Global roaming for email and data

[mickg]

Can anyone give me a heads up on these global roaming sims? I am likely to use email and data "google Maps" etc as much or more than phone calls. This is all on the mobile so I can't use a laptop datacard. Any suggestions as to the best options. Most of this year's travel will be in Asia.

 

[Baysider]

I suspect you would be better off buying a pre-paid SIM card in Asia. We picked up one in Manila that was also good for Hong Kong. This gave us much cheaper local and international call rates than anything we could buy here and take with us. If you have a laptop, free wireless broadband is widely available in Asian hotels and many other places (eg on the subway in Hong Kong), so that's the easiest way to handle email, etc.

 

[nlagalle]

Global roaming is hideously expensive. around $15 per mb. As suggested above, get a pre-paid SIM. It'll have you a heap of $$$.

The other thing to remember with Global roaming is you get charged for incoming calls. i.e. you pay the overseas trunking of the call. I went to Fiji for work once and in 5 days had racked up over $500 in incoming calls alone.

 

[Ikara]

As nlagalle says it is expensive. Make sure that you read the fine print on costs. The last thing you want when you get home is a nasty surprise.

Data is expensive here in Aust. Overseas it is grossly expensive if roaming.

And I work for the phone company - or will until I retire in 75 days (but who's counting and that's a story for another thread that I'll post soon).

JB

 

[albatross710]

Data is expensive here in Aust. Overseas it is grossly expensive if roaming.

I've been wondering just how I am going to cope in Vietnam without my ubiquitous iPhone. Surely the data can't be that expensive? I enquired with my mobile provider (VirginMobile) and they advised that they have a competitive rate being 2 cents per Kb. Didn't look too bad until I multiplied a normal week of data:

80MB @ 2 c/kb = $1,600!!!!

I think I'll be happy to buy a good book, be offline and check in at an Internet cafe every now and then.

Cheers

Alby

 

[Mal]

I've been wondering just how I am going to cope in Vietnam without my ubiquitous iPhone. Surely the data can't be that expensive?

There is a large number of people getting stung for massive roaming charges due to iphone usage overseas, and it's tendency to suck data down. Something for iphone users to be aware of!

 

[albatross710]

There is a large number of people getting stung for massive roaming charges due to iphone usage overseas, and it's tendency to suck data down. Something for iphone users to be aware of!

Absolutely. I admit to becoming an addict with apps, access, convenience etc.

Pretty amazing roaming charges though, given that here I get 1GB of data with call plan for $70.

 

[dot]

I've been wondering just how I am going to cope in Vietnam without my ubiquitous iPhone. Surely the data can't be that expensive? I enquired with my mobile provider (VirginMobile) and they advised that they have a competitive rate being 2 cents per Kb. Didn't look too bad until I multiplied a normal week of data:

80MB @ 2 c/kb = $1,600!!!!

I think I'll be happy to buy a good book, be offline and check in at an Internet cafe every now and then.

Cheers

Alby

I would also point out that there is no 3G network in Vietnam - so you are back at GPRS (or at best EDGE) speeds - 80 Mb is a LOT at those speeds...

mickg, most pre-paid SIMs available throughout Asia do not support data traffic - they are primarily for voice and sms (sometimes mms) traffic. I know this form personal experience in China and Hong Kong. If you go down the pre-paid SIM path, makes sure you check that it has data capabilities before you buy it.

 

[Evan]

On my Singapore home + roaming broadband with Starhub i get some special fixed rate for data overseas, but you need to have a Starhub sim which is not that cheap without a plan but i could check it out in more detail if you want. I know they also have some cap in Asian countries on selected providers of $30/day for data roaming which is actually really cheap if you think about it, probably cheaper than internet in your hotel !

 

[mannej]

There is a large number of people getting stung for massive roaming charges due to iphone usage overseas, and it's tendency to suck data down. Something for iphone users to be aware of!

I know it is possible to turn data roaming and 3g services off on the iPhone. Has anyone tried this overseas and did it work (i.e little data roaming compared to normal), and is running skype off wi-fi a benefit when overseas using an iPhone?

 

[notzac]

I know it is possible to turn data roaming and 3g services off on the iPhone. Has anyone tried this overseas and did it work (i.e little data roaming compared to normal), and is running skype off wi-fi a benefit when overseas using an iPhone?

Settings -> General -> Network

I've not got any experience with having Data Roaming on in the first place, as I usually get a local SIM when I'm travelling for more than a day or two. So - unsure how well this works.

 

[liamg]

Does anyone have any suggestions for pre-paid SIMs with data in the US?

Rumour was a while ago that AT&T and T-Mobile both stopped offering data on pre-paid SIMS, yet it still shows it as available on both their websites.

Has anyone had any personal experience going into a store for either telco and asking? I'm travelling to the States in a few weeks and, like the OP, can't live without my always on e-mail, and have no idea how I would get around without Google Maps...

Thanks!

L.

 

[Baysider]

This link from T-Mobile may answer your question:

T-Mobile Prepaid FAQs (Sidekick® II)

It costs $1 per day to add to your prepaid service.

 

[v8Statesman]

Does anyone have any suggestions for pre-paid SIMs with data in the US?

Rumour was a while ago that AT&T and T-Mobile both stopped offering data on pre-paid SIMS, yet it still shows it as available on both their websites.

Has anyone had any personal experience going into a store for either telco and asking? I'm travelling to the States in a few weeks and, like the OP, can't live without my always on e-mail, and have no idea how I would get around without Google Maps...

Thanks!

L.

I used AT&T last month on pre paid. I can confirm that you can purchase 100mb of data for US$19.95. You have 30days to use it as a bolt on to the "GO" plans.

 

[liamg]

This link from T-Mobile may answer your question:

Thanks, I saw that. But I'm saying that even though it's on their website still, I heard that T-Mobile wasn't offering it when you went into the store and tried to get it...

I guess I'll cross my fingers and see when I get there...

 

[openseat]

I thought AT&T were prohibiting iPhones being on their prepaid data plans. Somehow they read the IMEI and work out if it is an iPhone and then boot you off. Though there is some confusion.
More info here: AT&T signals an abrupt end for some prepaid iPhone plans (updated)

I found this website that is useful for checking out data plans in different countries, probably best suited to longer visits in a single country.

Home - Prepaid Wireless Internet Access