Roaming vs Local Sims vs Other?

[browski]

Nothing beats getting a local SIM. That's where the competition is, that's where prices are reasonable.

I think we just listed a host of reasons why something else may be better than a local SIM. If we applied your logic to airlines, then you must only fly a LCC. However, in most many cases, It's not just about the price.

However even if it is just about the price, I'm pretty confident that Local Sims are NOT necessarily the cheapest.

In a telephone transaction there are typically 3 costs; the Sender's cost, the receiver's cost and the connection cost.

Whilst sending calls, the entire cost of a call is often 20-30% better if using a local SIM as opposed to a Passport Service. However when receiving a call the entire cost of the call is actually cheaper when using a Passport Service

Here's a few examples:

If receiving a call in South Africa (on a Sth Africa local SIM) from a mobile in Oz , the total cost of the call is like this:
Optus $79 cap "Yes" plan: AUD $0.74/min + $0.27 flagfall (all to sender)
e-kit passport service: AUD $0.48/min + $0.43 flagfall (all to receiver)

So obviously the entire cost of the call is much cheaper on e-kit. Now you might say, that you do not care about the costs of people that call you, but as most of those calls are from my family (technically, I have to pay those costs anyway) or from my work colleagues, this system really keeps costs down - and on top of that I still have all those other benefits; such as one phone number, one SIM etc.

Here are 2 more examples:
If receiving a call in Dubai, (where I am currently) from a mobile in Oz , the total cost of the call is like this:
Optus $79 cap "Yes" plan: AUD $1.37/min + $0.27 flagfall (all to sender)
e-kit passport service: AUD $0.59/min + $0.43 flagfall (all to receiver)

If receiving a call in Paris from a mobile in Oz , the total cost of the call is like this:
Optus $79 cap "Yes" plan: AUD $0.52/min + $0.27 flagfall (all to sender)
e-kit passport service: AUD $0.48/min + $0.43 flagfall (all to receiver)

Now I may have my sums wrong, this is just my first experiment, but I think I have it right. Like I wrote earlier, this service is not for everyone, but for the multi-destination (business?) traveller, I don't think you can beat it.

 

[futaris]

I don't know why you'd call anyone overseas directly from a mobile, when you can use a VoIP based callback service like PennyTel callback, or PennySIM e.g.:

$0.18487/min to French Mobile
$0.20069/min to South Africa Mobile

NB, all the $ cap plans have always been a rip-off, especially for overseas calls.

 

[browski]

I don't know why you'd call anyone overseas directly from a mobile, when you can use a VoIP based callback service like PennyTel callback, or PennySIM e.g.:

$0.18487/min to French Mobile
$0.20069/min to South Africa Mobile

NB, all the $ cap plans have always been a rip-off, especially for overseas calls.

Neither do I, but that's not really relevant to this thread.

 

[busykate]

Looked at ekit before I went and not sure why you would use their service and pay a high flagfall and pay in US$. USed BackChats GlobalSIM - Aussie based, AU$ and no flagfalls. Also free to receive calls throughout Europe. Worked great for me and saved a fortune

 

[rogerroger]

My bigger concern is being able to be contacted - switching to local sims every trip means no-one really knows how to call me except for close family, and I need to get calls for business and social reasons.

Local prepaid sims are also a real pain because of credit wastage, because it's hard finding data-enabled sims, and finding a top-up outlet is painful - the last thing I want to do in a strange country whether I'm on business or holiday. Forwarding my Oz number doesn't work too well because Optus (and Telstra, and maybe Vodafone too for all I know) block international diverts (probably because then they lose the roaming revenue...)

vRoam has a trial global sim (vSIM) where you're still contactable on your Oz number, works well and it's postpaid, data-enabled and no flagfalls. It's not on their website yet, but if you ask [email protected] you can get the details. Seems pretty reasonable for Europe and Asia, not so good for US.

 

[spunkarooney]

My bigger concern is being able to be contacted - switching to local sims every trip means no-one really knows how to call me except for close family, and I need to get calls for business and social reasons..

Very simple solution, you divert your Australian number to your new local number and those "calls for business and social" will reach you immediately and easily.

Local prepaid sims are also a real pain because of credit wastage

It has been my experience that credit wastage is minimal as often the minimum top-up requirements are far less than what we've grown accustomed to in Australia.

Also, even if there is any "credit wastage" (sounds like an industry term), you will more than likely be saving on the cost of your outgoing calls thus balancing out the "credit wastage".

because it's hard finding data-enabled sims

Really? I've just come back from Albania, and guess what? They had Vodafone there and the SIM was data-enabled!

I think that data is almost automatic everywhere these days. If it's not automatic then a simple SMS to the number shown in the starter pack enables it immediately.

Another SMS or call to customer services sends the data settings to your mobile device.

and finding a top-up outlet is painful - the last thing I want to do in a strange country whether I'm on business or holiday.

Really? Seeing they're local companies, one would expect them to have top-up outlets everywhere - in fact, that's exactly what happens in EVERY country I've been to - you can buy top-ups even in unimaginable places. By comparison, we're severely limited here in Australia.

Forwarding my Oz number doesn't work too well because Optus (and Telstra, and maybe Vodafone too for all I know) block international diverts (probably because then they lose the roaming revenue...)

I have never had that problem. Perhaps there are some credit restrictions on your account.

vRoam has a trial global sim (vSIM) where you're still contactable on your Oz number, works well and it's postpaid, data-enabled and no flagfalls. It's not on their website yet, but if you ask [email protected] you can get the details. Seems pretty reasonable for Europe and Asia, not so good for US.

It's not on their website yet, but you know about it? You don't work for them do you?

After having travelled to over 40 countries I can put my hand on my heart and say that NOTHING beats having a local SIM - for price and convenience.

 

[drewbles]

My bigger concern is being able to be contacted - switching to local sims every trip means no-one really knows how to call me except for close family, and I need to get calls for business and social reasons.

Local prepaid sims are also a real pain because of credit wastage, because it's hard finding data-enabled sims, and finding a top-up outlet is painful - the last thing I want to do in a strange country whether I'm on business or holiday. Forwarding my Oz number doesn't work too well because Optus (and Telstra, and maybe Vodafone too for all I know) block international diverts (probably because then they lose the roaming revenue...)

vRoam has a trial global sim (vSIM) where you're still contactable on your Oz number, works well and it's postpaid, data-enabled and no flagfalls. It's not on their website yet, but if you ask [email protected] you can get the details. Seems pretty reasonable for Europe and Asia, not so good for US.

I posted in another part of the forum an answer to a similar question. I work for a company that does Global Roaming SIM cards (I'm one of the engineers, not sales so i make nothing out of recommending them). One SIM card, 2 numbers (A Local US Phone number and a Global UK Number). People can call you directly on either number no matter where you are in the world, or call a 1800 number locally so they don't incur the cost of calling you (and you pickup the tab).

I won't spam, but if you want info, PM me and i'll send you some info

 

[browski]

After having travelled to over 40 countries I can put my hand on my heart and say that NOTHING beats having a local SIM - for price and convenience.

When you travel to your 41st country, on what number can I contact you? Oh, that's right you don't have one. Shame though, because I was so keen to discuss the debating genius of your "hand on your heart" comment. That was the clincher for me.

 

[spunkarooney]

When you travel to your 41st country, on what number can I contact you?

As stated, you contact me on my Australian number. Simple, really.

 

[browski]

As stated, you contact me on my Australian number. Simple, really.

Although the nobility of the act would be impressive, I will not require you to fall upon your sword.

 

[spunkarooney]

Although the nobility of the act would be impressive, I will not require you to fall upon your sword.

I'll just remind you of:

Very simple solution, you divert your Australian number to your new local number and those "calls for business and social" will reach you immediately and easily.

 

[SeaWolf]

Very simple solution, you divert your Australian number to your new local number and those "calls for business and social" will reach you immediately and easily.

Which domestic provider are you with? I know Telstra allows this, but hits you for 20c per min on top of the international call rate, and I think they only allow it for post pay users. I don't think any of the other providers allow it at all. Also, how are you diverting SMS, MMS?

 

[spunkarooney]

Which domestic provider are you with? I know Telstra allows this, but hits you for 20c per min on top of the international call rate, and I think they only allow it for post pay users. I don't think any of the other providers allow it at all. Also, how are you diverting SMS, MMS?

I'm with 3. I'm sure (at least for postpaid) all of the others also allow international diversions.

I wasn't aware that Telstra had a surcharge and I certainly haven't seen any mention of that in its Standard Form of Agreement documents. If it ain't in there then it shouldn't be charged.

SMS and MMS don't get diverted. I usually have a spare mobile (for security) in my bag and leave my Australian SIM in that. It receives my SMS. If that's not appropriate, for whatever reason, then I simply swap SIMs once per day to receive SMS.

It is by far the cheapest way of doing things.

These special roaming SIM providers are simply trying to value-add (and of course make a profit) on what you can by locally, anywhere.

 

[drewbles]

These special roaming SIM providers are simply trying to value-add (and of course make a profit) on what you can by locally, anywhere.

Speaking as someone who works heavily in design and deployment of a product designed to do what we're discussing, I can say with 100% certainty you're incorrect.

For instance, the product we sell in the USA allows you to roam on *multiple* US Carriers and also in Canada, for call rates less than or equal to standard pre-paid rates from the individual carriers, and gives you two networks for coverage. It has other features as well, which you do not get at all with local SIM's. It's not value add, it's a product that negates the need for local SIM's being a) cheaper in a lot of cases than a local SIM to call out of the country and b) providing a way for anyone to call you without them picking up the tab (Toll free forwarding) whilst you pay the cost of an incoming call, which is still negligible.

The products around are designed to eliminate the need to do what you're doing, ie, buying a SIM in every country. It's also a hell of a lot cheaper than how you're doing it

 

[spunkarooney]

Speaking as someone who works heavily in design and deployment...

Well... need I say more?

The products around are designed to eliminate the need to do what you're doing, ie, buying a SIM in every country. It's also a hell of a lot cheaper than how you're doing it

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about what is cheaper.

I actually like having a local SIM with a local number so that locals can contact me easily and without great expense.

In the end, different solutions will suit different people.

 

[SeaWolf]

I'm with 3. I'm sure (at least for postpaid) all of the others also allow international diversions.

If you have a look on Whirlpool you'll find that a lot of users have very mixed experiences getting a divert to an international number to work correctly. Even where they have been told it will all work correctly they often find that some automated mechanism in the network is (not so) helpfully putting a +61 in front of the number they're entering. Even aside from that it's quite an expensive option as there'll be a charge at the international call rate for the diversion.

I've often found as well that since I'm often only in these countries less than a week that the cost of buying a pre-paid SIM (often $30) is more than the amount of roaming charges I'll run up since I generally do very little calling and just SMS, which is free to receive and much cheaper than a call to send. Telstra also has to facility to check voicemail online, which is obviously far cheaper than calling into voicemail.

That works pretty well for me with one exception, and that's data. I have an iPhone and as long as I turn off 'Data while Roaming' it will never touch the phone network data, which means I won't get billed an outrageous amount for roaming data ($15 per MB). But of course then I've got no data, I'm stuck relying on finding free wifi hotspots, which is easy in some cities and hard in others. I'm yet to find a good solution to this as I don't really want to buy prepaid SIMs in every country just for data, don't want to be stuck hunting for wifi hotspots, and don't want to pay outrageous roaming rates.

 

[rogerroger]

There's probably no perfect answer for everybody, just whatever suits you better than others. Being contactable is a big deal for me (and not wasting time tooling around arrival halls trying to find a SIM when I've just got off a long flight). The vRoam product works for me (don't know why you can't find it on their website - I can see it)

Optus definitely blocks diversions to international numbers, not sure about the others.

btw, did anyone see the massive Vodafone price increases for international calls a couple of weeks ago? They only apply to new caps/plans, and it's probably related to changing the amount of included calls in their caps. But it's for every international call, and maybe a factor of 8 times what it used to be! If you have to divert a Voda SIM internationally that has GOT to hurt!

 

[oz_mark]

btw, did anyone see the massive Vodafone price increases for international calls a couple of weeks ago? They only apply to new caps/plans, and it's probably related to changing the amount of included calls in their caps. But it's for every international call, and maybe a factor of 8 times what it used to be! If you have to divert a Voda SIM internationally that has GOT to hurt!

While the way they calculate the caps, it is likely that some of it has come out of the three - vodafone merger as they move onto common plans and charging ahead of the three brand being dropped altogether.

 

[rogerroger]

I agree it may have something to do with 3 merger (3 was the original "cap monster"). Personally I think caps are the greatest marketing scam ever - saying "you get $300 worth of calls in your $20 cap" by obscuring the fact the per-call cost is jacked up. Has no real effect until you bust the cap, then suddenly you're paying nose-bleed rates.

Does anyone know if the roaming Vodafone Traveller "$X plus your standard at home rates" mean the international "at home" rates or the international rates (which in the case of new caps will be pretty exhorbitant)?

 

[Archphoto]

The one thing that always gets me is the fine print that states your Cap Plan doesn't include roaming calls.

Got stung for $4500 in Japan for one month of calls - and no, I wasn't talking for hours, that's for calls lasting 5 minutes max with perhaps 4 lasting 15 mins, plus the usual SMS that had to be sent.

Now I have a collection of SIMS - it's much easier to quote a local number to a client than on of the readily available mutli-roam sims (which I do also have).

As others have said, it all depends on your needs; if you just want to keep in touch with family back home and are going to several different countries, the multi-roams will be perfect for you. On the other hand, if you need to be in touch with clients, it may be better to have a local one.

I just had a look at Vodaphone Traveller with rates for TH.
I have a local sim that cost me 3/THB min to call home with their special 009 prefix, which is about 11c/min on today's rate. To use VT it will cost either $2 plus standard call rate or 60c plus standard call rate the first for Traveller (3 zones only) the second for World (usual 5 zones).

Oh, and don't forget you get charged for all your incoming calls too - a nice little earner for them too.

At that rate, I could make about 3x more calls for the same price by using a local sim - research your market and decide what you need - best way to ensure the Telcos don't make $$$$ off your travel plans.