Yackie Mobile (New features, Same old company)
 

I never read much about Yackie Mobile on these forums as it was something that never interested me, but for one reason or another, what they offered on their website like local phone number, free calls to its IOM based number for the SIM, global data roaming, etc..

I made the order on 26th July 2007, then regreted that i ever made the order for 99 USD, when i read what was said about Yackie Mobile on these forums.

Then on the 07th August 2007 i get an email saying that the SIM will be delayed til after 13th August 2007, this is the first contact from them as the Live Help on the website didn't help much, the telephone numbers for customer service got nowhere and emails where not replied to, with no way of tracking what happen to order on the website.

Today the 20th August 2007 i get post from France containing my Yackie Mobile SIM and nothing else, no instruction, no information for my account, nothing !!

I find they have no longer use a UK based SIM card, they seem to be using 09 Mobile rebrand. I say this because my 09 Mobile is +354 380 38x xxx and the Yackie Mobile is +354 380 38x xxx, also all 09 Mobile branding is removed from the SIM's software replaced with "Roaming Services" expect the customer services number is +3545850909 which is 09 Mobile's customer service centre

Receiving calls have not been possible yet

Looks like it is SMS enabled but have not been able to try this yet, only receive balance by text from a +41 number which is different from the way 09 Mobile tells you your balance

Don't know what my local number is yet

Don't know how or if data roaming is available or settings for it

My bonus 69 USD credit is missing

Since no calls can be receive, only made, i don't if calls are FREE to the +354 380 38x xxx number

Tried sending them an email, so i'll see what happens from now

The day afterwards United Mobile brought out their UM+ service, even with all the problems they have had, i've nothing like worsning experience i've had with Yackie Mobile so far

Found a carrier that incoming calls to this card will work on, only problem is the incoming Caller ID is screwed up

All start *+ then how much ever of the number missing

For example +441132925555 usually looks something like *+292555

Agree the new UM+ service was a little glitchy to start, but at least customer service is friendly and they quickly fixed an activation problem I had with my new sim chip (SMS initially worked but not voice) and they also patiently explained their new PayPal billing system to me (wanted to used a different credit card than I had used in the past).

On Yackie Mobile, their service unfortunately sounds like it is "not fit for purpose". Agree there have been too many complaints about Yackie so I've never gotten their sim chip. If they can't quickly rectify the problems you have, you may want to consider contacting your bank to dispute their charges, and also relevant consumer protection authorities.

If i get no reply or progress by close of business tomorrow then i will definately be speaking to my bank and escalulate a complaint to Ofcom (Telecoms Regulator for United Kingdom, IOM, Channel Islands, etc..)

I can't see how Ofcom could be involved with a SIM that has an Icelandic number and no UK (nor IOM) office. They don't regulate foreign communication services that happen to get mailed to a UK address.

If it was an IOM number (07624/07924), the regulator is the Isle of Man Communications Commission, not Ofcom. But it's not.

Doesn't sound like Yackie have any sort of working service yet. Dispute the charge if they don't offer a refund soon. (BTW, SMS has never worked with 09, so unlikely to do so with this if it is a white label version of 09).

I was curious because on 09 Mobile you get you balance by callback on this Yackie Mobile (09 Mobile rebrand) you get your balance by SMS sent to the handset

Thanks for the legal info about Ofcom

The SIM card just seems to be a 09 Mobile SIM card which has a USD balance instead of the normal EURO balance found on 09 Mobile SIM cards, nothing Yackie Mobile about the card yet feature wise

One good thing for the card so far is it is an 09 Mobile based card that will send and receive SMS all using the same number +354 380 38x xxx

Callback is strange, instead of hearing a dial tone, or like with the IOM sims voice prompts with dialing tone you just hear hold music, which makes hard to know if the person you are calling is engaged, not-working, etc.. till the call at the other is picked up, it is like you are calling blind not knowing what is happening to the status of the call

Like TravelSIM and UM+ sim cards there is no way of activating Call Waiting on this Yackie Mobile (09 Mobile rebrand) SIM card, phone menu based or the *43# option

<i>Caveat Emptor</i> - especially if purchasing from YM after reading about all of the troubles on this board.

Celtrek - www.celtrek.com - offers many (if not all) of the same features as YM - except they have friendly helpful customer service, and their SIM works, and is not a 09 rebrand.

If it helps any, there apparently is a UK office of Yackie in addition to their 2 US offices(Florida and Delaware):

14 Hackwood Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5ER, UK

http://www.yackiemobile.com/main/contact/

Even though the sim is Icelandic, Yackie has a physical presence on UK soil so this may give you stronger legal recourse.

Thank you for the information

An office without a phonenumber? Looks like something virtual.
You want an office too? Give me just one day :-)
Including the Ltd. addition to your company.

I can add the phone number!

Another UK address if it helps (again of course with no phone number):

Europe Offices
Yackie Telecom Corp
Address: 72 New Bond Street
London W1S 1RR
United Kingdom

http://www.yackie.com/contact_us.php

Lot of language on their Yackie and Yackiemobile websites about their limitation of liability to cost of sim card purchased and stringent return/exchange policy on sim cards including a 15% return fee and no postage refund(assuming they are trustworthy enough to refund it, which I somehow doubt). Don't get a real good feeling about this company.

"Get a Mayfair business address for just £50.00 per month "

The Delaware address looks a bit crowded ...

Yackie now showing new website - same crap!
 

Thay have changed again. Not a single email or SMS to customers that currenty have the old sim with the 44762 (Actually GT-sim) number. I did not see any mention of what country the sim you get belongs to. They did mention that you get a local number of a country of your choice. Not sure if it's charged monthly or what?

http://www.yackiemobile.com/

+354 380 38x xxx Iceland Mobile (09 Mobile re-brand)

This explains why they have free incoming in so many countries.

Wonder if Yackie Mobile moved to 09 Mobile because they knew problems where coming up with CallKey/Isle of Man SIMs

No

.........

I received a new yackie sim a few weeks ago. I am assuming it was sent to all customers that hold the old sim. But have not really tested the call quality it as it's too expensive to use from here.

Yackie(/customers),

Scenario:

I create a free voip account with Yackie.
I use that account to call to the voip-account that belongs to the Yackie Sim.
I set forwarding to SIM.

I assume that the Voip-to-Voip-call is free (onnet-call).
When I'm in a country where I can roam for free:

• do I receive this call for free
• do I pay the fee as if I was called on a local number
• is this not possible

Whatever you do, surely there's still a forwarding cost incurred and charged to reach the SIM card?

The cost of calling Yackie is part of forwarding the call from the yackie voip account and I assume it is the usual cost.

Let me explain

Voip is independant from the SIM

VoIP to VoIP ( yackie to yackie using the yackie number is FREE )

The DID number is for incoming calls only, and can be forwarded to the Voip account AND/OR to the SIM only, and this is a direct set up, NOT a forwarding from the VOIP to the SIM. There is no cost for you to receive a call to the VOIP or basically to the SIM.

But because you still have to pay the leg B for your incoming call, we charge you a flat fees ( except in the countries where we have to pay a RPP ) of $0.29.

If you want make a call from the VOIP ( which came with a initial complementary balance for $1.00 which is around a 30 minute call to a land line ), you will use a virtual number for this call ( this is why it is not displayed on the Caller ID )

I hoped that this answers your question.

Regards

There is no cost for you to receive a call to the VOIP or basically to the SIM.

Please explain.

Example.

I have a voip did number and is on forward to the sim.
My location is, say UK in this example.

Someone calls my did number, this gets forwarded to the sim and if I understood what you are writting this is free.

How I understand it is, that the sim is where the call ends so what do you mean with leg B of the call.

(I have ordered your sim, so I am waiting and after testing I will let you know if I like or don't like it. Untill now the order process looks very nice and fast)

Hum, ok i was not clear i see,

I mean by Free regarding the DID is it is not cost attached to the DID for receiving a call, u dont need to have any credit on yoru voip account for receving a call on the DID, both for the Voip and the SIM

BUT because you still have the leg B ( the termination in your countrie ) we charge 0.29$ flat fees for a incoming call received on the DID

When yo use the 354 number, the profit make on this call is used for offering ou the free Incoming, who is impossible on teh DID ( because the DID do not generate a profit )

More clear ?

ps) you will love it

So when someone calls the 354 nr directly and I am in a roaming free country it cost me 0, nothing to receive the call.

If I am in the same country but someone calls me on my did nr and I pickup my cellphone I have to pay 0.29 cent per minute ?

If I call the DId numer but answers the call on voip (not cellphone) the call is always free.

And I'd like to add a question to that one.

If I call from Voip to voip, with forwarding set to SIM, do I also pay US$0.29 for receiving the call? I guess the answer is Yes? Or isn't it possible to do that?

YES!!!

and if you are using like me a GSM Wifi phone ( with Boingo installed inside ) you can roam to 200 000 Hot spot with your Wifi access.....and fully use the Yackie Solution

And this is our concept ( and we are working with Boingo for includ this connection in our product )

If you call from your Voip to the DID number attached to the VOIP?

OK if you are two Yackie USER....call directly the yackie number

Exemple

You are yackie Ygeffens Yackie Number 123 45 67

You call yackie Bobb Yackie number 123 45 89 BUT DID 1 212 456 78 99

Why you want to call him on his DID, when you can just dial his yackie number ? ( like skype we also provide off course a Voip to Voip for free )

BUT if you dont have yourself a yackie Voip account, but you use one other Voip provider, when you will call to the DID, you will have to pay the call from your Voip account to the DID, and OFF course teh Incoming call for the Yackie User who will receive the call on his VOIP account is.......FREE