eSims, what is your experience.

[AustraliaPoochie]

I am interested in the concept of eSims but have no experience with them.
The notion of running my local sim plus having an international sim for phone use while in USA and EU could be handy.
What have members experience been? TIA

Might have been answered already.
But some esims are data only.
Choose carefully!
So you might need a dual Sim phone if you need to be contactable.

 

[SYD]

Has anyone else had a problem with Airalo eSIM data being consumed faster than expected?

I bought a 2GB / 15d Spain pass to compliment my 4GB of Optus roaming (I was concerned I might run out of Optus). At the start of the new Optus month I reset my usage stats on my iPhone to keep an eye on data usage. The Optus app lags a little but they’re usually pretty similar numbers. A few days later I purchased the Airalo bundle.

I was using the Airalo eSIM mainly for navigation (driving) and AFF but the 2GB was gobbled up in a couple days according to the Airalo app. Meanwhile I’d used about 2GB of Optus. The combined usage on my phone stats suggested I’d only used 2.5GB data total! So potentially 1.5GB went into the ether…..

 

[Colin 2905]

So potentially 1.5GB went into the ether…..

What's Airalo's minimum data session? I did a bit of a search, but couldn't find it mentioned anywhere. If the minimum data session is relatively high, and you have lots of relatively small data sessions, that would explain it.

 

[SYD]

What's Airalo's minimum data session? I did a bit of a search, but couldn't find it mentioned anywhere. If the minimum data session is relatively high, and you have lots of relatively small data sessions, that would explain it.

That never even occurred to me! I vaguely recall that sort of “billing” decades ago. Didn’t think it was a thing now? Pretty coughty if it is.

Maybe leaving data on is better than as required? !

 

[Colin 2905]

That never even occurred to me! I vaguely recall that sort of “billing” decades ago. Didn’t think it was a thing now? Pretty coughty if it is.

I don't know if that sort of billing is still around either, which is why I did a search re Airalo, but didn't find any mention of it. IIRC, Optus Pre-Paid Broadband used to be one of the worst, with a minimum data session of 10MB!

Maybe leaving data on is better than as required? !

Maybe. Try it and see what difference it makes, if any.

 

[Lat34]

I don't know if that sort of billing is still around either, which is why I did a search re Airalo, but didn't find any mention of it. IIRC, Optus Pre-Paid Broadband used to be one of the worst, with a minimum data session of 10MB!


Maybe. Try it and see what difference it makes, if any.

... watching with interest...

 

[SYD]

Maybe. Try it and see what difference it makes, if any.

That’ll probably be in a few weeks in Canada/USA. My included Optus data falls off the cliff at the start of August so I’ll be going BFOD eSIM thereafter. If Airalo usage doesn’t align with iPhone usage stats then that’ll be 3 strikes…

 

[Colin 2905]

I did another search, but still couldn't find any mention of it, so I've since used Airalo's Contact Us form to put the question to them directly. If I get an answer, I'll post it here.

Meanwhile, you could jump on the free Eskimo eSIM offer, as mentioned a couple of pages ago, which will get you 1.5GB, good for two years. My daughter recently used it in Bali, when away from free WiFi, and it worked fine (it also let her access reddit, which was blocked by the hotel WiFi).

 

[SYD]

Meanwhile, you could jump on the free Eskimo eSIM offer, as mentioned a couple of pages ago, which will get you 1.5GB, good for two years. My daughter recently used it in Bali, when away from free WiFi, and it worked fine (it also let her access reddit, which was blocked by the hotel WiFi).

I don’t recall seeing that offer and can’t see a reference to it up thread?

Nothing on the website, unless the offer is in the app? (Or gone)

eSIM｜eskimo.travel

The easiest and cheapest way to travel connected!

eskimo.travel

 

[serfty]

I don’t recall seeing that offer and can’t see a reference to it up thread?

Nothing on the website, unless the offer is in the app? (Or gone)

eSIM｜eskimo.travel

The easiest and cheapest way to travel connected!

eskimo.travel

Free 1GB of Global Data (Virtual eSIM, Data Valid for 2 Years) @ Eskimo.travel

Deal: Free 1GB of Global Data (Virtual eSIM, Data Valid for 2 Years) @ Eskimo.travel, Store: eskimo, Code: DBTF-1, Category: Mobile (Page 1)

www.ozbargain.com.au

 

[pks]

I’m heading to the UK on Tuesday and have a UK O2 Pay as you go SIM (with a number I need to keep). I’ve converted my Telstra SIM to eSIM and put my O2 physical SIM into my iPhone 14 and have hopefully got my settings right! I do notice when both SIMs are connected battery usage seems to increase. Any tips, recommendations or advice on what I’m doing?

 

[SYD]

I’m heading to the UK on Tuesday and have a UK O2 Pay as you go SIM (with a number I need to keep). I’ve converted my Telstra SIM to eSIM and put my O2 physical SIM into my iPhone 14 and have hopefully got my settings right! I do notice when both SIMs are connected battery usage seems to increase. Any tips, recommendations or advice on what I’m doing?

Make sure “Data roaming” for Telstra is turned off. That will prevent triggering roaming charges.

Set default data and calls to O2.

If you’re not using the Telstra line. Just turn it off - that will conserve battery life. eg during the day and no one is likely to call you. Switch it on occasional / as required for receiving SMS.

Alternatively, turn off O2 if you’re more concerned about receiving timely SMS on Telstra.

As an aside, I’ve got into the habit of turning on “Low Battery Mode” while I’m out and about. Does wonders.

 

[pks]

Make sure “Data roaming” for Telstra is turned off. That will prevent triggering roaming charges.

Set default data and calls to O2.

If you’re not using the Telstra line. Just turn it off - that will conserve battery life. eg during the day and no one is likely to call you. Switch it on occasional / as required for receiving SMS.

Alternatively, turn O2 if you’re more concerned about receiving timely SMS on Telstra.

As an aside, I’ve got into the habit of turning “Low Battery Mode” while I’m out and about. Does wonders.

Thanks @SYD appreciate the feedback

 

[luckypierre]

Make sure “Data roaming” for Telstra is turned off. That will prevent triggering roaming charges.

Set default data and calls to O2.

If you’re not using the Telstra line. Just turn it off - that will conserve battery life. eg during the day and no one is likely to call you. Switch it on occasional / as required for receiving SMS.

Alternatively, turn O2 if you’re more concerned about receiving timely SMS on Telstra.

As an aside, I’ve got into the habit of turning “Low Battery Mode” while I’m out and about. Does wonders.

If you’re worried about data usage rates , I tend to switch OFF Mobile data for all APPS and only switch on the Essential ones. Or switch ON Mobile data to particular Apps as required.

 

[SYD]

If you’re worried about data usage rates , I tend to switch OFF Mobile data for all APPS and only switch on the Essential ones. Or switch ON Mobile data to particular Apps as required.

Yes, usually essential regardless of what you’re using (and important to do it before you leave home).

Although, if you have a local SIM (like earlier comment) there’s probably generous data and less of an issue.

 

[kamchatsky]

I have been using Orange Poland Flex eSIM for 1 PLN (37 cents AUD) for first month, and I get 15.34Gb of roaming data in Europe + Poland phone number for calls as part of the deal below:

Orange Flex European 5G SIM Plan, 11.14GB Roaming Data, 1 Month for PLNzł1 (~A$0.32) (Renews at PLNzł80 / A$26 Monthly), App R

Deal: Orange Flex European 5G SIM Plan, 11.14GB Roaming Data, 1 Month for PLNzł1 (~A$0.32) (Renews at PLNzł80 / A$26 Monthly), App R, Store: Orange Poland, Code: FLEX, Category: Mobile

www.ozbargain.com.au

They also provided additional offer of 4gb of roaming in Europe for Summer promo recently. But I won't be able to use all the data anyway.

 

[SYD]

Free 1GB of Global Data (Virtual eSIM, Data Valid for 2 Years) @ Eskimo.travel

Deal: Free 1GB of Global Data (Virtual eSIM, Data Valid for 2 Years) @ Eskimo.travel, Store: eskimo, Code: DBTF-1, Category: Mobile (Page 1)

www.ozbargain.com.au

Thanks. I couldn’t get the referral code to work so only 1GB instead of 1.5GB. Will keep it on standby for emergency use.

 

[Colin 2905]

... I've since used Airalo's Contact Us form to put the question to them directly. If I get an answer, I'll post it here.

Received a useless reply overnight. They can't find an Airalo account associated with my email address (well duh, I don't have one) so they've asked for the email address that is, or my eSIM ICCID. Failing that, a copy of my order receipt. I responded that I was asking on someone else's behalf, and as a general question, those details shouldn't be needed.

I don't think this is going to end well.

 

[SYD]

Received a useless reply overnight. They can't find an Airalo account associated with my email address (well duh, I don't have one) so they've asked for the email address that is, or my eSIM ICCID. Failing that, a copy of my order receipt. I responded that I was asking on someone else's behalf, and as a general question, those details shouldn't be needed.

I don't think this is going to end well.

Well, at least you got a response. I sent a “Not happy Jan” message. Crickets. Apart from “We have a backlog”.….

 

[Kangol]

Free 1GB of Global Data (Virtual eSIM, Data Valid for 2 Years) @ Eskimo.travel

Deal: Free 1GB of Global Data (Virtual eSIM, Data Valid for 2 Years) @ Eskimo.travel, Store: eskimo, Code: DBTF-1, Category: Mobile (Page 1)

www.ozbargain.com.au

Nothing about the Galaxy S23 series being supported - anyone tried it with this model?