Piranha Mobile Sim Card

[gkeeper]

Originally Posted by fsotirop

Piranha reduces the cost of Data Roaming in many countries: Check out our new rates on the main website, further global reductions to follow within the next 4 months. Watch this space for updates
Albania
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Croatia
Czech Rep
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Guernsey
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Jersey
Kazakhstan
Lithuania
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom

Just checked out the new prices I am off to South Africa in 10 days time, so the reduction has just come at the right time, great prices all round.

[gkeeper]

Back from my trip to South Africa and the Piranha Card worked fine on Voice, SMS and Data, VoIP worked well on the hotels free WI-FI saving me more than i expected. Minor coverage issues on Vodacom when out and about but nothing drastic.
I also see they have reduced more rates today, they seem to be really turning the screw on roaming rates. So far i am more than impressed, i hope it lasts:>).

Piranha Forum.

Piranha reduce rates in
1. New Zealand call-back rates lowered
2. Bulgaria call-back rates lowered
3. Georgia SMS and Data rates lowered
4. Azerbaijan Voice SMS and Data lowered
More reductions in many other countries to follow:>)

[kctopitz]

Data rates within Europe are looking good. I checked Spain and Germany, both which have 17 cents (US) per megabyte. Piranha may just become my default SIM when traveling in Europe.

[gkeeper]

Just seen another update on the Piranha site:

Piranha introduces direct dialing and reduces direct calling rates in.
Denmark
Ireland
Italy
Sweden
UK

I have checked out 3UK network , works fine on direct dial. Also tested data speeds which for me being located in a rural area are quite good.
Upload 1.68 Mbps
Download 1.55 Mbps. If anyone else wants to add feel free.

[fsotirop]

Piranha is at the moment the best possible option for a decent travelsim card

[MBK]

Originally Posted by fsotirop

Piranha is at the moment the best possible option for a decent travelsim card

I don't see this, and I have been looking at it seriously for a long time.

I am always looking for other options, but as far as I can see the best possible worldwide option is a Travelsim line of SIM (Onesimcard, Travelsim, Airbaltic card,...) with an Iphone/Android callback dialer (free incoming in 154 countires, 0.09£ to call you.)

As for Europe & USA, Piranha is a lot more expensive than Toggle (I.ex France: Landline 0.09£ vs 0.03£, Mobile 0.11£ vs 0.09£). Furthermore, Pirhana charges for incoming calls which are free with Toggle and serveral other SIMs. France 0.04£, Germany 0.05£ for incoming calls. Germany is even more expensive with Piranha (0.14£ Mobile).

And look at Switzerland! : Mobile 0.30£, Landline 0.13£, Incoming 0.09£ (with Toggle always the same 0.03£, 0.09£ and free incoming).

Next month I'll be in Thailand: Piranha incoming 0.12£/min, free with Toggle for a 0.19£ flat rate per call (and of course always free with the Travelsim line of SIMs).


Piranha is perhaps good in some limited cases, and data rates seem good. But for general use, imho:

Best EU & US: Toggle mobile.
Best general worldwide: Travelsim line of SIM + iphone/android callback dialer.

I have been using both in my dual SIM phone, daily and exclusively; and never had the need to use any other SIM for the past year. There's nothing cheaper if you don't want to juggle with local sims (and Toggle is even cheaper than local sims in some countries).

If anyone knows of a better worldwide option where I never have to use more than the same 2 SIMs (dual sim phone), I am always interested. Unfortunately, Piranha comes out too expensive.

[kctopitz]

Originally Posted by MBK

If anyone knows of a better worldwide option where I never have to use more than the same 2 SIMs (dual sim phone), I am always interested. Unfortunately, Piranha comes out too expensive.

Good point, MBK. It's obvious though that you're someone who prefers keeping in touch by voice. Personally, when I'm traveling, I almost never make calls and data access (for email, but also SMS through 3rd party providers) is what I need most. So if I had a dual-SIM phone, I think I'd be using Piranha and one of the SIMs you mention for voice. Unfortunately the "activity every 90 days" requirement is a big turn off since I predominantly use a local SIM.

[MBK]

Originally Posted by kctopitz

Good point, MBK. It's obvious though that you're someone who prefers keeping in touch by voice. Personally, when I'm traveling, I almost never make calls and data access (for email, but also SMS through 3rd party providers) is what I need most. So if I had a dual-SIM phone, I think I'd be using Piranha and one of the SIMs you mention for voice. Unfortunately the "activity every 90 days" requirement is a big turn off since I predominantly use a local SIM.

Yes, you are right. The 90 days Toggle requirement is not a problem for me as I am regularly in the Toggle countries.

I try to limit my data use to WIFI. On the go, the Toggle and Travelsims cost less than 1 cent to trigger the callbacks and when I really need data on the go I also plug a local SIM. (if I really need data on the go the only option is a data plan, Piranha here once more isn't really useful as it comes out too expensive again).

If I didn't have the Toggle SIM, I would use a local SIM + the Travelism in the dual sim phone for the worldwide free incoming calls and call forwarding.

[gkeeper]

Originally Posted by MBK

Yes, you are right. The 90 days Toggle requirement is not a problem for me as I am regularly in the Toggle countries.

I try to limit my data use to WIFI. On the go, the Toggle and Travelsims cost less than 1 cent to trigger the callbacks and when I really need data on the go I also plug a local SIM. (if I really need data on the go the only option is a data plan, Piranha here once more isn't really useful as it comes out too expensive again).

If I didn't have the Toggle SIM, I would use a local SIM + the Travelism in the dual sim phone for the worldwide free incoming calls and call forwarding.

I only use Data for emails which uses low amounts of Data ( i leave opening attachments for the hotel wi-fi assuming its part of the deal) and the cheapest by a long way without having to buy Data packages (that i may or may not use) is the Piranha Sim. With an average cost of around £0.11 per Mb in Europe, i cannot complain, all the others i have looked at including TRAVELSIM, ONESIM, AIRBALTIC, TOGGLE have a cost of between £0.40 and £0.70 per Mb which can become expensive if you are not aware.
I agree that if you use copious amounts of Data the only way forward is to buy a local Data Sim Package. But for low usage Piranha comes out well in front. If i am mistaken can you send me link of any other card with V/D/SMS (only have single Sim iPhone) that is cheaper or similar and that i can use in Europe and beyond, its always good to have a spare.

As for free roaming, i have never come across anything free in this business and i would not like my like my friends and family to get caught with a huge bill for calling high rate numbers. I like my friends and family too much, but that's just me.:>)

[gkeeper]

Originally Posted by MBK

I don't see this, and I have been looking at it seriously for a long time.

I am always looking for other options, but as far as I can see the best possible worldwide option is a Travelsim line of SIM (Onesimcard, Travelsim, Airbaltic card,...) with an Iphone/Android callback dialer (free incoming in 154 countires, 0.09£ to call you.)

As for Europe & USA, Piranha is a lot more expensive than Toggle (I.ex France: Landline 0.09£ vs 0.03£, Mobile 0.11£ vs 0.09£). Furthermore, Pirhana charges for incoming calls which are free with Toggle and serveral other SIMs. France 0.04£, Germany 0.05£ for incoming calls. Germany is even more expensive with Piranha (0.14£ Mobile).

And look at Switzerland! : Mobile 0.30£, Landline 0.13£, Incoming 0.09£ (with Toggle always the same 0.03£, 0.09£ and free incoming).

Next month I'll be in Thailand: Piranha incoming 0.12£/min, free with Toggle for a 0.19£ flat rate per call (and of course always free with the Travelsim line of SIMs).


Piranha is perhaps good in some limited cases, and data rates seem good. But for general use, imho:

Best EU & US: Toggle mobile.
Best general worldwide: Travelsim line of SIM + iphone/android callback dialer.

I have been using both in my dual SIM phone, daily and exclusively; and never had the need to use any other SIM for the past year. There's nothing cheaper if you don't want to juggle with local sims (and Toggle is even cheaper than local sims in some countries).

If anyone knows of a better worldwide option where I never have to use more than the same 2 SIMs (dual sim phone), I am always interested. Unfortunately, Piranha comes out too expensive.

Sorry i have to agree with fsotirop, i do not know where you are getting your info from but it is clearly wrong,

1. Toggle have great rates i agree and i use one myself, but they are limited to 13 countries, as soon as you go outside of those countries you are paying a lot more, for instance outside of the Toggle countries but still in EU,
example Austria.

Toggle charge
Making calls 0.23£/min
Receiving calls 0.19£
Send SMS 0.07£
Data 0.67£ per Mb

Piranha charge
Making calls 0.09£/min call-back or 0.12 direct dial
Receiving calls 0.04£
Send SMS 0.09£
Data 0.10£ per Mb

2. outside of the EU toggle is very expensive for instance Thailand.

Toggle charge
Making calls 1.64£/min
Receiving calls 0.19£
Send SMS 0.48£
Data 1.34£ per Mb

Piranha charge
Making calls 0.32£/min direct dial
Receiving calls 0.12£
Send SMS 0.20£
Data 0.20£ per Mb

big difference and don't even think of making a local call on Toggle in Thailand, not at 2.35£ per min and looking at Piranhas rates for local its 0.33£, and to receive a call in Germany is 0.05£ and not 0.14£ as you have stated.

3. Travelsim/Onesim/Airbaltic may have free incoming but they use high termination rate numbers which are very expensive for the caller to call. Its great if you don't mind your friends and family picking up a very large bill.

I have looked and taken what i think is the cheapest card with high term numbers, Airbalticcard

Thailand to UK for example.

Airbaltic charge
Making calls 0.62£/min
Receiving calls 0.0£
Send SMS 0.35£
Data 1.50£ per Mb

Piranha charge
Making calls 0.32£/min direct dial
Receiving calls 0.12£
Send SMS 0.20£
Data 0.20£ per Mb

Calling a Airbalticard from UK can cost anywhere between 0.50£ and £1.50£ depending on operator.
Calling a Piranha UK number between in bundle and 0.25£
Calling the US number between 0.01 and 0.25£

You also have the added extra on Piranha of VoIP which is globally free to receive and attaches all your numbers for outgoing and incoming calls.

Please feel free to disagree.

If i have missed anything in my calculations, anyone reading, please correct me. I do like this site and there is some very good info for travelers everyone opinion is great, but we need to give them the correct info and deal in facts.