
Chris

No! :p

Even with the obligatory 1 call a month, in that case I only pay $1.05 per minute (not yet $1.25 thank goodness). It seems to calculate by the second as well, so it would probably be less than that.

Apart from that, I hate hate HATE the local companies here, period. I'm a spoiled European! I don't want to be FORCED to pay $10 top-up whether I need it or not, or lose my number! As WELL as pay $0.45 per month obligatory emergency fee, as WELL as tax, as WELL as pay seperately for call waiting, voicemail and call display, never seen such a rip off.

I cannot imagine why 911 would not work, though I have not tested it yet, for obvious reasons. However even without a simcard, it says "emergency calls only", I thought being able to make emergency calls was pretty much a given in any country.

Could be wrong, but i thot you could dial 112 or 911 even w.o. a SIM installed.