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viewfly · 03-15-2005, 9:46 AM

This is a question that follows onto Charlyee's question about foreign travel and prepay GSM SIMs.

What is the average price that people have paid for a pre pay SIM (parts of europe, asia, anywhere) when you buy them locally? On line they seem to average about $50-80 upfront, with some minutes ($10worth) and a 3month expiration date.

So if your in the UK or Europe for only 3 or 4 days (and don't plan to go back for 6months), and plan maybe 6 to 12 short calls (at $0.99 - $1.29 a minute) is it really worth it? Unfortunately, my own experience is with my own US SIM (and reimbursed) or a company SIM, so I really don't pay for it.

I'd appreciate your experiences.

Yugopro · 03-15-2005, 10:23 AM

I don't think it is worth it. You also lose the ability to receive incoming calls on your U.S. line, unless you carry two phones.
I travel plenty and I use T-Mobile all the time.
You should check out the thread about Riing Mobile ,Global SIM in international. Don't forget roaming when traveling eats up airtime.

ShoresGuy · 03-15-2005, 11:01 AM

Links for international SIMs:

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html

http://www.riiing.com/index.php

On average, a prepaid SIM for one country costs between 10 and 30 Euros but most of the time, providers will throw in 10 to 15 Euros of starting airtime.

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/operators.html

Andy · 03-15-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yugopro

I don't think it is worth it. You also lose the ability to receive incoming calls on your U.S. line, unless you carry two phones.
I travel plenty and I use T-Mobile all the time.
You should check out the thread about Riing Mobile ,Global SIM in international. Don't forget roaming when traveling eats up airtime.

That's a great deal-at least that's what it looks like. Does anybody on here have any experiences with Riing, or Global SIM?

ShoresGuy · 03-15-2005, 1:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy84094

That's a great deal-at least that's what it looks like. Does anybody on here have any experiences with Riing, or Global SIM?

Andy · 03-15-2005, 1:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Thanks, Shoresguy, I will check it out and let you know.
This might be something useful for me, since when I go to Europe, I travel through Italy, Switzerland, England, and Germany, most of the time and only have a Swiss and German Sim Card.

ShoresGuy · 03-15-2005, 1:09 PM

I almost forgot to mention the riiing site:

http://www.riiing.com/index.php

Andy · 03-15-2005, 1:10 PM

I think that's the one I posted a while ago asking anybody if they know anything about the company. Shoresguy, would you personally get one of those if you were international roaming a lot?

viewfly · 03-15-2005, 4:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Links for international SIMs:

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html

http://www.riiing.com/index.php

On average, a prepaid SIM for one country costs between 10 and 30 Euros but most of the time, providers will throw in 10 to 15 Euros of starting airtime.

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/operators.html

Thanks for the great sites. I didn't find them before. I guess each trip calls for a decison on whether to get a local sim or use the home one. Esp. if your hopping from one country to the next every 2 days or so.

ShoresGuy · 03-16-2005, 7:27 AM

I suppose I would, yet right now I'm staying put in Germany and when I do travel abroad I normally roam on my E-Plus prepaid SIM or use my Vodafone UK prepaid SIM. If I were to embark on a Europe-wide trip, I would certainly take riiing under consideration.

viewfly · 03-16-2005, 9:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

I suppose I would, yet right now I'm staying put in Germany and when I do travel abroad I normally roam on my E-Plus prepaid SIM or use my Vodafone UK prepaid SIM. If I were to embark on a Europe-wide trip, I would certainly take riiing under consideration.

I don't know how it works with prepay and internet, but last month in Paris, I could read my earthlink mail directly from my mobile (via GPRS) just as if I were home. No settings to change or worry about. That is an advantage.

ShoresGuy · 03-17-2005, 12:26 PM

It depends on the provider and how much they charge per kb/block for subscribers who get charged for GPRS use every time they access the GPRS network without subscribing to a data plan.

I never have to change my settings either when roaming since I keep all of the WAP/GPRS settings stored in the phone. I simply make sure that when I swap SIM cards that the phone remembers the correct default GPRS access point.

ZaphodB · 03-18-2005, 7:21 PM

In general, the SIM costs about $25 and usually comes with 50 or sometimes 100 minutes of airtime. In HK, three.com.hk sell starter packets for HK$98 (US$14) which include HK$97.2 worth of prepaid airtime (326 minutes if you only call with HK, 155 minutes of off-peak calls to the US, 62 minutes of on-peak calls to the US) and the setup.

Voice mail is HK$15/month (US$2.06/month)

03-15-2005, 9:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
viewfly Mobile Advisor Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,907 Phone(s): iPhone 3G (2), Nokia 6131, 6230b, Moto RAZR V3 Provider(s): AT&T GSM and it's predecessors since 1995 Devices: HS700, NuviGPS,Ipod Thanks: 7 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts	What is average price of prepay SIM? This is a question that follows onto Charlyee's question about foreign travel and prepay GSM SIMs. What is the average price that people have paid for a pre pay SIM (parts of europe, asia, anywhere) when you buy them locally? On line they seem to average about $50-80 upfront, with some minutes ($10worth) and a 3month expiration date. So if your in the UK or Europe for only 3 or 4 days (and don't plan to go back for 6months), and plan maybe 6 to 12 short calls (at $0.99 - $1.29 a minute) is it really worth it? Unfortunately, my own experience is with my own US SIM (and reimbursed) or a company SIM, so I really don't pay for it. I'd appreciate your experiences.

03-15-2005, 10:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Yugopro Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 255 Phone(s): Samsung E619, Erisson T 38 Provider(s): Tmobile Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What is average price of prepay SIM? I don't think it is worth it. You also lose the ability to receive incoming calls on your U.S. line, unless you carry two phones. I travel plenty and I use T-Mobile all the time. You should check out the thread about Riing Mobile ,Global SIM in international. Don't forget roaming when traveling eats up airtime.

03-15-2005, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
ShoresGuy Euer WA Experte in Europa Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 94065,US/Köln, Germany Posts: 6,569 Phone(s): HTC/T-Mobile MDA II PPC, Motorola E770V Provider(s): E-Plus (BASE 12 month flatrate)/Vodafone Germany Devices: T-Mobile MDA II - GSM 900/1800/1900 w/WM 2003 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 419	Re: What is average price of prepay SIM? Links for international SIMs: http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html http://www.riiing.com/index.php On average, a prepaid SIM for one country costs between 10 and 30 Euros but most of the time, providers will throw in 10 to 15 Euros of starting airtime. http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/operators.html __________________ Visiting Europe?Ask me: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/international-wireless-forum-including-canada-mexico/ http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/international-wireless-forum-including-canada-mexico/8351-europe-sim-info-helpful-links.html Nokia Reset Codes: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/nokia/7973-nokia-series-40-60-80-reset.html Originally from: Redwood City, CA Living in: Cologne, Germany

03-15-2005, 1:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
ShoresGuy Euer WA Experte in Europa Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 94065,US/Köln, Germany Posts: 6,569 Phone(s): HTC/T-Mobile MDA II PPC, Motorola E770V Provider(s): E-Plus (BASE 12 month flatrate)/Vodafone Germany Devices: T-Mobile MDA II - GSM 900/1800/1900 w/WM 2003 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 419	Re: What is average price of prepay SIM? I almost forgot to mention the riiing site: http://www.riiing.com/index.php

03-15-2005, 1:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Campione, Italy Posts: 10,285 Phone(s): HTC 6900 Touch, Motorola RAZR V3i Provider(s): VZW, Vodafone D2, Solomo, Swisscom Mobile Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Images: 130	Re: What is average price of prepay SIM? I think that's the one I posted a while ago asking anybody if they know anything about the company. Shoresguy, would you personally get one of those if you were international roaming a lot?

03-16-2005, 7:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
ShoresGuy Euer WA Experte in Europa Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 94065,US/Köln, Germany Posts: 6,569 Phone(s): HTC/T-Mobile MDA II PPC, Motorola E770V Provider(s): E-Plus (BASE 12 month flatrate)/Vodafone Germany Devices: T-Mobile MDA II - GSM 900/1800/1900 w/WM 2003 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 419	Re: What is average price of prepay SIM? I suppose I would, yet right now I'm staying put in Germany and when I do travel abroad I normally roam on my E-Plus prepaid SIM or use my Vodafone UK prepaid SIM. If I were to embark on a Europe-wide trip, I would certainly take riiing under consideration.

03-17-2005, 12:26 PM	#12 (permalink)
ShoresGuy Euer WA Experte in Europa Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 94065,US/Köln, Germany Posts: 6,569 Phone(s): HTC/T-Mobile MDA II PPC, Motorola E770V Provider(s): E-Plus (BASE 12 month flatrate)/Vodafone Germany Devices: T-Mobile MDA II - GSM 900/1800/1900 w/WM 2003 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Images: 419	Re: What is average price of prepay SIM? It depends on the provider and how much they charge per kb/block for subscribers who get charged for GPRS use every time they access the GPRS network without subscribing to a data plan. I never have to change my settings either when roaming since I keep all of the WAP/GPRS settings stored in the phone. I simply make sure that when I swap SIM cards that the phone remembers the correct default GPRS access point.

03-18-2005, 7:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
ZaphodB Signal Go Down De Hole... Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Heim of Ana Posts: 3,237 Phone(s): BlackBerry 8830, LG KG800 (GSM Chocolate) Provider(s): Verizon(US) Rogers(CA) Vodafone(ES) 3(HK) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What is average price of prepay SIM? In general, the SIM costs about $25 and usually comes with 50 or sometimes 100 minutes of airtime. In HK, three.com.hk sell starter packets for HK$98 (US$14) which include HK$97.2 worth of prepaid airtime (326 minutes if you only call with HK, 155 minutes of off-peak calls to the US, 62 minutes of on-peak calls to the US) and the setup. Voice mail is HK$15/month (US$2.06/month)

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