[adam917]

International SIMs with a generous expiration like eKit can still be a good deal for voice for people who travel to the EU but don't live there. eKit's Home & Roam seems like a good deal even in the UK as calling locally there is a bit reasonable if you don't use it much, also coverage there is good for the rates.

Having one number for the whole trip where you can receive calls & SMS for free can be worth it. I doubt these SIMs will have a decent data deal anytime soon, so one still has to go local for data, but for voice it works nicely. I think these international SIMs make good backup SIMs as companions to local ones when one is travelling.