Israel GPRS rates

[sperial]

Another MVNO recently joined te prepaid market, with a plan called "pretalk": Youphone. SIM cards can be purchased at the MEGA and amm supermarkets and Alon gas stations. SIM cards cost NIS 39 (EUR 8.14), including ILS 30 (EUR 6.23) charge. Top ups are ILS 30 valid for 30 days or ILS 50 valid for 1 year, witj ILS 0.25 (EUR 0.05) per minute, SMS or 1MB data. A third tp up possibility is ILS 99 (EUR 20) for 1000 min, 1000 SMS and 500MB, valid for 30 days.

However, it appears that the best deal is Golan Telecom hybrid prepeid-postpaid service: It is rumored that the company started acceping nn-Israeli credit cards, wwich make it convenient for travellers. For ILS 99 (EUR 20.66) charged at the beginning of each charge cycle (hence "prepaid") you get unlimited minutes in Israel and to landlines in 55 foreign countries, unlimited SMS in Israel and 3MB data. Roaming is also cheap, and the contract may be cancelled at any time using the control panel on the internet site and answering a confirmation call.
Golan SIM cards cost ILS 39 (EUR 8.14) and may be purchased at the Bug computer stores, present in most shopping malls and centers.

[Effendi]

Hi Sperial!
After a long time I wrote the pages about hMobile and Youphone here on PrepaidGSM
Israel

Just a some little questions:
- Youphone: which networks uses?
- hMobile: how much credit is included in the starting kit?

Our pages about the 3 network operators are incredibly old: can you please write here an update? THanks a lot!

[sperial]

YouPhone uses the Orange (partner) network.
AFAIK hMobile's starter kit includes no credit.
Just to update on Rami-Levy - prepaid data packagas can be purchased and cost NIS 55 (EUR 11.64)/5MB or NIS 75(EUS 15.8/10mb)
Anyway, the best offer for tourists is Golan's "hybrid" prepaid/postpaid plan, as they accept non Israeli credit cards. An "unlimited" plan which includes unlimited minutes to landlines in 55 countries and 3GB data obviates the need to keep track of use or pay the hotel very high charges for connectivity. Just remember to disconnect the line when you leave the country (or change the plan to the NIS 9.99/month if you wish to keep the number). For a limited - but undisclosed - time the first two months of the "unlimited" plan is free of charge, as this new (1 year old) company tries to enlarge it's customer basis.
The prepaid offers by the "big three" (Orange, Cellcom and Pelephone) are changing very slowly as the Israeli market is moving toward the "unlimited" postpaid packages which cost ILS 60-120 (EUR 13-26) per month, with some plans including international calling. However, they do offer a more diverse selection of charge options.

[Effendi]

I already wrote the Golan offer on PPGSM too.

So the basic offers by the "big 3" are still the same?
Or should I update those pages:
PrePaidGSM: Orange (Israel)
PrePaidGSM: Cellcom (Israel)
PrePaidGSM: Pelephone (Israel)

[sperial]

That's right. I will try to update later.

[moua]

sperial :

Can we order a sim card, get 2 month free, then cancel suscription ? There is no minimum commitment with this offer ?

If so, how to cancel the line ? By phone, internet, letter ? Is there a minimum wait for that (eg, 30 or 10 days in advance) ?

That would be a very good offer for tourists
Even without this promotion.
Especially with their new "international number" service
https://www.golantelecom.co.il/web/news1.php

However, the drawback is the delivery and activation process (like almost all postpaid offers).

With Orange you can get a sim at more locations, including post office, even with aboard delivery SIM Big Talk card - Israel Post Shop

Usually i take a big bonus card Range of Orange BigTalk Prepaid Phone Cards
Then a package with the credit Orange Bigtalk - data packages

It's 30-50% coster than Golan but it's more flexible and i keep the sim/number over time.
Also, data speed seems a bit faster, am i right ?

Oh, BTW, do you know if we can take a data package from the credit "usage in Israel" or "usage in Israel & international" or both ? I don't remember

[sperial]

You are right - you may get the two months free promotion, at least with an Israeli credit card, I am not sure about the promotion when using a foreign one, although no restriction is posted on the site. As SIM cards can be purchased at most "Bug" computer stores, which means most major shopping malls and centers, and activated on the spot this should not be an obstacle.

Israeli regulations for cellular services are very consumer friendly - no contract commitment of any sort is allowed, nubbers ported within 30 min. from activation, phones should be SIM free (and old, SIM locked should be unlocked on customer's demand), surfing is net neutral, which means no restriction on VoIP calls etc.

Theoretically Orange's maximum surfing speed is 42 Mbps, compared with Golan's 21 Mbps. As I do not use netsticks, and the phones used by my family are restrivted to theoretical 7.2 Mbps I never bothered to check the actual speeds.

Data packages are for local use only. Roaming packages are offered to postpaid subscribers, but are very expensive.

[davidtheprof]

Piranha is now very reasonable for Israel, outgoing calls 0.15c, incoming 0.08, data 0.30c/MB on Celcom, 0.15c on Pelephone.
wondering if can get a virtual local 972 number for people to dial via Keku or equivalent that would forward to the UK or US numbers on Piranha sims

[PSIM]

Originally Posted by davidtheprof

Piranha is now very reasonable for Israel, outgoing calls 0.15c, incoming 0.08, data 0.30c/MB on Celcom, 0.15c on Pelephone.
wondering if can get a virtual local 972 number for people to dial via Keku or equivalent that would forward to the UK or US numbers on Piranha sims

We can do that yes Please contact admin for more information.

PSIM

[davidtheprof]

I've got two Israeli orange sims, I want to keep active for when I next go, one has a small balance, one zero.
Will an incoming text do the trick? it seems to be free, even in the US.

Has anyone tried this site, which offers topup service?
Orange Top-up

but they seem to charge about $7 extra per topup (and Orange takes another 7 NIS from each topup).

thanks