Is the need for an "International" SIM Card ending?

[dg7feq]

Originally Posted by snidely

And to rub more salt into the wounds of "foreigners" - all U.S. carriers offer unlimited voice for $100 (much less on T-Mobile, Sprint, and some small carriers). So, Kupe could have his unlimited data and unlimited voice for under $170.

For Roaming or domestic?
Domestic flatrate tariffs are cheap here, only roaming kills you.
I can get the all-net flatrate including data for less than 30euro at Vodafone and o2 at the moment.

Chris

[snidely]

Originally Posted by dg7feq

For Roaming or domestic?
Domestic flatrate tariffs are cheap here, only roaming kills you.
I can get the all-net flatrate including data for less than 30euro at Vodafone and o2 at the moment.

Chris

As Kupe mentioned, with ATT he could get unlimited data (both domestic and intl) and unlimited domestic voice for less than $170. Seems to me, IF someone is going to be in one country like yours, and can get unlimited data for 30 Euros - that wold be the way to do - IF you didn't have to sign up for a long term plan.
Technical question: Is it possible to make voice calls over a data connection with something like Skype?
One would have to be a big intl. traveler to pay the $67/mo. for domstic and intl. data. If you just wanted domestic data, it would be about $30/mo.

...mike

[dg7feq]

Originally Posted by snidely

Seems to me, IF someone is going to be in one country like yours, and can get unlimited data for 30 Euros - that wold be the way to do - IF you didn't have to sign up for a long term plan.

These 30 Euro contracts have unlimited data and voice. So no need to do VoIP. But these are contracts with 2 years run time.
Unlimited voice on payg cards cost you about 40 euro (its actually a minute based tariff but capped after 40 euro, so if you only use a few minutes a month you will only pay these minutes).
Unlimited data is exisiting, but technically they throttle down the bandwidth to GPRS if you use more than x GB a month.

Chris

[petkow]

Originally Posted by snidely

Technical question: Is it possible to make voice calls over a data connection with something like Skype?

Yes. This has been discussed all over this forum many times. VoIP (Skype, SIP etc.) is possible on many networks around the world. Some networks do not officially allow it (but it still works) whereas other networks manage to block it all together. Personally, I have never had significant problems with any network I have tried it on, providing I have a good UMTS signal.

[Grampa]

This is a little OT, but has anyone had experience with European versions of those "MiFi" devices like the Virgin Mobile card that was discussed earlier in this thread? If I could pay $40 a month for unlimited (or at least a couple of GB) data, with no contract, I'd be very interested, particularly if I could roam within Europe and/or swap out SIM cards.

[andy]

Originally Posted by snidely

And to rub more salt into the wounds of "foreigners" - all U.S. carriers offer unlimited voice for $100 (much less on T-Mobile, Sprint, and some small carriers).

I'm not sure those wounds need treatment.

Originally Posted by snidely

Seems to me, IF someone is going to be in one country like yours, and can get unlimited data for 30 Euros - that wold be the way to do - IF you didn't have to sign up for a long term plan.

On prepaid here, you can get unlimited calls texts and internet for £30 a month. Some customers on that network do even better than that.

with fewer minutes, there are some even dafter offers, either prepaid or one-month contract, such as 150 minutes, unlimited texts and internet, £10 a month prepaid, or 100 minutes, 100 texts, 100 MB, £5 on a one month notice contract

the cheapest prepaid data for phone use here will have been free for a year by December this year, 100 megabytes a day fair use, just a £10 starter credit needed - ok, it's a promotion, and was extended, but there all the same

so, yes, a global SIM might not be needed here for someone coming only to here, but I'd still use it for free incoming calls in Europe (and elsewhere if I go), though outgoing calls on it might be watered down by using a local SIM or VoIP and wi-fi

[petkow]

Yes the UK has it good. I don't actually think there is any other country where the cost of mobile telephony is as low as in the UK. I really do miss that aspect of living there, but then the weather really sucks!

[MATHA531]

Originally Posted by andy

I'm not sure those wounds need treatment.



On prepaid here, you can get unlimited calls texts and internet for £30 a month. Some customers on that network do even better than that.

with fewer minutes, there are some even dafter offers, either prepaid or one-month contract, such as 150 minutes, unlimited texts and internet, £10 a month prepaid, or 100 minutes, 100 texts, 100 MB, £5 on a one month notice contract

the cheapest prepaid data for phone use will have been free for a year by December this year, 100 megabytes a day fair use, just a £10 starter credit needed - ok, it's a promotion, and was extended, but there all the same

so, yes, a global SIM might not be needed here for someone coming only to here, but I'd still use it for free incoming calls in Europe (and elsewhere if I go), though outgoing calls on it might be watered down by using a local SIM or VoIP and wi-fi

....and don't forget the dirt cheap international calls available on most of the UK networks or through third party entities!

[netterchef]

Originally Posted by andy

I'm not sure those wounds need treatment.
the cheapest prepaid data for phone use will have been free for a year by December this year, 100 megabytes a day fair use, just a £10 starter credit needed - ok, it's a promotion, and was extended, but there all the same

With vodafone.ie you get 50 MB per day worldwide for 0.99 € - no promotion!

Vodafone.ie faq:

What about roaming and Mobile Internet?

Vodafone Mobile Internet is the same price when roaming abroad as at home. The service will be accessible from any country where we have a 3G or GPRS roaming agreement.

When you top up, you can make calls for 6 months and receive calls for 12 months.

Once you top up, all previous credit (unless it has expired) then becomes valid. After 12 months, your credit expires.
For example, if you go 9 months without topping up and have €5.00 credit left, you won't be able to make calls. But if you then top up by €10.00, all €15.00 of your credit will be available for making calls over the next 6 months.

[snidely]

Grampa - I forget what kind of phones you have. When in So. America last month, we made use of BB's free messaging system between any BBerry in the world the couple times we got separated. Guess we could have used the 67 cents/day for unlimited BB email on each phone.