Maxroam (aka Roam4Free V2)

[SKO]

Andy: valid critique but overly cynical. Instead of just having a go at us for trying to do something why not give it a go. If it doesn't work for you and we charge you more money than alternatives then let us know.

Sure we leverage the blogs and the internet to get attention. We're just a small company in the south of Ireland how else are we supposed to do it? Take out a multi-million dollar marketing campaign?

Anyone who is reading this and isn't immediately cynical please feel free to e-mail me with your address at "sean(dot)omahony(at)cubicmobile(dot)com" and I'll send you a free SIM.

If you think it's crap then by all means rip us to pieces. If you think we could improve it then please let us know your thoughts but don't just trach the idea without giving us a fair go.

[emka]

For my needs the product looks at first sight very interesting. But since it's totally new there aren't any experience reports out yet and I don't want to buy a pig in a poke.

I will travel in November to Japan for two weeks and need an international Sim. When a competitor started to sell a new product I decided to get it (UM+). Soon afterwards I had to learn that it won't work in Japan as advertised, the country disappeared without announcements from the rate sheet.

In the MAXroam FAQ it is mentioned that costs depend on "where you are and who you are calling". However at the calculator it is only possible to choose the location of the caller but not the destination of the call. So I am not sure on the costs (for example what it costs to call from Japan an Austrian mobile).

Only time and experience reports will tell whether it is "crap" or something everyone wants to get.

[hrgajek]

Hi,

Originally Posted by emka

I will travel in November to Japan for two weeks and need an international Sim. When a competitor started to sell a new product I decided to get it (UM+). Soon afterwards I had to learn that it won't work in Japan as advertised, the country disappeared without announcements from the rate sheet.

You should take the UM423 SIM from United-Mobile, this should work in Japan (but only, if your phone includes WCDMA - Technology (AKA "UMTS" in Europe) and you are using the network of Softbank (formerly Vodafone Japan)

If you can't get one UM423 at United-mobile contact www.callfrom.de
or http://callfrom.de/CSLH/livehelp.php...1&pingtimes=15

He still has some fresh UM423-SIM-Cards in stock.

[harryb]

Originally Posted by SKO

Anyone who is reading this and isn't immediately cynical please feel free to e-mail me with your address at "sean(dot)omahony(at)cubicmobile(dot)com" and I'll send you a free SIM.
.

Too bad that user name is unknown by that server.


Although they can't spend the big bucks on ads, they must have a great PR person who got David Pogue of the New York Times to write a feature article on MaxRoam in Thursdays paper. He gave the concept a rave review and only in the last few sentences did he reflect the reality of what is actually provided.

harryb

[MATHA531]

Originally Posted by harryb

Too bad that user name is unknown by that server.


Although they can't spend the big bucks on ads, they must have a great PR person who got David Pogue of the New York Times to write a feature article on MaxRoam in Thursdays paper. He gave the concept a rave review and only in the last few sentences did he reflect the reality of what is actually provided.

harryb

Here's the link for the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/te...ref=technology

Quite an interesting article but obviously the author has little experience with international roaming....he is amazed, for example, that in order to make a call you have to dial the number, wait for a callback, and listen to a voice saying please wait while we complete your call! And he is absolutely fascinated that you have the ability to take a T Mobile US or AT&T phone, provided it is unlocked, switch the sim cards and you now have a phone with a different worldwise number...how revolutinary...I wonder why others haven't thought of that (he also neglects to discuss the frequency issue and that a cheap T Mo and AT&T phone lacking both 900 and 1800 will not work in Europe and that a phone lacking one or the other might not work in certain places)....he also gives the caveat that calls travel over the internet and your call will be perfectly understandable but slightly muffled with a delay (nobody ever mentions that calls made with those calling cards that give loads of minutes for next to nothing also travel that way).

But it is an interesting article worth taking a look at.

[DRNewcomb]

Originally Posted by MATHA531

Quite an interesting article but obviously the author has little experience with international roaming....he is amazed, for example, that in order to make a call you have to dial the number, wait for a callback, and listen to a voice saying please wait while we complete your call! And he is absolutely fascinated that you have the ability to take a T Mobile US or AT&T phone, provided it is unlocked, switch the sim cards and you now have a phone with a different worldwise number...how revolutinary...

You are looking at the average American's level of understanding of international roaming.

[MATHA531]

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

You are looking at the average American's level of understanding of international roaming.

I suppose.

[Stu]

I was the subject of an article for doing precisely this in 2003 (apx) Wall Street Journal. I guess the Times is behind the curve.

[SKO]

Originally Posted by harryb

Too bad that user name is unknown by that server.


Although they can't spend the big bucks on ads, they must have a great PR person who got David Pogue of the New York Times to write a feature article on MaxRoam in Thursdays paper. He gave the concept a rave review and only in the last few sentences did he reflect the reality of what is actually provided.

harryb

My apologies the e-mail address should be: "sean(dot)omahony(at)cubictelecom(dot)com"

And yes we got a great PR person to help us. Someone I have worked with for many years and who I can highly recommend if any of you need PR support.

[ygeffens]

MAXroam updated the rate-page just minutes ago.

http://www.maxroam.com/how-much-does-it-cost.asp

It's better than it was before. Just one thing is missing, the price for an additional local number.

I'm curious when I get my account info. I'd like to see the management pages.