Mobile Roaming: Cheapest Calls When You're Abroad

redux

cyprus_phone wrote: »

The default plan is we'll all take our mobiles (many on different networks) and use them as we would in the UK. But I was wondering if it would be cheaper for us each to buy a cypriot sim card. If so which one?

Yes, local SIMs could work out cheaper if you will make a lot of calls. Your phones may need to be unlocked to take other SIMs

There are two networks, Cytamobile/Vodafone and MTN. Both have local call rates of about 7 or 8 eurocents per minute.

The drawback is that both seem to sell a SIM for €25 with only €5 credit on, though MTN has a cheap half-price offer at the moment. Maybe you can find other offers

http://www.cytamobile-vodafone.com/default.aspx?ID=89

http://www.mtn.com.cy/index.cfm/id/153/lang/english/marcosbaghdatispack#a_30


If you roamed with UK SIMs, rates per minute will be about 35 to 38p outgoing, 18p incoming

Because of the initial cost of the local SIM (if that MTN offer expires before you arrive), the break-even point versus using a UK SIM would be around 40 minutes outgoing plus 40 incoming per user. If you will go over that the local SIM will come out cheaper. So it probably depends if you'll just make short calls to arrange meeting up, or will get chatting of an evening.

irishbelle

Got this sorted, thanks

redux

There are some free SIM card offers, but I know for example O2.ie won't post to an address outside Ireland.

Perhaps you could get friends there to get you a SIM and post it to you.

But note the Irish SIM would incur roaming costs in UK, though some of them have free incoming calls when on sister or partner networks here - check this on the relevant sites.

For a cheaper way to call Ireland from a mobile here before you leave, there are some virtual brands here with cheap calls starting at 4p/min or so to landlines, for example Globalcell, IDT, Lebara, Lyca, Talkmobile, Nomi, plus using the provider Yourcallworld with a T-mobile SIM. It could be worth also having one of these if you will still visit here. But some have shorter life if not used for a while - don't bother with IDT for example

irishbelle

^^thank you, all sorted now.

redux

I don't think you'll have a problem. I have an O2.ie SIM which was sent to me by a friend in Ireland. It's registered at my UK address, but I don't think it was necessary to do so - I only did that to be able to use their online sms.

wanderinsons

I will be on holiday in Portugal, have a UK T-Mobile contract phone and will need to call my son in South Korea - to his South Korean mobile. Well, a mother needs to speak to her son on his birthday....

wanderinsons

I have heard that it is possible to do this but would like to hear from anyone who can tell me the cheapest way.

redux

One option is look at cheap calls providers in the UK, using the MSE Callchecker. Then call the access number here, then dial the destination. I'd suggest you go for an account with ordinary area code landline access here, e.g. London, as it is difficult to call 0844 numbers from some networks abroad as they don't recognise the number as valid.

Alternatively, you might use a callback service, which sets up an incoming call to your phone, then calls the destination. This could work out slightly cheaper as the T-mobile incoming roaming rate is less than outgoing, and you can find providers whose tariffs would be less than the difference. Or you could also do this using a local Portuguese SIM if you get one.

Whether to get a local SIM depends a bit on how long you'll be there, and whether your call to your son is the main call you plan, or whether you expect others as well.

iceburn

Just throught other way can make a cheap call to upto 3 / 6 ppl you want to stay in touch. If one take a vodafone pay as you go simcard and put passport on it from the 1st June for the next 3 months can recieve calls on it for free in 35 countries (check below.) Than give 3 / 6 ppl you want to stay in touch their own Vodafone pay as you go simcard.

than you add "my family" which cost £5 for the 3 people option, cant remember the cost for the 6 people option. You put your number, and 3 / 6 people numbers on the list.

Than can call one other for free upto 60 minutes at a time.

So can for only £5 a month call potentially upto 3 other mobiles aboard in countries below for free..

• Albania
• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bosnia Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Faroes Islands
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Guernsey
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Isle of Man
• Italy
• Jersey
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal(including Madeira)
• Republic of Ireland
• Romania
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain(including Canary Islands)
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Vatican City

redux

iceburn wrote: »

than you add "my family" which cost £5 for the 3 people option, cant remember the cost for the 6 people option. You put your number, and 3 / 6 people numbers on the list.

Than can call one other for free upto 60 minutes at a time.

So can for only £5 a month call potentially upto 3 other mobiles aboard in countries below for free..

These are the Vodafone Family Terms & Conditions

http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=template12&pageID=PTC_0032

I think that paragraph 8 strongly implies that use from roaming mobiles doesn't fall within this package, and subject to checking for confirmation it's quite possible that calls to mobiles outside the UK don't count either

8. Vodafone Family applies to voice calls to nominated Vodafone mobile phones within the relevant Vodafone Family group within the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland only and excludes roaming calls, video calls, calls to premium rate numbers, Vodafone voicemail and all data transfers (including text messages).

I realise that iceburn doesn't necessarily suggest outgoing calls from abroad (and may mean only for someone still at home to call the others), but it's possible that some readers will interpret it that way.

In any case, I strongly advise anyone to discuss any nuances of interpretation of the T&C with Vodafone customer services before relying upon this, which I suspect iceburn has not yet done (partly as they'd be closed when the idea occurred).