New roamer seeking advice

sheepworrier · **New roamer seeking advice -** 09-11-2010, 16:16

I'm planning a trip next year to spend a few days in Singapore, a few weeks in Australia, a few weeks in New Zealand and a few weeks in Hawaii / Los Angeles.

I have two handsets, so can keep my existing number on one phone to receive free texts.

I'd like to get another SIM to receive many free / cheap phone calls from a few close friends and family that I give the number to; make many cheap local calls to arrange trips etc. Cheap outbound texts (to reply to SMS on my other handset) and data would be a nice bonus, but not essential.

I've looked into an 0044 Global SIM, which is close to my requirements but I'm put off by the seemingly expensive local call rates; and buying a pre-paid SIM in each country, but don't want the hassle of keep changing my number and letting people know.

Is there some way I could have a virtual phone number for my trip that offers free / cheap forwarding to my local number (updating this at the start of each leg wouldn't be a problem), or a better Global SIM?

rfranzq · **Well, at least you have time to figure this out........ -** 10-11-2010, 07:16

Quote:

Is there some way I could have a virtual phone number for my trip that offers free / cheap forwarding to my local number (updating this at the start of each leg wouldn't be a problem), or a better Global SIM?

Quote:

but don't want the hassle of keep changing my number and letting people know.

Virtual number schemes exist and would solve the second quotes issues. I have no experience or expertise with them so I will let others supply info for them.
If you truly have free inbound SMS with your current phone you might tell people to only use that number for SMSes and then you can respond with the cheaper SIM. Most global SIM cards have rather high SMS send charges.

However, 'a better Global SIM' is something I might better be able to comment on. You are going to spend some time looking at various global SIMs: check their rates for various countries.

Perhaps, I can suggest two.

Since you are in the UK Truphone has an interesting SIM card with 'local rates' for UK, US and Austrailia [The Austrailian rates show on the web site and they briefly had Aust. phone numbers also, but backed off that a day after first showing it]. You will also be able to keep this card since it has a UK number and rates for future use. The 'local rates' for USA and Aust have a monthly fee that you can pay whenever you want to use it for that--perhaps never after this trip and when you first use the card it has one month of the local rate free. Truphones rates for Singapore and NZ are not low. How much do you talk? The 'local' SMS send rates are good.

The second card I suggest might be hard to get in the UK [I have a message to the ebay selller I just sent.] The seller ekitmobileusa on eBay sells SIMple Calling Plus Service Canada and USA SIM card - 9c/m in US + 29c/m in Canada Check the rates for your countries. The SMS rate is 25cents [for international in the US] and 69cents in the other countries.

Shop around. Check the many rates of the various SIMs. Ask questions here.

Bossman · 10-11-2010, 14:51

Actually, in OP's situation, spending a few weeks in each of those countries and needing to make and cheap calls and receive free calls, a country-specific sim is the best option. As already posted, there are several ways to keep those sims going if you need to. My virgin UK sim is at least 6 years old, and I have only used it within UK twice in those years. I have kept it active/going my one of the ways already mentioned. Also, the so-called global sims do expire as well if they are not used within a certain period.

ross · 08-12-2010, 11:52

I can suggest an option of virtual number. You can give this number to your family and friends and once you reach other country get their local SIM and have this number mentioned in the forwarding option on your online access they provide, so you don't have to give different numbers to your friends.

snidely · 16-12-2010, 05:07

I was just going to make ross's suggestion. In past years I did make use of a similar service in the U.S. - Kall8.com and another similar service whose name i've forgotten.
To OP: Since you are in the UK, there is a carrier that makes use of UMA technology. See a brief thread on this in the last day. This would, however, require you to be connected via wifi for voice. You would get incoming SMS for free even via cellular, I believe.
...mike

petkow · 16-12-2010, 12:30

Orange UK allows UMA but you need a compatible phone. Personally, I wouldn't bother with UMA for most roaming needs for the reasons I described in this thread:
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/inte...as-travel.html

If I were in the OP's shoes I would first get a virtual UK Voip number (also known as DID). There are hundreds of providers in the UK, some are even free. Make sure its number starts with either 01,02 or 03. Don't bother with the virtualglobalphone one that has been spammed by Ross above. Then get your normal mobile to divert to that number. I presume you have inclusive minutes on your contract, so incoming calls that are forwarded will effectively come out of these.

Then get a dedicated roaming SIM from whatever provider you want. You will probably only need this for your few days in Singapore and then later in the USA/Hawaii. You may also need it as a backup for Australia and NZ (in case you cannot get a local SIM). Note down the telephone number of that roaming SIM and then either get your newly acquired DID to forward to this number, or via another provider. You can also get your local mobile to directly forward to a roaming SIM but be careful as it may not be considered as inclusive minutes even though it appears like a normal UK mobile number. To be safer, you can get a provider like Voipgain to forward to UK 00447 for just 3c/min. In Australia and NZ you can easily pick up a cheap local SIM on the day you arrive. During this time, you can get your DID provider to forward to the local number.

In short, your friends back in the UK can either call you on your normal mobile or via the new 01/02/03 number that you have bought. They do not need to know the number of each local SIM that you are using as the call will always effectively 'find you'. Of course the forwarding will be at your cost but most of these Voip providers work on a prepaid basis, and forwarding to your special roaming SIM can be as little as 3c/min or even a local SIM in Australia and NZ is all fairly cheap at under 10c/min in most cases. Ideally, look for a roaming SIM that offers free (or cheap) incoming in Singapore, NZ and Australia via the 00447 number and perhaps cheap incoming in the USA via the dual number (001).

This all sounds a bit complicated, but probably the best option these days. Feel free to ask more questions.

ross · 03-01-2011, 07:58

Happy new year guys !!

DRNewcomb · 03-01-2011, 22:14

One option I've used is CallbackWorld's PIN-to-dest service. You give the toll-free access number and PIN to your family and change the target number as you move about. One nice feature is that there are toll-free access numbers in many countries. I used to give my crew the local access number and my PIN and tell them that there was never any excuse for not checking in, since they didn't even need pocket change for the phone.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

	(#1)
sheepworrier (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 1 Join Date: 09 Nov 2010 Country:	New roamer seeking advice - 09-11-2010, 16:16 I'm planning a trip next year to spend a few days in Singapore, a few weeks in Australia, a few weeks in New Zealand and a few weeks in Hawaii / Los Angeles. I have two handsets, so can keep my existing number on one phone to receive free texts. I'd like to get another SIM to receive many free / cheap phone calls from a few close friends and family that I give the number to; make many cheap local calls to arrange trips etc. Cheap outbound texts (to reply to SMS on my other handset) and data would be a nice bonus, but not essential. I've looked into an 0044 Global SIM, which is close to my requirements but I'm put off by the seemingly expensive local call rates; and buying a pre-paid SIM in each country, but don't want the hassle of keep changing my number and letting people know. Is there some way I could have a virtual phone number for my trip that offers free / cheap forwarding to my local number (updating this at the start of each leg wouldn't be a problem), or a better Global SIM?

	(#3)
Bossman (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,257 Join Date: 22 Apr 2005 Location: Chicago Country:	10-11-2010, 14:51 Actually, in OP's situation, spending a few weeks in each of those countries and needing to make and cheap calls and receive free calls, a country-specific sim is the best option. As already posted, there are several ways to keep those sims going if you need to. My virgin UK sim is at least 6 years old, and I have only used it within UK twice in those years. I have kept it active/going my one of the ways already mentioned. Also, the so-called global sims do expire as well if they are not used within a certain period. Phones: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, Samsung Galaxy A50, ASUS zenfone 3, Sim cards: AT&T (Contract), 3 UK, Piranha Mobile

	(#4)
ross (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 2 Join Date: 08 Dec 2010 Country:	08-12-2010, 11:52 I can suggest an option of virtual number. You can give this number to your family and friends and once you reach other country get their local SIM and have this number mentioned in the forwarding option on your online access they provide, so you don't have to give different numbers to your friends. Last edited by andy; 31-12-2010 at 13:56.. Reason: brand name removed

	(#5)
snidely (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 451 Join Date: 09 May 2005 Location: Berkeley, California and Miami Country:	16-12-2010, 05:07 I was just going to make ross's suggestion. In past years I did make use of a similar service in the U.S. - Kall8.com and another similar service whose name i've forgotten. To OP: Since you are in the UK, there is a carrier that makes use of UMA technology. See a brief thread on this in the last day. This would, however, require you to be connected via wifi for voice. You would get incoming SMS for free even via cellular, I believe. ...mike Make use of T-M's UMA/wifi free calling from any place in the world with access to wifi. I use an LG G6, wife an S7) A/o Oct 20, 2013 no need for intl prepaid as T-Mobile U.S. includes voice roaming at 20¢/min (in and out)., unlimited text (in and out), and unlimited data in 140+ countries. My Plan -[6 lines] U.S. T-Mobile unlimited minutes (incoming and outgoing), unlimited text, fast data on each line. that $145/mo. total! . (In U.S. no surcharge for calling a cell.) If a line exceeds 2G of data in a month, pay $10 more for that line. [That only happens a couple times/year.

	(#6)
petkow (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Pioneer Posts: 696 Join Date: 01 Aug 2006 Location: Madrid Country:	16-12-2010, 12:30 Orange UK allows UMA but you need a compatible phone. Personally, I wouldn't bother with UMA for most roaming needs for the reasons I described in this thread: http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/inte...as-travel.html If I were in the OP's shoes I would first get a virtual UK Voip number (also known as DID). There are hundreds of providers in the UK, some are even free. Make sure its number starts with either 01,02 or 03. Don't bother with the virtualglobalphone one that has been spammed by Ross above. Then get your normal mobile to divert to that number. I presume you have inclusive minutes on your contract, so incoming calls that are forwarded will effectively come out of these. Then get a dedicated roaming SIM from whatever provider you want. You will probably only need this for your few days in Singapore and then later in the USA/Hawaii. You may also need it as a backup for Australia and NZ (in case you cannot get a local SIM). Note down the telephone number of that roaming SIM and then either get your newly acquired DID to forward to this number, or via another provider. You can also get your local mobile to directly forward to a roaming SIM but be careful as it may not be considered as inclusive minutes even though it appears like a normal UK mobile number. To be safer, you can get a provider like Voipgain to forward to UK 00447 for just 3c/min. In Australia and NZ you can easily pick up a cheap local SIM on the day you arrive. During this time, you can get your DID provider to forward to the local number. In short, your friends back in the UK can either call you on your normal mobile or via the new 01/02/03 number that you have bought. They do not need to know the number of each local SIM that you are using as the call will always effectively 'find you'. Of course the forwarding will be at your cost but most of these Voip providers work on a prepaid basis, and forwarding to your special roaming SIM can be as little as 3c/min or even a local SIM in Australia and NZ is all fairly cheap at under 10c/min in most cases. Ideally, look for a roaming SIM that offers free (or cheap) incoming in Singapore, NZ and Australia via the 00447 number and perhaps cheap incoming in the USA via the dual number (001). This all sounds a bit complicated, but probably the best option these days. Feel free to ask more questions. Last edited by petkow; 16-12-2010 at 13:13..

	(#7)
ross (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 2 Join Date: 08 Dec 2010 Country:	03-01-2011, 07:58 Happy new year guys !!

	(#8)
DRNewcomb (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,465 Join Date: 27 Feb 2004 Location: Mississippi, USA Country:	03-01-2011, 22:14 One option I've used is CallbackWorld's PIN-to-dest service. You give the toll-free access number and PIN to your family and change the target number as you move about. One nice feature is that there are toll-free access numbers in many countries. I used to give my crew the local access number and my PIN and tell them that there was never any excuse for not checking in, since they didn't even need pocket change for the phone.