Data sims plus Canadian calling from UK?

PhotoJim · **Data sims plus Canadian calling from UK? -** 09-09-2014, 17:39

Hi,

Looks like our second UK visit will be in May 2015. Alas, my Camel SIM with Orange died after I forgot to top it up a couple of years ago. The trip will involve a week in London so coverage in the boonies is not really an issue.

Here's what we likely need:
- 2 iPad SIMs, 1-2 GB each - we use these in the field so we don't want to depend on WiFi
- data SIM (so I don't need to buy hotel WiFi), 2-5 GB should do; I'd consider tethering devices to one of the iPads but it's not my favourite solution. I have a lovely TP-Link mini-router so I can use unlocked data sticks I already have (3G) or buy a local LTE one (my LTE ones don't likely support EU bands).
- 2 voice SIMs, could just be voice/text but better if they come with 200 MB or more of data. If there were something like Orange's Camel that permitted cheap direct calling to Canada, that would rock; we found that so convenient last time we were there.

(I'll need the same for France [Paris only] so if there's some solution that will also work in France for some or all of these, that would be tempting, but I'm expecting to buy a similar set of solutions there.)

Suggestions?

Last time we used Orange for Canadian calling and O2 for UK calling and inbound calls (I didn't know about Orange until I got there, otherwise I might have used it exclusively), and I picked up T-Mobile for tethering. We didn't have tablets and my Treo smartphone didn't need a lot of data.

Things have changed, though.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

Stu · 10-09-2014, 14:51

If you have a prior recharge on a Three SIM, you can roam in France for no extra money.

http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home

That said, I'm wondering about an EE prepaid SIM for the future because of its support for wifi calling on an iPhone.

PhotoJim · 10-09-2014, 21:04

Thanks for the suggestions. No tethering while roaming, but that might be livable. And the EE one is worth considering too.

	(#1)
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 389 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	Data sims plus Canadian calling from UK? - 09-09-2014, 17:39 Hi, Looks like our second UK visit will be in May 2015. Alas, my Camel SIM with Orange died after I forgot to top it up a couple of years ago. The trip will involve a week in London so coverage in the boonies is not really an issue. Here's what we likely need: - 2 iPad SIMs, 1-2 GB each - we use these in the field so we don't want to depend on WiFi - data SIM (so I don't need to buy hotel WiFi), 2-5 GB should do; I'd consider tethering devices to one of the iPads but it's not my favourite solution. I have a lovely TP-Link mini-router so I can use unlocked data sticks I already have (3G) or buy a local LTE one (my LTE ones don't likely support EU bands). - 2 voice SIMs, could just be voice/text but better if they come with 200 MB or more of data. If there were something like Orange's Camel that permitted cheap direct calling to Canada, that would rock; we found that so convenient last time we were there. (I'll need the same for France [Paris only] so if there's some solution that will also work in France for some or all of these, that would be tempting, but I'm expecting to buy a similar set of solutions there.) Suggestions? Last time we used Orange for Canadian calling and O2 for UK calling and inbound calls (I didn't know about Orange until I got there, otherwise I might have used it exclusively), and I picked up T-Mobile for tethering. We didn't have tablets and my Treo smartphone didn't need a lot of data. Things have changed, though. Thanks in advance! Jim CA: SaskTel, Wind postpaid; Rogers, Bell postpaid iPad flex plans; US: T-Mobile postpaid data, prepaid voice; PureTalk (AT&T MVNO) prepaid voice/data; AT&T prepaid iPad plan Hardware: Too much but notably iPhone 5, iPad Mini Retina LTE, Moto G LTE (N.A. version), iPhone 4. All unlocked.

	(#2)
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Guru Posts: 1,091 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Detroit (formerly Dubai) Country:	10-09-2014, 14:51 If you have a prior recharge on a Three SIM, you can roam in France for no extra money. http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home That said, I'm wondering about an EE prepaid SIM for the future because of its support for wifi calling on an iPhone.

	(#3)
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 389 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	10-09-2014, 21:04 Thanks for the suggestions. No tethering while roaming, but that might be livable. And the EE one is worth considering too. CA: SaskTel, Wind postpaid; Rogers, Bell postpaid iPad flex plans; US: T-Mobile postpaid data, prepaid voice; PureTalk (AT&T MVNO) prepaid voice/data; AT&T prepaid iPad plan Hardware: Too much but notably iPhone 5, iPad Mini Retina LTE, Moto G LTE (N.A. version), iPhone 4. All unlocked.