Using mobile worldwide

portchieboy

Sorry, bit of a numpty.

Travelling to several countries soon, and I will want limited use of phone abroad (non europe).

My phone is unlocked. I might only want to send a text or two, so don't really want to buy sim in each location. How is it best to sort this please....at home I am on ee, for the sake of a few texts could I use that?

Thanks
.

Tony5101

Depending on which countries that you're travelling to - just sending a couple of texts, and not using any other mobile services (voice or data) will cost peanuts.
I would guess that the minor cost will be far outweighed by the convenience of using your own number etc, rather than faffing with local sims.
Travelling in Europe expect to pay <10p per single SMS. Outside of Europe the cost can increase quite a bit, but expect approx 50p per single text.
So long as you use wifi for any voice calls (skype/whatsapp calling/Viber etc.) and any data needs - then you should be fine. Just make sure you set your data to OFF while roaming

Browntoa

or whatsapp/viber over wifi , data roaming off

redux

A potential drawback of using the current SIM is the dilemma you will feel when the phone rings.

However you can divert all incoming calls to voicemail before you leave, or alternatively disable voicemail and just not answer. Text messages still work.

Then call back later using VoIP when in wifi coverage.

I'd suggest maybe have more than one phone, including a simple one like an old Nokia. Put the UK SIM in that and use for example Fishtext for sending text messages (it simulates your normal number, so replies come back to the phone number not the app). Very little data use, and a phone like that doesn't connect automatically without your knowledge. Opera Mini browser, images off, manual check of a gmail account uses only a few kilobytes plus message size ...

kittykat17

If you're on an EE Extra plan then, if in EU, call minutes and texts are included in your plan. If you're travelling outside of the EU then you'll be charged for all calls and texts. As previous replies use wifi to make calls outside the EU and turn off roaming. Switch your voicemail off - even if you don't listen to messages you will still be charged the cost of messages being left. If you can't turn VM off yourself, ring 150 and choose the option to switch it off (sorry you'll have to go thru all the menu options!) or speak to tech and ask them to turn it off. Have a great time.


Sorry just realised you said it was outside of Europe. EE do an add-on for (I think) 100 texts from anywhere for approx £5. Might be worth having a look on their website for more info.


Su

villain

Just something to be aware of:

I've just returned from Turkey.

Turkey is obviously not within EU and call prices are still extremely high £1.40/min call £0.99/min to receive a call, £3/MB (all plus VAT). I knew this beforehand and therefore used Skype or whatever over wifi to make calls.

What I didn't realise (until I got my bill) was that on 3 at least, you get billed to receive calls EVEN IF YOU DON'T ANSWER OR DECLINE the call.

So, I received a few calls from withheld or 0843 numbers that were extremely likely to be Spam, so I declined the calls - but I still got charged. Checking my bill, I call durations of 7 seconds, 14 seconds etc. - and got charged £0.99 for each and every one (as the first minute is "helpfully" rounded up).

This is not much of an issue within the EU as the "receive" call rate, is something like 4p/min, but depending on where you go and how much spam you normally receive, could be a BIG problem.

This is a "stealth charge" par excellence in my opinion. Someone else calls you, you decline or simply don't answer, but you still get done for £1.19 each time. Even worse if it goes to voicemail and a long rambling message is left.

P.S. I spoke to 3 CS. They confirmed what I found out as being true, but waived half of the cost (fair enough as I did answer a few legitimate calls) as a "one-off only" gesture.

d123

villain wrote: »

Just something to be aware of:

I've just returned from Turkey.

What I didn't realise (until I got my bill) was that on 3 at least, you get billed to receive calls EVEN IF YOU DON'T ANSWER OR DECLINE the call.

Using our services abroad.

On our network all calls are automatically diverted to your voicemail for free when you're abroad.

http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBISAPI.DLL?Command=New,Kb=Mobile,Ts=Mobile,T=Article,varset_cat=roaming,varset_subcat=4147,Case=obj(4141)

NFH

villain wrote: »

What I didn't realise (until I got my bill) was that on 3 at least, you get billed to receive calls EVEN IF YOU DON'T ANSWER OR DECLINE the call.

Not true. You don't get charged for calls that don't connect. If you divert the call to voicemail, then you will obviously be charged for the call to connect from the UK to the visited country and then to be diverted from the visited country back to the UK. This has been the case since GSM roaming was introduced in the late 1980s, although the charges were capped at zero for intra-EU roaming more recently. Why did you leave voicemail activated while roaming outside the EU?