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[NFH]

There is likewise an annoying process on iPhones when you switch SIM cards. The iPhone sends a chargeable SMS to +44 7786 205094 and/or +44 7537 4102X1. These numbers are Apple's iMessage and FaceTime activation servers hosted by Vodafone UK. Presumably this happens on the iPhone every time you change IMSI; it certainly happens with an Orange UK SIM card when switching between lines on Enhanced Line 2. As Toggle have yet to issue nano-SIMs, I haven't been able to test this yet on my iPhone 5.

[ronwi]

I wonder where the "order" to send the SMS originates? I would have a hard time believing that the phone issues the order, given that Iphones are sold around the world and I doubt that an Iphone in the US for example would send an SMS to the UK. Was the Iphone in question originally locked to Vodafone?

BTW, I have a Toggle nano SIM - it was a regular one that I cut down to size using a SIM cutter and it works fine.

Originally Posted by NFH

There is likewise an annoying process on iPhones when you switch SIM cards. The iPhone sends a chargeable SMS to +44 7786 205094 and/or +44 7537 4102X1. These numbers are Apple's iMessage and FaceTime activation servers hosted by Vodafone UK. Presumably this happens on the iPhone every time you change IMSI; it certainly happens with an Orange UK SIM card when switching between lines on Enhanced Line 2. As Toggle have yet to issue nano-SIMs, I haven't been able to test this yet on my iPhone 5.

[NFH]

Originally Posted by ronwi

I wonder where the "order" to send the SMS originates? I would have a hard time believing that the phone issues the order, given that Iphones are sold around the world and I doubt that an Iphone in the US for example would send an SMS to the UK. Was the Iphone in question originally locked to Vodafone?

The iPhone gives the order to send the SMS. It displays a warning the first time a SIM is inserted but doesn't do so on subsequent insertions of the same SIM. It is puzzling that the iPhone can remember a previously used SIM card with regard to the warning message but still needs to send the text to verify the SIM's phone number when it has already done so for the same SIM in the past.

All iPhones send SMS to these Vodafone UK numbers, irrespective of who supplied the iPhone or SIM card. If you look around various forums, you will see complaints about this from many countries. There are rarely complaints from UK users because most UK users have inclusive SMS to other UK mobile numbers; the problem affects UK users only when roaming. Many (but not all) iPhone supported carriers suppress the charges for SMS to these numbers. I also believe that a US number has been introduced to run in parallel with the Vodafone UK numbers, although the iPhone's criteria for its selection are not clear.

[tux]

I'm wondering when will Lycamobile use the assigned italian MNC to issue sim-cards (along with its new assigned italian mobile prefix: 351 0)

I think that when they're ready, they will use them to provide also IMSI and local numbers to Toggle customers.

[inquisitor]

@ChrisNeedsToKnow
According to this post the Galaxy Nexus actually supports STK but - obviously due to a bug - the app will only appear if there is a PIN set for the SIM card.

During a trip via Luxembourg and Belgium to the Netherlands on the weekend I noticed that automatic IMSI switching works unreliably on my Nokia 1200. While crossing Luxembourg it didn't register on local networks, instead Belgian Base was the first roaming network my SIM did register to. But it did not switch to my Dutch IMSI for half an hour after I had entered the Netherlands. On my way home however it did automatically switch back from the Dutch to the Roaming IMSI after a couple of kilometres into Belgium.
Reliability of the automatic IMSI switchting probably very much depends on the STK implementation of the used handset. Unfortunately I don't see how IMSI switching could be improved since at least Android doesn't provide an API for low level access to the SIM card so you cannot send the appropriate commands from an Android app to the SIM (discussed here).

[ChrisNeedsToKnow]

Originally Posted by inquisitor

@ChrisNeedsToKnow
According to this post the Galaxy Nexus actually supports STK but - obviously due to a bug - the app will only appear if there is a PIN set for the SIM card.

Wow, thanks, that actually works.

Originally Posted by inquisitor

During a trip via Luxembourg and Belgium to the Netherlands on the weekend I noticed that automatic IMSI switching works unreliably on my Nokia 1200. While crossing Luxembourg it didn't register on local networks, instead Belgian Base was the first roaming network my SIM did register to. But it did not switch to my Dutch IMSI for half an hour after I had entered the Netherlands. On my way home however it did automatically switch back from the Dutch to the Roaming IMSI after a couple of kilometres into Belgium.
Reliability of the automatic IMSI switchting probably very much depends on the STK implementation of the used handset. Unfortunately I don't see how IMSI switching could be improved since at least Android doesn't provide an API for low level access to the SIM card so you cannot send the appropriate commands from an Android app to the SIM (discussed here).

What a pitty - with daily crossings such long outages are unacceptable. I´ll test how it goes, and if unreliable I´ll instruct the person in question to manually select. I hope it won´t be necessary. Will report back after I get a chance to test it in the CH/D border area.

Thanks again, rgds, Christian

[tux]

Today I received and activated my Toggle NL sim, but my Nexus S (with CM 10.1 - with STK support) can't register on any network. I've coverage from all the 4 "italian" carriers...

[ChrisNeedsToKnow]

Originally Posted by tux

Today I received and activated my Toggle NL sim, but my Nexus S (with CM 10.1 - with STK support) can't register on any network. I've coverage from all the 4 "italian" carriers...

Did you go to the STK and select the "roaming" profile?

If this doesn´t work, I suggest the following procedure, which already saved me:

Go to the STK and select any country except "roaming" or "automatic" (I´m aware Italy isn´t offered). When having selected any IMSI, try to manually connect to any available network. This should not work with an error ~ "no access to network".

Next, reselect "roaming" via STK, and then manually select any network that you want, or choose automatic network select. It should now work (again).

Good luck,
Christian

[tux]

Uhm, if I click on "toggle" from the STK menu, nothing happens. I'm going to try on my HP Veer.

[ChrisNeedsToKnow]

Originally Posted by tux

Uhm, if I click on "toggle" from the STK menu, nothing happens. I'm going to try on my HP Veer.

fantastico - I was already writing something else, which now seems superflous.

Why did you go for Toggle NL? They have €prices, but the 9c/connect isn´t just as attactive. That´s why I´ll mainly use my UK-card.

Rgds, Christian