eSims, what is your experience.

[Pushka]

Newbie error. Bought a worldwide sim and must have not switched it off. Of course it connected. And is about to expire the time limit even though no data used.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just seting up Airalo and I see it now has 'top-up' packages - the same as the base packages

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just seting up Airalo and I see it now has 'top-up' packages - the same as the base packages

"Normally", I believe with the ones I have used, eSims don't do topups. Once just buys a new eSim?

 

[RooFlyer]

"Normally", I believe with the ones I have used, eSims don't do topups. Once just buys a new eSim?

Exact same thing (time period, price) here Its just called 'top up'

 

[SYD]

"Normally", I believe with the ones I have used, eSims don't do topups. Once just buys a new eSim?

It depends. You ought to be able to reload credit on some eg that’s how TruPhone works.

Flexiroam used to be the same - you’d “buy” an eSIM and then add credit. They appear to have moved to an eSIM by eSIM basis?

 

[Pushka]

Can someone do me a primer for esims pretty please, given my blunder earlier this week.

I want to use an esim (I have a few given the countries I'm going to) for data. So I simply turn it on and it registers? And select that esim for mobile data.
I want to keep my Aus phone number open for calls (but will encourage everyone to message me) so I keep my Australia number as default voice line?

Are messages data?

I also know to turn off all apps off individually for mobile data. Guess I should also reset data usage after each esim switch?

Anything else?

 

[celsioraus]

I am using Airalo in Phillipines. I chose 5gb for 30 days costing me 13usd or 19.50 aud. Its using globe 4g on an iphone 13 mini... I used it in Manila and in Angeles city..

Honestly id rate it as follows
ease of setup: 10/10
Signal: 3/10. Honestly its pretty trash but it does its job with using messenger, whatsapp etc on the go. Alot of the time photos wont send or stuff wont load but its really all i needed to stay in touch while out.

For a longer trip (than a week i stayed) its probably better to invest in a local sim capable of 5g but for a quick spin its worth it.

 

[RooFlyer]

@Pushka , I’ve just set up Aerolo. It has a good guide on “how to”. Now it won’t complete setting up until it connects to one of the providers you have signed up for ( e.g. Europe), and since it gives dire warnings that to interrupt the setup may invalidate the whole thing, I’m a bit nervous of whether it’s gonna go through when I reach the other end.

when it’s installed, iPhone presents both Sims for you to control individually with respect to data, roaming, messages etc so you can turn them both on at once and have data from the one one and calls etc the other.

I have the eSim as ‘travel’ and data and I have turned off roaming and data on my primary sim, so it won’t update apps on that. I can then go off and turn off data for the eSIM, app by app, if I want to, so as not to waste data.

SMSs go through the telephony network so will still be received on your primary sim ( Oz number) with data off and you won’t be charged for incoming SMSs

 

[MikeG]

@Pushka , I’ve just set up Aerolo. It has a good guide on “how to”. Now it won’t complete setting up until it connects to one of the providers you have signed up for ( e.g. Europe), and since it gives dire warnings that to interrupt the setup may invalidate the whole thing, I’m a bit nervous of whether it’s gonna go through when I reach the other end.

when it’s installed, iPhone presents both Sims for you to control individually with respect to data, roaming, messages etc so you can turn them both on at once and have data from the one one and calls etc the other.

I have the eSim as ‘travel’ and data and I have turned off roaming and data on my primary sim, so it won’t update apps on that. I can then go off and turn off data for the eSIM, app by app, if I want to, so as not to waste data.

SMSs go through the telephony network so will still be received on your primary sim ( Oz number) with data off and you won’t be charged for incoming SMSs

… if using iMessage on iPhone (iPhone to iPhone sms) this uses data. Just to clarify

 

[RooFlyer]

… if using iMessage on iPhone (iPhone to iPhone sms) this uses data. Just to clarify

Yes, thanks; I forgot that.

 

[lovestotravel]

For now the days of using a new sim while overseas are over for us

My old Optus plan has unlimited calls/SMS in most Countries and also 2GB of data per billing cycle while roaming. While 2GB isn't that much if I turn off photo sync it's fine.

Partner has $5 per day Optus roaming with 5GB daily so I can always use her data.

 

[SYD]

For now the days of using a new sim while overseas are over for us

My old Optus plan has unlimited calls/SMS in most Countries and also 2GB of data per billing cycle while roaming. While 2GB isn't that much if I turn off photo sync it's fine.

Partner has $5 per day Optus roaming with 5GB daily so I can always use her data.

There are reports of Optus phasing out the roaming data. So far SYD+1 and haven’t been enhanced on our $50 pm / 4GB roaming data (and calls/txt).

 

[Pushka]

For now the days of using a new sim while overseas are over for us

My old Optus plan has unlimited calls/SMS in most Countries and also 2GB of data per billing cycle while roaming. While 2GB isn't that much if I turn off photo sync it's fine.

Partner has $5 per day Optus roaming with 5GB daily so I can always use her data.

Zone 1 yes that's true. But that isn't where we are travelling.

 

[qaz]

Can someone do me a primer for esims pretty please, given my blunder earlier this week.

assuming that you have an iPhone:

Using Dual SIM with an eSIM

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to use a mobile plan from your service provider without having to use a physical nano-SIM. Find out how to set up and use Dual SIM.1

support.apple.com

Use eSIM while travelling internationally with your iPhone – Apple Support (AU)

Find out more about the options and benefits of using eSIM with your iPhone while travelling abroad.

support.apple.com

I also know to turn off all apps off individually for mobile data. Guess I should also reset data usage after each esim switch?

I have the eSim as ‘travel’ and data and I have turned off roaming and data on my primary sim, so it won’t update apps on that. I can then go off and turn off data for the eSIM, app by app, if I want to, so as not to waste data.

turning off apps individually can be cumbersome (i've typed c-umbersome but it won't appear correctly ) - besides closing apps that you're not using, and changing App Store settings re updates/downloads, you can also change the Data Mode in Mobile Data Options to Low Data Mode

Use Low Data Mode on your iPhone and iPad – Apple Support (AU)

With iOS 13 and later, you can turn on Low Data Mode to restrict background network use and save mobile data and Wi-Fi usage.

support.apple.com

Just seting up Airalo and I see it now has 'top-up' packages - the same as the base packages

you forgot about or didn't like the $0.35 option?

When I go to the UK, I have a Telstra postpaid eSIM with roaming turned off, and I simply get a three-mobile UK physical SIM with Europe roaming and use my Telstra account over data. Works a treat and is cheap.

The only problem is I can't phone internationally to countries outside Australia from my Telstra SIM as I'm overseas (dunno why that would be enforced, but that's Telstra for you). (eg. to call NZ, I had to use my UK SIM or Skype credit)

M

sorry but why would you expect to be able to use your Telstra e/SIM overseas if you've turned off its roaming?

 

[SYD]

turning off apps individually can be coughbersome

But essential if operating on limited data. Do it before you leave Oz.

Just closing apps doesn’t work.

 

[VPS]

Can someone do me a primer for esims pretty please, given my blunder earlier this week.

I want to use an esim (I have a few given the countries I'm going to) for data. So I simply turn it on and it registers? And select that esim for mobile data.
I want to keep my Aus phone number open for calls (but will encourage everyone to message me) so I keep my Australia number as default voice line?

Are messages data?

I also know to turn off all apps off individually for mobile data. Guess I should also reset data usage after each esim switch?

Anything else?

I’ve got an e sim and physical sim in my iPhone, message me if you get stuck

 

[exceladdict]

But essential if operating on limited data. Do it before you leave Oz.

Just closing apps doesn’t work.

Nor does telling apps to only do things over wifi. YouTube music downloaded 1.5gb of music on a 20min drive while roaming recently - with download over Mobile disabled. I think it was because my google one vpn was on in the background. Fortunately, only cost me a $10 top up...

 

[Steamrollersam]

Airalo was a big fizzer during my 2-week trip to Madrid and Barcelona this month. Since I was just visiting Spain I picked the country-specific eSIM which roamed using one of their bigger telcos Movistar. I never had any reliable connection and only wound up using 0.34GB of the 5GB paid for. I gave up using it after three days. Good thing I had the Orange Flex as back-up which worked a treat (15GB for $0.23), and I used this exclusively for the last ten days of my trip (~11GB). I cancelled the Orange plan once I got back, then promptly got a text saying I’d get a refund of my 23 cents because I used the service for less than 14 days.

 

[Zinger]

I'm one of the lucky ones who signed up for the Optus $50 plan which includes 4Gb of roaming data per billing month back in 2019. I decided to use an esim to allow a physical SIM card to be used when traveling.

Just arrived in Singapore on my way to Paris, inserted the physical 3 Mobile sim I bought for my travels and turned my phone on. I immediately received a text message from Optus reminding me of the 4Gb they offer.

What I also like about it is I can continue using my Australian number using the esim. It comes in handy when I receive a text from banks and credit card providers wanting verification of some transactions when overseas.

Another unstated bonus is when in Oz I can access Optus' 5G network.

Am dreading the day I receive an email saying my current plan is to be taken away to be replaced by something nowhere near as good.

 

[moa999]

Still at $600/yr you are paying for it.

I'm a lowish data user domestically, so my plan is the Woolworths (Telstra 4G network) $150 100GB 12-mth plan (now $175 125 GB).

It can still receive incoming SMS internationally, and then I'll use a local 2nd SIM for data.