Mobile Roaming: Cheapest Calls When You're Abroad

redux

ag359 wrote: »

Could anyone confirm the best option for my trip to the USA, please? Details are:

* two of us travelling there for six weeks
* both have 02 pay monthly phones
* will be primarily making calls to each other, and to domestic US numbers.

I think the best option is probably the One Roam jolt sim card, but would be grateful for a second opinion. If there is a viable alternative that anyone could suggest, that would also be great (as I'm a bit concerned about the One Roam sim cards arriving on time)...

thanks in advance...

You can get other SIM cards cheaper when you get there. Call rates will be between 10 and about 17 cents a minute depending on the size of the top-up

THe main GSM networks are AT&T Cingular and T-Mobile, and there are a number of virtual and regional providers. Compare them at http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/usa.html

You could use a UK landline number from a VoIP or similar provider here to forward your incoming O2 calls to your US number. Uk2abroad is mentioned above, but there are rather cheaper options

hillendale

Is it correct that if you have a o2 pay monthly mobile contract that you can use any inclusive texts when abroad as 4 standard txts = 1 roaming txt . I am due to visit both France & the USA this year so if its correct i would like to use any inclusive texts while away .
Just wanted to mention as i am not yet with o2 but i'm wanting to take out a o2 sim only deal i've seen it would give me 600 xnet mins / 1000txts plus unlimited landline calls for £20 pm on a 30 day rollonig contract . I take it the sim only deals are subject to the same t&c s as normal contract deals with regard to usage of texts when roaming .
All help welcome .

ThomasS1982

Hi Hillen this is indeed true if you look into the o2 website they say this

Texts

You can use your inclusive text allowance to send SMS from abroad back to the UK. One SMS sent from abroad will decrement 4 SMS from your inclusive allowance. Once you have used all your SMS allowance, you will be charged at our ITS rates.

View text charges

p1an0player

redux wrote: »

This is Vodafone Passport, it's on their website, and it has a preferred network in each EU country and a few others

Vodafone Passport costs 75p per incoming call, or 75p + your inclusive UK mins for outgoing calls.

Are you saying this only applies if you use the preferred network?

ThomasS1982

p1an0player wrote: »

Vodafone Passport costs 75p per incoming call, or 75p + your inclusive UK mins for outgoing calls.

Are you saying this only applies if you use the preferred network?

That is correct. Normaly when you move around you will get a text from vodafone in the country you get to saying welcome for the best rates please use our pref'd provider xyz. The message differs but the information is the same.

The pref networks are on the vodafone webpage somewhere I have used them before ill try and dig them out.

*Edit - this isnt the link I was thinking about but it has the networks http://www.abroad.vodafone.co.uk/index.cfm?do=cost.passport&me=a1&nu=1&le=1&sn=s7&tandc=true

hanaa90

Hi,
I'm going to France tomorrow and whilst I'm out there I would like to call a UK mobile which is also abroad- in Spain.

I was wandering for advice on the cheapest options??

Help would be greatly appreciated.

hanaa90

for further info:
I have a vodafone mobile - Anytime200 and Vodafone Passport.
They have a T-mobile phone, and I could also call a Spain landline.

ThomasS1982

Hi Hanaa90,

You have a complex setup going on there sadly the Vodafone passport does not work for calling another country other than home however if the phone which is in Spain is a T-Mobile with a UK number you will be charged the usual 75p per call + your per minute charge or inclusive call calls. The T-Mobile call should be charged there roaming rate for receiving a call.

-- I just noticed that you said the T-Mobile phone in Spain is a UK phone so the option above should work. You will be charged 75p per call + your normal call rate for a UK call.

Now if the Mobile in Spain is Spanish or you are calling the landling you might perhaps want to set something up with call forwarding such as a skype account. That way you can call a UK number from France and have it route the call to Spain? I think the skype option for this is known as Skype out someone else might be able to give you more information on that but I do think it would be the best option.

I hope this is of some help.

hanaa90

hi, thanks for the info.

I rang up customer services and one person said what you said above - I would be able to use Vodafone Passport however another person said that Vodafone Passport would not work as the UK mobile is in Spain so I would be charged 38p/min...

So I think this is a bit of a grey area & I'm not sure whether to risk it or not??
Or perhaps there is a way I can find out for definite?

Thanks again.

hillendale

Is it possible to get a uk based roaming sim ( 00447) number that can be used when in europe to receive free incoming calls & that when called by family & friends back in the uk it would cost the same as any normal uk mobile number & could even be called using your normal inclusive xnet free minutes . I understand sim cards like sim4travel don't have normal uk based 00447 numbers & can't be called out of any inclusive minutes but wanted to check what others if any do allow this .

All help welcome