Gt-sim ?

[powerlifter]

So let me get this stright. We are talking about Global sim not GT-sim. Is this correct

[RTuesday]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

So let me get this stright. We are talking about Global sim not GT-sim. Is this correct

The card in the ebay ad is certainly the GT-sim, but the tariffs/fees are different from those offered direct by gt-sim.

The ebay prepaid plan seems identical to gt-sim postpaid (apart from being prepaid of course!).

In return for the monthly fee on the postpaid, you get free incoming in more countries.

There's no mention of global sim holiday or business anywhere, although those could be another name for this elsewhere.

[snaimon]

A few DAYS ago I wrote via the website to ask if the SIM card comes with any balance. This in regard to the Ebay.de auction which says the same thing. Now, if you TRY the BUY feature on the gt-sim website, the last time I tried, it said "comes with 5 Euro to start".

As you see, if you read German, that is NOT the case.

PERSONALLY, there is just too much confusion about this offer to be trustworthy even if it does work. It is true that SHIPPING is FREE, but why they don't include a minimal balance to start is beyond me.


From: GT-SIM
To: snaimon@juno.com
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 13:12:46 +0100

Dear Stanley Naimon,

Wir liefern den GT-SIM per DHL weltweit frei Haus.
Es ist kein Start-Guthaben auf der Karte.

With best regards
Markus Hauschild
Global Termination Holdings HK Limited
1601-1603 Kinwick Centre - 38 Hollywood Road
Central - Hong Kong (SAR )

P : +4476 2410 2410
F : +852 301 50780
E-mail: helpdesk@global-termination.com
Web: gt-sim.com (homepage)
Web: gt-sim.com (GT-SIM roaming countries)
Web: gt-sim.com (GT-SIM roaming partners)
Web: gt-sim.com (mobile phones tested with the GT-SIM)
Web: gt-sim.com (FAQ frequent ask questions)

************************************************** *****************
This communication contains information from Global Termination Holdings HK Limited that may be confidential. Except for the personal use by the intended recipient, or as expressly authorised by the sender, any person who receives this information is prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, and/or using it. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and all copies, and promptly notify the sender. Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an electronic signature under applicable law.
************************************************** *****************

[RTuesday]

As I said, both offers on the ebay use a picture of a physical gt-sim, and show similar per-min rates, but have different terms, i.e. they seem to have negotiated a different deal (or simply don't understand what they are trying to sell).

The real gt-sim (where you got your email reply from) of course doesn't have a starter balance, because it is postpaid. They take the money once a month from the credit card (which has worked fine for me so far).

I don't see any reason to buy from the ebay offer unless you really want prepaid (where it's not clear where you can get refills from) or want to pay 30 eur a month every month just to get free incoming in more countries (United Mobile and 09 are probably more suitable).

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by RTuesday

The real gt-sim (where you got your email reply from) of course doesn't have a starter balance, because it is postpaid. They take the money once a month from the credit card (which has worked fine for me so far).

On the contrary, the website clearly shows a STARTER set on the front page in the STARTER PACK Setup Fee & GSM SIM in the star on the right. Once you select your number you go to another screen:


YOUR GT-SIM NO. IS >> +44 7624 103012

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please select a PrePaid amount to start with.

The billing will be 60/60 which means you are charged by the minute. You are also able to look at your calling history online at any time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please select Post Paid Service

( PostPaid Service )


Click PostPaid Service and you do not have to pay for a prepaid amount. You only pay for the calls you have conducted. They will be charged at the end of each month to your credit card in a postpaid way. The billing will be 60/60 which means you are charged by the minute. You are also able to look at your calling history online at any time.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So it DOES allow prepaid and you can select from 25, 50 or 100 Euros.

Of course on the next screen it says:

Address Information .........................

In order to generate your monthly invoice, we need you to fill out the information below.

Name Address

Zip Code Town

Country Email Address

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So if I have a prepaid amount, why are they generating a monthly invoice?

I did not enter my info. As I noted, this looks very curious and confusing to me. I SWEAR I recently say a page where the Starter Pack had a 5 Euro balance, but I cannot find that page anymore.

I agree that paying 30 Euros per month for FREE INCOMING is probably not the right choice for most casual travellers. Businessmen and the like who are ALWAYS on the go in various countries might be able to take advantage of that. I cannot at this point and with my limited travel from USA.

Stan

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by RTuesday

I don't see any reason to buy from the ebay offer unless you really want prepaid (where it's not clear where you can get refills from) ....

I have emailed the Ebay.de seller asking where such refills could be purchased. I shall post any answer.

It is not clear WHERE on the gt-sim website one would purchase ONLY the refill as has been noted.

Stan

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by snaimon

I have emailed the Ebay.de seller asking where such refills could be purchased. I shall post any answer.

It is not clear WHERE on the gt-sim website one would purchase ONLY the refill as has been noted.

Stan

Here the answer:

Item: NEU: Internationale SIM-Card | einsetzbar in 78 L?ndern ( 647825896
This message was sent while the listing was active.
kanne_mv42 is the seller.

Hallo snaimon,

die Auflade-PIN sind direkt bei mir erh?ltlich, Bestellungen nehme ich telefonisch, per E-Mail, per Fax oder in K?rze ?ber meinen WebShop entgegen.
Sie werden die Auflade-PIN weder jetzt noch sp?ter hier bei eBay finden, daf?r sind die Margen zu gering und die ebay-Geb?hren zu hoch (erst Recht ab 22.Februar).

Mit freundlichen Gr??en
Ralf Karnowsky - new media nord -

==================

Basically, he has them directly and they can be orderd by email, telephone or fax and in his web shop. ebay charges are getting prohibitive and the margin is very small so they may be on ebay, too.

[RTuesday]

Originally Posted by snaimon

Please select a PrePaid amount to start with.

Sorry, you're right, they now do do prepaid. That wasn't available whn I brought mine, and I've had no reason to be so far through the order process since to see that.

Maybe the "invoicing" information is gathered just to get the identity of users, for prepaid (or perhaps they do send an invoice, marked as paid with the remaining balance).

The 5 Eur balance you're thinking of might be the 0044.co.uk card, which is also an IOM number but very different rates.

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by RTuesday

The 5 Eur balance you're thinking of might be the 0044.co.uk card, which is also an IOM number but very different rates.

Thanks for all the info & exchanges. Yes, that must be it. 0044.

Their DIRECT outbound rates are fairly stiff, aren't they? The rate using CALLBACKWORLD from a UK mobile to the US is 40.4 US cents, 40.6 to UK land line and 72.9 to a UK cell. Doubt THOSE are bargain prices v 26 e-cents to a landline and 38 e-cents to a mobile.

Of course the big selling points of GT-SIM or 0044 over Riiing/Umited Mobile would be:

1. the reachability v Liechtenstein cells
2. NO .25 e-cents setup fee
3. cheaper SMS send
4. data

TRUE, +423663 is an oddball. I use CALLBACKWORLD, where the rate is STILL 14 cents / minute which takes care of 1 and 2. Also, I have another calling card which AT THE MOMENT says its rate to a Liechtenstein cell is 10.1 cents -- I have not tested this rate or even whether calls witll complete. And my ultimate fallback is ONESUITE @ about 25 cents per minute. As for the SMS send price, I can CALL for almost 4 minutes using CBW for the price of an SMS.

Nonetheless, I might at a later date, as our trip to Europe approaches, be interested in another international card. I wrote to kanne_mv42 that I might buy one when we are in Duesseldorf for free incoming there. They also have local German calling cards and I will probably buy one or more of those from them unless I find something better.

Stan

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by snaimon

Here is the link on ebay.de

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...58968%26fvi%3D1

FYI. He had 5 for sale and had no bidders.

I might be interested in one of these down the road as it comes closer to my arrival date in Germany. Why rush? There may be better offers coming any day, right?