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Stu · 10-05-2013, 23:30

The problem with UK numbers and roaming SIMs is that the rates don't hold. Half the SIMs use Jersey or Isle of Mann numbers which while coded as +44-79x numbers are surcharged. When VOIP providers figure out the actual termination costs to these numbers, they often quickly (and without much notice) raise the rates, or block connections to the numbers with no notice. There are also issues with retroactive or unannounced charges.

Even with UK mobile numbers, we are seeing problems. Lycamobile is in a fight with TMobile/Orange/EE because they have arbitrarily excluded them from the UK mobile rates because of the termination costs. I run my own Asterisks box and used to terminate this way to save money. I decided that it was too much work and I often got ripped off by carriers who would not honor their deals. I then had to reroute those trunks to burn up the money that I had left. When it was all said and done, I wasn't paying 2 or 3 cents a minute to make the call if I took a hard look at my numbers.

Piranha is 8 US cents a minute for inbounds in most EU countries with a US number in the area code of your choice (not rural Iowa which is the US's Estonia/Lichtenstein/Isle of Mann when it comes to termination rates). The rate is stable and everything works. I just decided to terminate that way.

If you want to play the game, look at Toggle Mobile. They have a true UK number with free termination in a number of countries. They are owned by Lycamobile and presumably use the same numbering range. If you want to be crafty about it, get yourself a Three UK SIM prepaid SIM and port the number to Lyca/Toggle. It won't be easily detectable by non-UK carriers.

	(#2)
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Guru Posts: 1,091 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Detroit (formerly Dubai) Country:	10-05-2013, 23:30 The problem with UK numbers and roaming SIMs is that the rates don't hold. Half the SIMs use Jersey or Isle of Mann numbers which while coded as +44-79x numbers are surcharged. When VOIP providers figure out the actual termination costs to these numbers, they often quickly (and without much notice) raise the rates, or block connections to the numbers with no notice. There are also issues with retroactive or unannounced charges. Even with UK mobile numbers, we are seeing problems. Lycamobile is in a fight with TMobile/Orange/EE because they have arbitrarily excluded them from the UK mobile rates because of the termination costs. I run my own Asterisks box and used to terminate this way to save money. I decided that it was too much work and I often got ripped off by carriers who would not honor their deals. I then had to reroute those trunks to burn up the money that I had left. When it was all said and done, I wasn't paying 2 or 3 cents a minute to make the call if I took a hard look at my numbers. Piranha is 8 US cents a minute for inbounds in most EU countries with a US number in the area code of your choice (not rural Iowa which is the US's Estonia/Lichtenstein/Isle of Mann when it comes to termination rates). The rate is stable and everything works. I just decided to terminate that way. If you want to play the game, look at Toggle Mobile. They have a true UK number with free termination in a number of countries. They are owned by Lycamobile and presumably use the same numbering range. If you want to be crafty about it, get yourself a Three UK SIM prepaid SIM and port the number to Lyca/Toggle. It won't be easily detectable by non-UK carriers.