Long Expiry US card with Roaming needed

[JDekit]

Originally Posted by cavok

Apologies in advance if this has been covered before, but I can't find any references to my need.

I shuttle between US and Australia a couple times a year. I would like a prepaid US card with US number on which I can get texts or phone calls when in Australia. I have looked at a Passport card from one vendor, but it says US number is deactivated after 7 days from last use. It goes on to say that it can be reactivated online or via customer support. This doesn't really cut it for me to reactivate via web every week.

I guess I could go on a plan with one of the big players, but this would cost me a lot.

Any advice?

Hi, I am the CEO of ekit, the provider of the Passport card. The US service is required to be activated to make outbound calls in the US. It stays active if you make a call or send a text once a week. You can re-activate by dialing a shortcode 870 from the mobile or going to the web. You can receive calls to the US service indefinitely, even if the service isn't active, provided you make a call or send a text at least once every 9 months. I hope that helps. Please send through any additional questions you may have.

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by JDekit

..... The US service is required to be activated to make outbound calls in the US. It stays active if you make a call or send a text once a week. You can re-activate by dialing a shortcode 870 from the mobile or going to the web. You can receive calls to the US service indefinitely, even if the service isn't active, provided you make a call or send a text at least once every 9 months.

As you have seen, the '7 day activation issue' raises worries among the users here. Not only for us here, but your general customers will need to be educated that when you get to the USA [and I assume Canada?] that you "just need to activate by dialing the 870 shortcode". I notice you used the word 're-activate'----can it initialy be activated by dialing 870?? Which ever is true, people will need to know. It is also good that the 9 months issue is a lot clearer than before [vs. 'you can lose the US number']. Your presence here is helpful for both your customers/users and the company--clarifying the unclear or at least finding stuff that is not clear in the terms and advertisements. thanks for all you comments.

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by JDekit

You can re-activate by dialing a shortcode 870 from the mobile.

From the ekit web site: 'How to get started' for one of the SIMs:

If outside the United States or Canada (and about to enter the United States or Canada), dial the Easy Dial number 870

Does the '870' short code only work outside of the US and Canada?

[JDekit]

Originally Posted by rfranzq

From the ekit web site: 'How to get started' for one of the SIMs:


Does the '870' short code only work outside of the US and Canada?

Yes, the '870' short code works outside the US and the UK. It works from all countries where service is provided. We wanted customers to be able to activate the US & Canada service from overseas prior to arriving in the US or Canada, so it's working on arrival.