Confused About Minimum Buy-In for Meteor Data in Ireland

[ronwi]

The free voice roaming is interesting - the dedicated roaming SIMs have free incoming calls, but the caller must call an expensive number in the IOM or some other expensive +44 number.

I travel with two phones - a smart phone, and a non-smart GSM phone. I think I will buy a Tesco SIM for voice, and have a free Meteor SIM posted to my hotel (for data.) However, as I do like to experiment, I will test the Tesco SIM in the smart phone and see how it performs.

Originally Posted by drama queen

Be careful with Tesco Mobile. They are an MVNO on the O2 network, and some services have been deliberately dumbed down to differentiate from the host network service. For example they don't offer 3G HSPA data speeds. There are also many reports of them not interconnecting with other networks for voice and text.

Meteor generally have the fastest data network in the areas where it is available. Meteor are also interesting in that they now offer "free voice roaming" in Europe. If you are planning on travelling anywhere else in Europe after you leave Ireland, the Meteor SIM will give you free incoming voice calls. You will pay for outgoing calls at standard Irish out-of-bundle rates.

[drama queen]

Originally Posted by ronwi

The free voice roaming is interesting - the dedicated roaming SIMs have free incoming calls, but the caller must call an expensive number in the IOM or some other expensive +44 number.

I travel with two phones - a smart phone, and a non-smart GSM phone. I think I will buy a Tesco SIM for voice, and have a free Meteor SIM posted to my hotel (for data.) However, as I do like to experiment, I will test the Tesco SIM in the smart phone and see how it performs.

In general, calling all terminating mobile numbers in Europe will cost you significantly more than calling landline numbers. If you call an Irish Meteor or Tesco Mobile number from US or elsewhere, it is likely to be more expensive than calling an Irish landline number. Probably similar to calling a UK mobile. Hence, buying an Irish SIM may not save a lot for your callers. It does mean that you don't have to worry about roaming charges for incoming calls on your own bill, however.

[ronwi]

I understand that mobile numbers are more expensive to call. My point was that the roaming SIMS frequently have mobile numbers in special prefixes in the UK that are more expensive to call than ordinary UK Mobile numbers.

Originally Posted by drama queen

In general, calling all terminating mobile numbers in Europe will cost you significantly more than calling landline numbers. If you call an Irish Meteor or Tesco Mobile number from US or elsewhere, it is likely to be more expensive than calling an Irish landline number. Probably similar to calling a UK mobile. Hence, buying an Irish SIM may not save a lot for your callers. It does mean that you don't have to worry about roaming charges for incoming calls on your own bill, however.