"World Data Option Month" by Swisscom

[AndreA]

It's really expensive but it can be a good solution for someone...

World Data Option Month
- CHF 149.00 / month
- Including 100 MB
- Each further MB CHF 3.00
Settlement in steps of 300 kb

[ from http://www.swisscom-mobile.ch/scm/kd_datentarif-en.aspx ]

They have another solution, cheaper if you don't have enough traffic abroad:

World Data Option
- CHF 5.00 / month
- Price per MB CHF 3.00
Settlement in steps of 300 kb

This is the list where you can use the 2 options: http://www.swisscom-mobile.ch/scm/kd...s_edge-en.aspx

If you want to have this possibility you simpy need a "Natel Data Time", a data postpaid Swisscom simcard. You'll pay only the activation (40.- CHF) and, if not used, the bill will be zero

The page about "Natel Data Time": http://www.swisscom-mobile.ch/scm/ge...odelle-en.aspx

What is NATEL® data time? A subscription without a basic fee for data transmission with Mobile Unlimited. You can choose from three tariff options according to your usage habits.

- Data Option Hour
CHF 0.00 / month (no free units included)
Tariff: CHF 5.00 / hour
Calculation steps: 50 cents

- Data Option 12 Hours
CHF 39.00 / month, free units included: 12 hours (in Switzerland)
Free units that are not used in one month will lapse.
Tariff from 12 hours: CHF 3.25 / hour (In Switzerland)
Calculation steps: 1 second

- Data Option Month
CHF 79.00 / month, free units included: 2GB (in Switzerland)
Free units that are not used in one month will lapse.
Tariff from 2GB: CHF 0.10 / MB (In Switzerland)
Calculation steps: 1 byte

Standard data tariff abroad is CHF 14.00/MB for data transmission with UMTS, EDGE and GPRS but it's recommend to activate a "World Data" option

[chrget]

Problem is that none of these options are available to Natel Easy (i.e. Prepaid) customers. At least the GPRS roaming charges of CHF 14.-- / MB (in 30 kB increments of Rp. 42 ea.) are also valid for prepaid customers.

This comes to not quite 0.9¢/kB, which is not too bad as far as prepaid data roaming goes. Granted, nowhere near the old Wind prices, but in this day and age you have to be thankful for small favours

I recommend checking the balance carefully while using GPRS/UMTS packet data services when roaming, though -- it seems their billing system is ... uhm ... less than precise (to say the least).

Speaking of Swisscom -- seems they lowered voice call roaming charges for their prepaid customers in most european countries (from CHF 2 incoming / CHF 3 outgoing to CHF 1 incoming / CHF 2 outgoing) and some more coutries beyond (e.g. US/AU/NZ/TR: from CHF 3/5 to 3/2).

At least that's what their Website claims these days.

Regards,
Chris.

[Przemolog]

Originally Posted by AndreA

- Data Option Hour
CHF 0.00 / month (no free units included)
Tariff: CHF 5.00 / hour
Calculation steps: 50 cents

- Data Option 12 Hours
CHF 39.00 / month, free units included: 12 hours (in Switzerland)
Free units that are not used in one month will lapse.
Tariff from 12 hours: CHF 3.25 / hour (In Switzerland)
Calculation steps: 1 second

So, they charge GPRS/UMTS i.e. packet transmission per time like CSD - a portable internet cafe .

[AndreA]

Originally Posted by chrget

Problem is that none of these options are available to Natel Easy (i.e. Prepaid) customers.

Not a so great problem since foreigner customers can have Swisscom postpaid contracts

At least the GPRS roaming charges of CHF 14.-- / MB (in 30 kB increments of Rp. 42 ea.) are also valid for prepaid customers.

This comes to not quite 0.9¢/kB, which is not too bad as far as prepaid data roaming goes. Granted, nowhere near the old Wind prices, but in this day and age you have to be thankful for small favours

true... anyway i'm using imode pass options by wind, 3 mega is better than nothing

[AndreA]

Originally Posted by Przemolog

So, they charge GPRS/UMTS i.e. packet transmission per time like CSD - a portable internet cafe .

Vodafone Italy has the same logic for their customers... they pay 15minutes/15minutes, only the older customers have the tariff by byte.

Anyway Vodafone Italia has an option for international data connections too. Not so interesting, but similar to the "Imode pass" options by Wind.

Vodafone Web Daily Travel Tariff ( http://www.areaprivati.190.it/190/tr...i_iDailyTravel ) you pay 15 € for 10 mega every 48 hours... the option can be renewed without any limit and has validity only with Vodafone partners (list -> http://www.areaprivati.190.it/190/tr...avel_operatori )

[andy]

That info on the Swisscom site is fairly low profile - was it a chance find?

I'm wondering how many other networks are introducing (slightly) cheaper data roaming like this.

[AndreA]

Originally Posted by andy

That info on the Swisscom site is fairly low profile - was it a chance find?

In fact I found the infos only at XXL InterDiscount shop in Geneva... there simply a flyer, then i opened the official site

(another link: http://www.swisscom-mobile.ch/scm/ge...usland-en.aspx , <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="cboxtitle">More than 25,000 Public Wireless LAN locations</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="cboxtextbgcolor">With a Swisscom Mobile NATEL® subscription, you have more than 25,000 international Public Wireless LAN locations available to you through our local partners. And it’s just as easy and quick as in Switzerland. Check here whether your hotel is a hotspot before going on your next trip abroad.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr> <td class="cboxtitle">Prices abroad (prices in CHF, incl. VAT.)</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="cboxtextbgcolor">With a Swisscom Mobile NATEL® subscription
Per minute tariff CHF 0.60)</td></tr></tbody></table>

I'm wondering how many other networks are introducing (slightly) cheaper data roaming like this.

It's time for a global reaserch

[aussiescott]

Am i missing something??

The world data option from swisscom for accessing data whilst abroad at CHF3 per mb seems incredibly cheap compared to every other option i have been looking at??

World Data Option
World Data Option Month
For all those who travel occasionally and transmit larger data volumes:

- CHF 5.00 / month
- Price per MB CHF 3.00



Settlement in steps of 300 kb

Suitability:
- Occasional data transmission
- Surfing and e-mailing with Mobile Unlimited
- Downloading documents
- Access to the corporate network
- The World Data Option is included in the prices for the Data Option Month and Data Option 2000 national tariffs.

Im in Australia and will be spending 4 months traveling around europe and would love to have internet access wherever i go but the best rates i have been able to find are upwards of 15-20 Aussie $ per mb.

This seems way better but i'm thinking i may be missing something (too good to be true )

If it is the way to go, what's the procudure for obtaining the sim card from swisscom? Can you order online and will they ship it overseas?

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Scott

[andy]

It seems those are the rates only for post-paid contracts, which from Andrea's post do appear to be available to foreigners, but I don't think any of us has actually done it.

I think a couple of the others have a prepaid tariff on Swisscom, so perhaps they'll add comment when they see this

[jeffharris]

Both Vodafone UK, and Cingular postpaid have similar "world" options. around $130/month for 100MB internationally. But, using 3g data, do you know how many (minutes) you could use up 100MB?!?! A good hour of surfing and such, NOT including streaming, can burn 20mb and more. It's not that generous..... you're better off buying daily WiFi -- usually, in the same country, you can use the same daily log on info, in multiple places, providing it's the same WiFi provider.