eSims, what is your experience.

[SYD]

How will your phone be roaming if you don't pay the $5/day roaming fee?

I assume @SeatBackForward is moving on from Vodafone?

Either way, you should still be able to receive SMS without triggering roaming. Normally you’ll only trigger roaming charges if you send a txt, make/receive a call OR enable Data Roaming.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Oh, what’s happened?

Just the usual shenanigans all companies play these days. I'm currently on a service plans, each service is $53/mth, with discounts that comes down to about $80/mnth for both. They've launched a new plan that would come down to be $66/mth for two - but of course they've only made this available to new services/customers and wont offer to switch my existing numbers onto that plan.

So like others, their motive is only new customers which basically encourages us to switch to being a new customer somewhere else. It's the modern day Loyalty penalty.

What model phone?

Currently using a OnePlus 11 Pro, but Oneplus was never officially recognised on the Australian markets, and have announced they're quitting Europe and US as well. Am about get delivered an Oppo Find X9 - so yes capable of dual sims and e-sims.

 

[SeatBackForward]

How will your phone be roaming if you don't pay the $5/day roaming fee?

I assume @SeatBackForward is moving on from Vodafone?

Either way, you should still be able to receive SMS without triggering roaming. Normally you’ll only trigger roaming charges if you send a txt, make/receive a call OR enable Data Roaming.

Yep the plan is move off Vodafone - their $5/day roaming was really the only reason I stayed, but I feel now no desire to stay.

But yeah, I wasn't sure, not being able to receive calls overseas on my normal number will be a pain = would VoLTE using the roaming e-sim work in this instance to keep your Australian number?

 

[asterix]

Yep the plan is move off Vodafone - their $5/day roaming was really the only reason I stayed, but I feel now no desire to stay.

But yeah, I wasn't sure, not being able to receive calls overseas on my normal number will be a pain = would VoLTE using the roaming e-sim work in this instance to keep your Australian number?

VoLTE on the Australian telco sim will use the roaming esim if you are with a Telstra based provider. I use my Google Pixel 8a with a Boost sim and a foreign esim when overseas and can make and receive calls and SMS on my Boost number using the foreign esim data. This will not work with Optus and Vodafone based providers.

 

[SeatBackForward]

VoLTE on the Australian telco sim will use the roaming esim if you are with a Telstra based provider. I use my Google Pixel 8a with a Boost sim and a foreign esim when overseas and can make and receive calls and SMS on my Boost number using the foreign esim data. This will not work with Optus and Vodafone based providers.

Thank you! That's exactly the setup I'd like to end up with. Mind if i ask who your esim is with?

 

[asterix]

Thank you! That's exactly the setup I'd like to end up with. Mind if i ask who your esim is with?

When we were in the UK in December/January I used a 3UK esim. In Malaysia in April I used a Singapore/Malaysia esim from Travelkon and in Vanuatu and New Caledonia earlier in July I used an Orange World esim from Travelkon. Worked fine with an Airalo Japan esim back in July 2024 as well

 

[Scr77]

VoLTE on the Australian telco sim will use the roaming esim if you are with a Telstra based provider. I use my Google Pixel 8a with a Boost sim and a foreign esim when overseas and can make and receive calls and SMS on my Boost number using the foreign esim data. This will not work with Optus and Vodafone based providers.

Are you sure that the Boost calls are going over eSIM and not Wifi? I’m also with boost on iPhone, but I can only receive and make calls when connected to wifi.

 

[asterix]

Are you sure that the Boost calls are going over eSIM and not Wifi? I’m also with boost on iPhone, but I can only receive and make calls when connected to wifi.

Definitely, I wasn't connected to any wifi when out and about. Works fine on wifi as well. Used it on a cruise recently with a Oneroam esim, worked great.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I think I've just cracked it with Vodafone. Have been with them for the past ten years, mostly because I've enjoyed their $5/day roaming that allows you to use your plans data/calls even when roaming and keep using the same phone number. But their refusal to offer plans only available to "new customers" has pushed me over the edge.

I'm relatively new to esims, so I have a couple of questions:

a) My phone has dual sim and esim capability. If I use an e-sim can my existing Australian phone number still be called while roaming?
b) If I use a PAYG esims like bcengi, do I need to manually turn them on/off when entering and departing anywhere outside Australia?

I bought an esim from Simcorner, they might have changed their name, (its stuck to 2deg NZ), I think its been 3 years, and 2deg NZ phone number still works, and the balance is still there, so I can top up, and use it.
Esim, if you buy it from Aus providers, means you can set it up at home, here in Aus, needs you to go to a website of the seller, buy the esim, pay, and then you get provided with a QR code, you use that QR code on your dual sim mobile, one can be esim, the other a sim of your choice.
If you set up the esim in Aus, you can then, on landing, just turn off flight mode and you should be all set.
There is no PAYG for roaming, you have to buy a block, or top up, say Aud$20/$50, $20 on some plans might last 3 days, $50 might last a week, or give you a set # of calls and GB.
I dont know about Bcengi, so cant say.
If you have an oseas esim, your Aus phone # will still work, but without a roaming pack, anyone who calls you, or you call anyone, while overseas, will be in for a big surprise.
Best to turn the Aus sim off while overseas, give everyone your esim #, granted some esims can be for all of Europe, but some esims are country specific.
Sorry for the waffly.