Mobile Roaming: Cheapest Calls When You're Abroad

naf123

Hi,

I have a blackberry on orange. I noticed in connections >mobile network options there are two features that I can turn on and off

Data Services on/off
While Roaming on/off


Now when I go abroad, I don't want to incur any charges. If I turn off "while roaming" would that mean I won't get any emails and other data such as from apps and BBM abroad?

If I connect to a Wifi abroad, can I still get emails on my blackberry? will my BBM still work?

Should I turn off "Data services".

I am on a budget and I don't want any unpleasant surprise so I am hoping some MSE can help me out here!

Many thanks

the_positron

MSE_Becca wrote: »

Hi Positron, I've just had a quick look at the Ts&Cs of the Europe Traveller bundle, and it says that prices include VAT. I will double check this with Orange though to confirm.

Many thanks,
MSE Becca

Hi Becca,
I've just received a phone call from Orange after I complained about VAT being added to my data roaming bundle. They insist that VAT is payable but in view of the fact that they've agreed to refund the whole of my data roaming charges I decided not to pursue it any further.

shudd1967

Going to Italy for a week, currently with Giff Gaff and my phone is sim free / unlocked. Anyone recommend best way, or best sim to get for making a few calls to home, a few texts and maybe a bit of internet when I cannot get a wifi connection. Will be in Milan and then sardinia

buglawton

If you have time, order an o2 SIM from Ebay (allow 1 week for delivery...) with £10 credit loaded, cost is around £7 delivered.

Or if in a hurry, get an o2 SIM from the Pound shop & dial 4444 to load it - min £10.
Roaming calls & texts are nothing special, key thing is on the days you need data, cost will be just £2 per day for a useful 25 MB with the option to re-top that up on the same day if really needed.

PS I have one phone on GiffGaff and really disappointed they do not compete with o2 here, or I'd leave the SIM in on going to EU.

shudd1967

buglawton wrote: »

If you have time, order an o2 SIM from Ebay (allow 1 week for delivery...) with £10 credit loaded, cost is around £7 delivered.

Or if in a hurry, get an o2 SIM from the Pound shop & dial 4444 to load it - min £10.
Roaming calls & texts are nothing special, key thing is on the days you need data, cost will be just £2 per day for a useful 25 MB with the option to re-top that up on the same day if really needed.

PS I have one phone on GiffGaff and really disappointed they do not compete with o2 here, or I'd leave the SIM in on going to EU.

Thank you for that, very useful. I have time to order one from Ebay as not going for another month. Does the 1.99 come off the balance? Do you have to text to request the 25mg and do you get an alert showing when you have used most of the allowance? Sorry to sound thick!

grumbler

http://international.o2.co.uk/internationaltariffs/travelling_abroad

buglawton

You get a text to say the £2 is coming off your balance as far as I can remember. In practice its really simple.

Alomax

I joined Utility Warehouse Club as a WHICH 'best buy' and they supply mobile as well as other utilities. Now I discover that if I send or receive on Chanel Ferry it costs £7 !!!!!! as it "has to go by satellite".

How come you can phone from Calais Beach or Dover Beach without going via a satellite, but 3 miles out it costs £7. Is someone having a laff ?

grumbler

Alomax wrote: »

How come you can phone from Calais Beach or Dover Beach without going via a satellite, but 3 miles out it costs £7. Is someone having a laff ?

Because there are no mobile masts in the sea yet? As long as your phone can connect to an onshore mast you can always select this connections instead of the one that a ferry provides.

redux

Alomax wrote: »

I joined Utility Warehouse Club as a WHICH 'best buy' and they supply mobile as well as other utilities. Now I discover that if I send or receive on Chanel Ferry it costs £7 !!!!!! as it "has to go by satellite".

How come you can phone from Calais Beach or Dover Beach without going via a satellite, but 3 miles out it costs £7. Is someone having a laff ?

This isn't true. Does it say this on their website about the Dover-Calais ferry, or have you just assumed it means that route as well?

I think you'd find on-ship mobile coverage via satellite on longer trips, such as across the Bay of Biscay to Spain, or on the longer crossings to northern France, but this simply isn't necessary on Dover Calais, and I've never seen any other satellite-derived coverage.

On Dover Calais you'd usually get good mobile coverage indoors on a passenger deck to more than half way across, and then the phone will switch to one of the networks the other side. But if you go upstairs and stand outside at the nearer end of the ship you will still be able to connect to a UK network not even very far outside Calais.

Even right within the Calais port, you may see UK networks on a search when standing outside, but I haven't had it connect from there, only from a couple of miles offshore. There are technical reasons, involving timeslots and the speed of radio waves, why the maximum range is about 35 km.