Do 3 do roaming bundles?

Jon_01

I know you can use At Home to call back to the UK and use data where are. But do they do minute/text bundles to use while you're away?

I've been on their site and can't find anything apart from the cost to use your phone.

I'll be in the USA in a month and will need to call some local numbers over there. The 3 site quotes the cost as 15.6p a minute!

It's a payg sim, btw...

Yes, I could get a local sim but A: I don't have a dual sim phone and will need to contact the UK, and B; I'll need to use it at the airport when we land.

grumbler

http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBISAPI.DLL?Command=New,Kb=Mobile,Ts=Mobile,T=Art icle,varset_cat=roaming,varset_subcat=4157,Case=ob j%2813248%29

Apparently it's 3p/min. Don't take my word that it works with 'Feel at home'.

Alternatively you can use any UK company that offers geographical access number for calling USA from as little as 5p+0.5p/min or 1p/min: International Callchecker

(18185 do offer 020 access number despite MSE showing 0808 for calling from mobiles)

d123

Why not just go into Walmart or similar on arrival and pick up a $10 PAYG phone? Takes all the risk out of your in-country calls.

Jon_01

Well it says 15.6p here?? http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Roaming_and_international/Mobile_Roaming?content_aid=1214306357859

So I don't know?

With the access numbers is it just a matter of topping up with a text and the you ring their number (020 8180 9191 or whatever) and what? You get a dial tone and then just enter the US number and the call comes from your included minutes in your 3 bundle for the UK. Sounds simple enough (unless I'm missing something??).

Jon_01

As a rule that's what I do. But with the 3 at home deal I've not been bothering. And, I need to start making calls as soon as we land this time and there's no Wallmart in Newark airport

d123

Jon_01 wrote: »

As a rule that's what I do. But with the 3 at home deal I've not been bothering. And, I need to start making calls as soon as we land this time and there's no Wallmart in Newark airport

True, but there are 2 Best Buy's just down the road .

grumbler

Jon_01 wrote: »

Well it says 15.6p here?? http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Roaming_and_international/Mobile_Roaming?content_aid=1214306357859

It's for normal roaming calls in USA. The shortcode is for calling from UK to USA.

With the access numbers is it just a matter of topping up with a text and the you ring their number (020 8180 9191 or whatever) and what? You get a dial tone

With 18185 I am getting a welcome message.

and then just enter the US number

With the country code. It tells you the cost (1p/min) before connecting you.

and the call comes from your included minutes in your 3 bundle for the UK.

Yes, as effectively you are calling UK 020 number. I've never tried this on '3', so it's worth trying while you are in UK. With 18185 you have to register using your landline number and add your mobile number. It's a credit account that you pay off by a DD or a CPA.

Sounds simple enough (unless I'm missing something??).

Yes, it's very simple, even simpler if you call from a UK landline.

Roger1

Jon 01 was asking about calling in/from the USA. Three's Feel At Home doesn't offer this at UK rates, just calling back to the UK. (grumbler's post #2 appears to refer to calls to the US from the UK, which is the answer to a different question.)

I haven't done it, but I think that a Three bundle would allow calling from the US but at the US roaming rate.

If Jon 01 is prepared to use a second phone, https://www.togglemobile.co.uk is worth looking at, with calls to US and UK (and more) landlines and mobiles for 3p per minute using a local number as explained on their website. The phone would need to be US-compatible.

grumbler

Roger1 wrote: »

... (grumbler's post #2 appears to refer to calls to the US from the UK, which is the answer to a different question.)

Why different?!

The name "Feel at home" implies that the rates when calling to UK from USA are the same as from UK.

Yes, I suggested two options.

The first option was a shortcode that allowed calling form UK to USA for 3p/min. As I said, I wasn't sure if it would work in USA.

The second option was to call to USA via a UK geographic access number. I don't see any problems with using it as one can use their allowance to call UK numbers from both UK and USA.