The same question was posted on the Piraha Website Forum by the same user, and the said question has been answered.

PSIM

thanks to Piranha support for rapid response,
had to go into Applications and clear data for Acrobits, then re-enter the username and password - now it works, will test the background-push mode.

just got a second Piranha for wife for upcoming trip,
in testing, I found that calls to UK number are much more than to regular mobile:
using google voice, it's 10c/min to an Orange UK number, and 21c/min to a Piranha UK number ( 7418-xxxxxx). Any thoughts?

somebody does not like Telna
 

Somebody does not like Telna.

International Numbering Plans

back from a cruise to Baltics, was using multiple sims.
Piranha overall was the best, in terms of rates and accessing numbers in multiple countries. Was often able to get data several miles offshore, and phone signal 10-12 miles.

And data rates in Europe have been reduced from 53c to 38c/MB. Goodbye Truphone! didn't bother to even try Tru, as their rates for non-EU residents are uncompetitive. Call back generally reliable, but occasionally had to try multiple times.

But SMS didn't work at all on Piranha, in or out, only got the "welcome to x country" message. I should have switched the "active" number to the UK one instead of US, but still, outgoing SMS didn't work at all.

Piranha's VOIP on Acrobits is excellent and cheap, and I love the fact it uses the same numbers as the main sim.

(For data, I also used O2 sim in old phone as wifi hotspot, initially 25MB for GBP 2 (2 pounds) - then they reduced to 15MB half way! Also, can only use for phones, when I tried to connect laptop, it locked up after a few mins, O2 must have tethering detection.

One weird thing, after nearly a week on cruise, the piranha sim started locking on to the ship's Cellular at Sea network - as phones "check in" and use data every 30 mins or so, this started costing me 2 pounds an hour (min 100kb charge, 10 pounds/MB), before I noticed and disabled data.

Truphone rates aren't convenient even for EU residents. ATM they're ignoring the EU regulation. (but I haven't tried if they have only to update their rates checker or if they're still charging the old rates.)

Kudos to Piranha, without any prompting from me (except perhaps the message above), they credited me for the data charged while connected through cruise ship. I'd be interested to see what their rates are for cruise ships, I think this is a new service.

Cruise ship rates are listed under Calling From:"On Waves", as far as I'm aware. They've been in the system for several months, as I asked them to add it for a Celebrity Cruises Transatlantic trip earlier this year. It only has Wireless Maritime Services & Maritime Communications Partner at the moment but rates have been lowered based on my notes. Seanet, GSM on the ship, and Navitas were removed from the rate calculator.

Actually, my Siminn Iceland Frelsi sim also picked up the ship's cellular signal. That sort of makes sense since OnWaves is a Siminn subsidiary. It didn't seem to allow for 3G data, though, which was probably too much to hope for considering the price differences between Siminn and general maritime 3G data. My Siminn sim isn't enabled for roaming outside of Iceland (requires a Credit Card registration for billing).

Piranha vs Telestial
 

Interesting post, since I am about to leave for a Baltic cruise and was looking for a SIM with a US number. I had been planning to use Telestial Passport (wasn't sure which one to order), but I hate their confusing rates (with different products being higher for one thing and less for another so neither is optimal) and someone on another board suggested Piranha, whose rates seem to be cheaper all around and have the US number so my kids can easily call us. I am a bit troubled by SMS not working since I did plan to use that. Was there something you found out after the fact that you could have done to make it work? Should you be able to receive and send texts on the US number?

How long does it generally take to receive this if shipped to the US?

It took about 10 days to receive my sim. My advice is to make sure you have a backup. My Ekit sim saved me when my Piranha sim acted up earlier this year.

Thanks.. I can get an Ekit SIM from Amazon with free Prime shipping if necessary. I guess I could spend $10 and get the Lite to have as a backup.

I just tested SMS, and it works in and out on the US number, but cannot send to the Piranha UK number - perhaps because it is not primary. But can call to both numbers no problem.
takes about a week for sim to arrive.
Enjoy!

So you said "I should have switched the "active" number to the UK one instead of US, but still, outgoing SMS didn't work at all." Were you trying to text to/from the UK number? I guess I have to read the documentation to figure out how this works and you select one number over the other.

But it sounds like you would definitely recommend it over the ekit Passport.

PS how was your cruise :-).

for the European cities, with the new EU roaming rates, a national sim (I used O2) is not too expensive and more reliable. O2 and Vodafone have good EU data roaming packages as well.
for Piranha you have to call them to switch primary number. Not sure why outgoing didn't work earlier and does now.
Piranha is call back, not everyone likes that. But overall it works well at low cost.
Messing around with sims and mifi was most exciting part of cruise... we were 'reluctant cruisers', part of larger family group celebration... Ports are interesting, and get your own guides, not the ship tours.

Different brand for backup.
 

You want to get a different brand SIM for a backup-- you don't want both SIMs to fail for the same reason. This thread will give some reasons.
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/inte...html#post41610

I meant I would get the Pirahna and then get the ekit Passport Lite as backup.

What happened to their Android VoIP dialer? On their site, it says

Piranha Android VoIP Download:
Notice: we are currently working on a new VoIP dialler please check back later.

I use the Acrobits dialler they recommend, works very well for me and now has a push data feature which also works well:D. They did inform me when questioned that they were working on a new free version, but they have not released it yet.

Is there a free version of that? When I went to their recommended dialer (I think that was it), it was like $6. I'm unlikely to make $6 worth of calls in the time I can get free wifi while on my cruise.

I use the Acrobits dialer as well, good quality even on 3G, better than skype. And 2 free inbound numbers, US and UK.
VOIP via Acrobits/Piranha using data via Vodafone on my mifi is best way to go!
(Have not got the 'push' working properly yet, not sure of problem yet)

Took 7 or 8 days for us to get SIM earlier this year. The only "problem" we noticed was that the first time you hit a new country it can take 2 hours to first register on the system. After that, no problem reconnecting to system. Excellent rates in most countries.

I decided not to bother with Piranha since they never responded to a question I submitted asking about shipping and was not comfortable about getting it in time for my trip. I was going to give in and buy the ekit Passport but then realized that Verizon is actually reasonable for data if I do the bundle ($25 for 100mb, cheaper than Pirahna) and texts (5c to receive, 50c to send). Voice they're not cheap on, even if you buy the $4.99 calling plan. But the ekit Passport Lite only costs $10 on Amazon and comes with 30 minutes of free incoming calling (plus $5 of credit, but the calling rates are high)! So I ordered that and will use it in my spare unlocked feature phone and between the two will figure out a way to make it work, plus I'll have a backup in case there are problems.

That could be a bit of a problem for me since I will be on a cruise and will only be in many countries for 6-8 hours!

Does the ekit Passport SIM have the same problem?

I should mention that the Piranha person contacted me as a result of my post here and apologized for not responding to my question and has sent me a SIM (although I have not yet received it). I leave for my vacation next Friday, so hopefully I will get it soon. Then I decide whether I use it in my Smartphone, or go with Verizon as I had originally planned and use the Piranha SIM in my unlocked phone (where I currently have the Passport Lite).

[QUOTE=misterbill;43533]
Does the ekit Passport SIM have the same problem?

QUOTE]

I have both a Piranha and E-Kit SIM cards. It is true that Piranha can take a long, long time to register on a network. Sometimes it is quick, but you can't count on it. They do have the best rates, though.

My E-Kit SIM pretty much registers within minutes and always seems to work wherever I am. (Usually on cruises).

My advice is if you get your Piranha on time, try it and leave it in your phone starting at about 1 hour before docking (you'd be surprised how far out a phone can get a signal) and see if it registers. If not, plan B... Ekit.

Thanks.. I got the Piranha SIM today. But here's my problem. I also have a plan C, which is to use my Verizon SIM and sign up for their $25 for 100mb data package (cheaper than Piranha although I need to buy in $25 chunks), which I need to do prior to leaving (or I pay the ridiculous $20 per mb). I know their voice rates are crazy so I do not plan to use that. And I have 2 phones, but only one is a Smartphone. So the real question is, which do I use for data? And the E-Kit Lite I bought comes with 30 minutes of free incoming calls, while I'd have to fund the Piranha account.

So I'd really like to decide between Piranha and Verizon for my Smartphone, and just plan to use E-Kit on the other phone. Switching SIMs on my Smartphone while I'm there will be less than optimal.

Do you really think plan A and B will work in ALL the ports? Don't kid yourself.
Buy the Verizon package, fund Piranha, and have a 'thing' to put the extra SIM in that is big enough that you won't misplace it.

Learn to swap SIMs also.

Well, it's a nice thought that A and B will work in all ports since they say they will! I guess I am being naive.

I know how to swap SIMs but the problem with that is that if I give out the number for one that's not in my phone, the person calling me won't get me. So what do I do then, give both out? That's a pain. Will I get charged for a call if someone calls me when the SIM is not in the phone?

Also, I did not mention it, but the free 30 minutes of incoming calling that came with the Passport Lite may well be enough to get me thru the 2 weeks. If not, it came with $5 of usage and a deal where you get $10 in bonus credit when you fund it for $10. At that point, it should definitely cover me for the 2 weeks. Of course, Piranha is cheaper, but I doubt I'll get enough usage for a $10 load (as compared to what I'd get with E-kit Passport).

The Piranha SIM came in a nice plastic sleeve that I can store the other SIM in when it's not in the phone.

You don't get charged.

I see only two options. Carry a second phone or buy a Dual SIM phone if this capable with Verizon.

'free' 30 minutes of calls
 

By the way you describe it, I am not sure that you understand what the 'free' 30 minutes of calls are.

The calls are for people calling you. They call a US 800 number than punch in you UK number---whose calls are free for you to receive any way. This is slightly complex and are you sure the people calling you will understand how to do it? Why not just give them your US number? Yes, get the $10 [+$10] with ekit. Is your voicemail free on the ekit card? Might be easier to have them call and leave messages on your ekit US number. You won't be charged and you can get the voicemail for free. With the time differences, voicemail is pretty slick.

Foolish question, hopefully not asked too late.
 

Yes, HTC Incredible 2. Confirmed that it works overseas.

Sorry to be obtuse. But is their a SIM in the phone right now?
[I assumed the phone works, I was concerned that there is a SIM in it. ]

Yes, there is a Verizon SIM in the slot.

Misterbill -
Make sure whatever phone you use for data that it isn't running lots of apps "secretly" in the background slurping data. It is hard to find everything that might be running.

Thanks.. I know that I will need to turn off background data. That should hopefully fix the problem of "secret" apps using data unexpectedly.

Piranha reduces the cost of Data Roaming in many countries: Check out our new rates on the main website, further global reductions to follow within the next 4 months. Watch this space for updates:D
Albania
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Croatia
Czech Rep
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Guernsey
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Jersey
Kazakhstan
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom

Just checked out the new prices :D I am off to South Africa in 10 days time, so the reduction has just come at the right time, great prices all round.

Back from my trip to South Africa and the Piranha Card worked fine on Voice, SMS and Data, VoIP worked well on the hotels free WI-FI saving me more than i expected. Minor coverage issues on Vodacom when out and about but nothing drastic.
I also see they have reduced more rates today, they seem to be really turning the screw on roaming rates. So far i am more than impressed, i hope it lasts:>).

Piranha Forum.

Piranha reduce rates in
1. New Zealand call-back rates lowered
2. Bulgaria call-back rates lowered
3. Georgia SMS and Data rates lowered
4. Azerbaijan Voice SMS and Data lowered
More reductions in many other countries to follow:>)

Data rates within Europe are looking good. I checked Spain and Germany, both which have 17 cents (US) per megabyte. Piranha may just become my default SIM when traveling in Europe.

Just seen another update on the Piranha site:

Piranha introduces direct dialing and reduces direct calling rates in.
Denmark
Ireland
Italy
Sweden
UK

I have checked out 3UK network , works fine on direct dial. Also tested data speeds which for me being located in a rural area are quite good.
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