Time to review your ekit card's service life details

[rfranzq]

In the last few months, ekit has changed their cards service life details. I encourage everyone to log in and see how it effects you with what ever SIM cards of theirs that you have.

1. Recharge every 15 months--this is the same.

2. Use a 'charged service' every 6 months-was 9.

3. Initial credit lost if you do not buy time with purchase or recharge within 1 month.

4. "The full credit balance (including any remaining initial included call credit) will be automatically re-instated if you recharge your account within fifteen (15) months of last use, or purchase a new SIM card from Customer Service after fifteen (15) months." [Their words--not mine.]

5. US number inactivity issues. There seem to
be some differences between card explanations, so look up yours.

6. This added paragraph is found in the service life section of the SIMple Calling SIMs:
"Your ability to make outbound calls in the US and Canada is hibernated 10 to 28 days after your last call in the US or Canada, however your US number will continue to receive calls and text messages for up to two months after the last use of the service. You can reactivate the ability to make calls in the United States and Canada in three ways: online at SIMple Calling US cell phone service, over the phone using our self-service menu, or over the phone with a Customer service representative.


There are the changes I could easily find. Check for yourselves so you can see what is applicable for your SIMs.

[GadgetKen]

Saw that. The outbound call hibernation time appears to be longer than before. Think it was originally only 7 days, now it's 10 to 28 days.

I just got a 4 sim phone and put the ekit sim in position 3. Will see how long it lasts until it hibernates(made a test call on Saturday). If a long enough time period might make a longer call every now and then to keep the US outgoing calls live without doing the simplecalling.com reactivation button routine.

The US calling ability intrigues me because it allows (at least in theory) roaming on any US GSM system including minor carriers (my AT&T and T-Mo mvno prepaid sims probably don't allow or limit off-network roaming), roaming at reasonable rates in Canada, and the ability to receive calls outside North America on the US number.

Going on vacation mid-Dec to mid-Jan. Last part of vacation in Grand Cayman so will use the ekit sim card to save money on calls home. Will add money before I go there so that should take care of the 15 month refill requirement (last time I refilled was in March in Nevis).

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by GadgetKen

I just got a 4 sim phone......... If a long enough time period might make a longer call every now and then to keep the US outgoing calls live without doing the simplecalling.com reactivation button routine.

What is the make and model? Never heard of such a thing. Dialing 870 from the 'world' side of the SIM supposedly activates US service. Perhaps doing that once a week from the US side will keep it alive?

[adam917]

Guess it's time for me to log in to the account & see which date was the last time I used each of my eKit SIMs.

[GadgetKen]

Originally Posted by rfranzq

What is the make and model? Never heard of such a thing. Dialing 870 from the 'world' side of the SIM supposedly activates US service. Perhaps doing that once a week from the US side will keep it alive?

Fly-Ying (or Flying) F160 or private labeled as Otech F1 phone. Started a thread here: http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/mobi...eing-sold.html

Could try the 870 activate code or maybe just doing a free balance request might even keep it alive? Although it's cheap enough for longer US phone calls compared to my AT&T/Jolt MVNO sim card.

Interesting thing on the international side of the ekit sim chip is that it is sometimes cheaper in the non-US Caribbean for calls to the US, but for in-country calls, my Digicel sim chip is cheaper (exception would be Bermuda where the Digicel sim chip is cheaper for both).

[Stu]

It looks like CAnada just went through the ceiling. Ugh.

[rfranzq]

I just was looking on eBay today and both of ekit's sellers have adjusted their prices.