International Travelling Sim

MSE_Martin

Years ago i wrote about the Mint card a multi-country cheaper Sim system. Now https://www.sim4travel.co.uk has launched something similar.

I'm still waiting for a lot of details on it - but thought you may find it interesting to take a peek at in the meantime

(feedback from anyone who's trying one is very welcome)

wizz

similar to other companies promoted here in the past... using SIMs from Liechtenstein which have no roaming charges.
Problem is the quality of reception & out-going call can normally be so poor as to be an absolute joke!

the best method probably remains to buy a SIM locally if u r travelling for more than few days & expect to receive and make even a few calls.

knuckledragger

I wonder if you can call Lichtenstein mobiles using a UK mobile through Simply Fone? Tried checking but that part of their site is still under maintenance...

andy88_2

knuckledragger wrote:

I wonder if you can call Lichtenstein mobiles using a UK mobile through Simply Fone? Tried checking but that part of their site is still under maintenance...

They looked into it 2 or 3 months ago. There is quite a variation in tariffs from their suppliers; for the moment it is not available.

benji_3

i emaild them about this few weeks ago [saw post about similar scheme on another forum] and initially they included Liechtenstein mobiles on their 0744 type service but then they stopped it as apparently the carriers rates did not cover their costs etc... [if i remember they said that they could include it but they'd have to use a crappy carrier & quiality would be poor!]

andy88_2

They introduced it on my request, and spent some time on it. The quality vs cost dilemma applies elsewhere too; some of the numbers in Martin's Callchecker cannot access these numbers, though one seems to have added them recently.

carmenes82

I don't see the point in this service. If I don't want to pay for my incoming calls, I get a local prepaid SIM from either 0044 (if I'm desparate to get the number before I go) or when I arrive at my destination. People at my destination can then make a local call to me and friends at home have to foot the bill for an international call. It's not a good solution because nobody can get through to me on my UK number which will be on voicemail, but if you really want to save cash it works ok.

This sim4travel 'solution' gives you a Liechtenstein number which is absolutely hopeless for using at your destination and is, moreover, a high-cost destination when calling from the UK.

I imagine quality is going to be distinctively average too.

It's about time somebody came up with a proper solution that lets you roam cheaper with your UK number in tact.

Rant over!

Car.

andy88_2

It depends how many countries you will visit, and what proportion of calls are to/from home and local numbers. Certainly if you're in one place and friends in the visited place will call you a lot you need a local SIM.

The cost to call this SIM from the UK is not necessarily poor; after all it is about the same as to call a UK mobile from a landline.

It's about time somebody came up with a proper solution that lets you roam cheaper with your UK number in tact.

I'm working on it! It could be nearer than expected

There is also another service that attempts to do this, but has been dogged with problems for a while, so unfair to name it at the moment

carmenes82

Andy88- sounds interesting; are we talking weeks/months/years?

Could you private message me the service that is already up and running- I'm interested as this could help me put a new angle of my article.

Cheers,

Car.

carmenes82

Oh, and re. sim4travel, the fact your lose your credit after 3 months is a real turn-off.

andy88_2

carmenes82 wrote:

Oh, and re. sim4travel, the fact your lose your credit after 3 months is a real turn-off.

I haven't studied the site in detail, but it should be that you must use the SIM within a 9 month period, not 3. That's not so difficult as you can use it at home.

Could you private message me the service that is already up and running

Actually it's not running at the moment, so a bit unfair

It's about time somebody came up with a proper solution that lets you roam cheaper with your UK number in tact.

I'm working on it! It could be nearer than expected

I don't think UK mobile companies allow call diversion to international numbers, but if it's possible to use another company's service to connect to this, it may be possible to divert your incoming calls to that, depending on the tariff.