Mobile Roaming: Cheapest Calls When You're Abroad

redux

jnm21 wrote: »

redux wrote: »

I don't work for Ofcom, and I'm not standing up for them.

Whether the numbers are included or not is not their responsibility.

Why should Ofcom have to allocate numbers for Lycamobile to some special odd out of kilter series just to conform to and therefore appear to support T-mobile having a business position against Lyca?

I did not mention neither Lyca nor included numbers - read the posts before you try to contradict them! You made this point months ago & I (reluctantly) agree, so changed my opinion (they are responsible for making things clear to the consumer - UK & non-UK is not a commercial decision).

My apologies.

I seem to have misunderstood how the discussion has digressed since it started from these posts, which were you originally raising points about Lyca.

jnm21 wrote: »

I believe it is possible to port a UK mobile number to Lyca & have it forever charged as a foreign number (even if ported back to a true UK network). Shocking!

JPR wrote: »

Can this be true? If I ported a Lyca number to say, Giff Gaff, the new network would not allow me free calls within the network??? I am planning to port an 07438 number there so would like to know.

jnm21 wrote: »

redux wrote: »

Not true.

It's not a foreign number in any case, as Lyca is based in the UK

But you're not doing exactly what is descibed in that post, as you're moving a number in the other direction.

If you port your number to giffgaff, then giffgaff will treat it as a giffgaff number.

Others may still treat it as a Lyca number though.

If someone ported a giffgaff or O2 number to Lyca, I believe it would be treated by other non-O2 networks as still an O2 number.

The principle seems to be that only the number originating network and the network ported to actually know the port details, and otheres will still count it as the original

I haven't tested this myself, but base it on other posts I've read here.

So for example it seems worthwhile to consider porting an O2 number to Toggle, as both Toggle and O2 will treat it the same, and O2 includes Lyca numbers in bundles, whereas those such as T-mobile that sanction Lyca numbers would then include the O2 number.

Given that wholesale rates for calling UK mobile numbers now start from about a penny a minute, that might come in handy.

Test it before getting carried away though.

My bad - remembered the example wrongly: see here (makes sense now - number is lyca, which some networks treat as foreign).

Hmm, so can one port a true UK number to lyca?

Interesting - I still think OFFCOM should be ashamed of the farce that is a confusion about what numbers are UK & what are non-UK.

And then I said Lyca is not treated as foreign ...

I'm sorry about that, but I still don't think Ofcom has to allocate numbers on the basis of whether some network may or may not include them in inclusive minute bundles, whether Lyca or Truphone or wifi or VoIP providers or island networks or their mvno arrangements. Indeed, not making them vastly different may have helped the precedent for some networks including them. And some mobile phone number prefixes are older than that concept anyway.

I stick with my advice to try porting a number. Let's try to be pragmatic, rather than complain about things that are evidently outside our control.

jnm21

Buzby wrote: »

Not a commercial decision? Of course it is a commercial decision. Landline operators used to charge differently for local, intermediate (up to 35km) and LONG distance, all this was swept away and there is now just a single rate.

For mobiles 3's network used to allow same-country deals on their network - my 3UK SiM was not treated as foreign on 3 Ireland (and their other networks). Outbound calls came from inclusive minutes even when abroad. Shame it didn't last, but your ire at OFCOM is misplaced - they've made stupid mistakes, but they don't set prices.

And also b1 rate IIRC (cheaper to call London I believe). Quite simply my grudge with OFCOM is that I cannot tell if a number is a UK number or not. This failure on their part is seized upon by the networks for commercial gain.

DougWeller

portlandboy wrote: »

My son is working in Florida for a year from next February. Does anyone know the cheapest option for using a mobile for US-US calls/texts as well as US-UK calls/texts?
Would it pay to buy a US SIM for US-US (which would be the majority of his usage while there) and have a separate "local" SIM for US-UK use?
Thanks

First, is the area he is in good for GSM? If it's CDMA only (unlikely but I've been in such areas) a sim card is no good.
Depending on his use and needs (eg does he need Internet?) a Net 10 or Tracfone cell phone might be the best option for US calls, even perhaps for US to UK calls.
Doug

JerryW

Hi
I'm with O2, for my sins. I mean to spend two months in the Pyrenees, ie France + Spain + a bit of Andorra. O2's overseas rates for both phone and data are terrible, but I'm not sure I want to use a virtual credit card to buy a sim that must be sent to etc... what is a simple way to get cheaper mobile data and intra France/Spain calls, and receive calls from the UK? Any suggestions, please? I'm finding this all a confusing minefield!

Martin is recommending 0044, is there anything out there that's better?

NiftyDigits

JerryW wrote: »

Hi
I'm with O2, for my sins. I mean to spend two months in the Pyrenees, ie France + Spain + a bit of Andorra. O2's overseas rates for both phone and data are terrible, but I'm not sure I want to use a virtual credit card to buy a sim that must be sent to etc... what is a simple way to get cheaper mobile data and intra France/Spain calls, and receive calls from the UK? Any suggestions, please? I'm finding this all a confusing minefield!

Martin is recommending 0044, is there anything out there that's better?

I don't agree that the rates are terrible. 50p to make and receive calls of up to 60 minutes is quite reasonable. Data at 15MB per day for £1.99 is ok(though you do get 25MB with PAYG) if you have low usage requirements and/or no time to organise a local SIM.
For France that is par for the course. Spain you can get cheaper data with a local SIM. But no local SIM will beat the call package.

no1wf

I am going on my first holiday in 10 years at the end of August Earlier this year I took out my first ever mobile contract with T-mobile. I know there are charges for calls and texts and things I remember that from when I was younger. But what about using Facebook and other apps while I'm away, or browsing the internet, will there be charges per minute for those put on to my account or are they free? I'm worried there'll be a charge just for walking around with my phone unless I turn the mobile network off or something.

NiftyDigits

no1wf wrote: »

I am going on my first holiday in 10 years at the end of August Earlier this year I took out my first ever mobile contract with T-mobile. I know there are charges for calls and texts and things I remember that from when I was younger. But what about using Facebook and other apps while I'm away, or browsing the internet, will there be charges per minute for those put on to my account or are they free? I'm worried there'll be a charge just for walking around with my phone unless I turn the mobile network off or something.

With T-Mobile when you use the Internet abroad you are prompted to purchase a data package. When it runs out, you are cut off unless you purchase another package. No Internet without a package, so no charges other than the bundle that you purchase.

The internet won’t work on your phone abroad unless you buy a Booster. This is to prevent you running up a large bill for internet usage by mistake.

Boosters come at a set price starting from £1, so you’ll know exactly what you’re spending. And if your Booster runs out and you need more internet, we’ll give you the option to buy another one. It’s as simple as that.

Look here.
Consider unlocking the phone and using a local SIM if you are a heavy user.

ladybug54

For Americans traveling to Europe it is sure worth having a look at travel-n-call.com. They have a simple an inexpensive solution for your cell-phone usage in Germany and the UK.

huw01

I have been looking at the above from vodafone.

If I am right it doesn't cost anything to opt in and if someone calls me or texts me it costs me nothing. If I've read it correctly I'll only pay £3 on any day I call,txt or use 3G whilst abroad in Europe.

Seeing as I'm not planning on calling or texting anybody unless I really have to and I'm going to switch 3G off to save battery life and only use free wifi where available to update twitter etc. Then it shouldn't cost me anything, or have I missed something ?

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/pay-monthly/travelling-abroad/vodafone-eurotraveller/index.htm

Vodafone

Hi huw01,

You're absolutely correct.

It's free to opt in to Vodafone EuroTraveller service and if you only receive calls and texts you won't be charged any extra.

Thanks,

Lee

Web Relations

Vodafone UK