eKit 'SIMple Calling' US/Canada SIM w/ pretty low rates?

[adam917]

Does anyone know what MVNO this SIM uses and what kind of number you get with this SIM? I am surprised to have found this on eBay yesterday and see the rates are lower that standard pre-paid rates within both countries.

I know that T-Mobile has Canadian roaming but the rates are high (69 cents a minute) and also does not have the coverage this claims to have. Also, it seems most (all?) MVNOs from either country do not roam on each other. AT&T GoPhone in the US has no Canadian roaming at all and the lowest rates for very occasional use are still 25 cents a minute.

I could see getting it if it has a US number. Even 40 cents a minute to call the US from Canada would be a bargain given how long the SIM lasts (cheapest Canadian offer normally is 45 cents a minute with 7-Eleven SpeakOut but they still deduct a monthly 911 fee and you always need a balance on the SIM for it to last the claimed 365 days between top-ups).

Unless anyone here has any info and reasons on why not to get it, I'm going to consider getting it and giving it a try. Those rates are quite low given the extended coverage & long expiration combined.

Thanks...

[bylo]

Looks like they're reselling this: SIMple Calling USA SIM Card

[RTuesday]

Originally Posted by bylo

Looks like they're reselling this: SIMple Calling USA SIM Card

It seems both eKit and telestial have some sort of deal with Simple Calling. The ekit page is at ekit, Mobile Info.

The way the ekit page, the telestial page, and the ebay page each have different rates would be a concern. Either each can set their own rates or some are out of date or incomplete.

From the Telestial page, there's also this:

Note: Your SIMple Calling US SIM card service is automatically deactivated 1 week after your last call or text message; however the remaining credit is not expired until 9 months after your last call or text message. To reactivate your service, simply follow the initial activation instructions.

Sounds like a real pain to have to keep re-activating it, or keep making calls if you are within the US so that you can receive them.

Having said that, looks a useful card for me if I go to Canada this summer - gives me some T-Mobile US coverage (I already have a 7-11 speakout fo AT&T) and acceptable rates for Canada (although data would be nice). Apart from the re-activation stuff (which is a killer, if I understand it correctly) it could even replace my Speakout sim at a similar running cost (I hardly use Speakout - just a car emergency and travel phone).

The ebay page has the best price, but is probably the least likely to be accurate.

[RTuesday]

To add a couple of things (can't edit the above message because of the silly 10-minute time limit):

It's interesting that it has call forwarding to any number, even international.

To do this it uses the same codes that Callkey cards like GT-sim used to have, so maybe there is a connection there, or at least the same software? Callkey had an office in Houston a while back.

It's unclear how forwarding would interact with the automatic dis-activation after one week. Not much point in forwarding from an inactive sim.

Note also the following in the Telestial instructions, which make it MUCH less interesting as a card for a foreign tourist visiting the US: "There are currently restrictions in place on receiving international text messages while in
the USA. You can send international text messages however you cannot receive them".

BTW, the Telestial pages say the incoming number for the SIM is in the Los Angeles area.

[RTuesday]

Ignore my above messages. I'm out of practice looking at this stuff (don't travel much now!).

It's all the same card. Telestial own simplecalling.com (as stated). The rates are the same, since the ebay page hides the extra first minute cost in the "50c connection fee" footnote.

I'll go back to sleep now..

[adam917]

Originally Posted by RTuesday

Ignore my above messages. I'm out of practice looking at this stuff (don't travel much now!).

It's all the same card. Telestial own simplecalling.com (as stated). The rates are the same, since the ebay page hides the extra first minute cost in the "50c connection fee" footnote.

I'll go back to sleep now..

So I must've been lied to when I enquired the seller about this on eBay. How can the activation info quoted in this thread even make sense if you can still do SMS from the SIM?! That has to be some kind of mis-print.

[PhotoJim]

The numbers are Los Angeles. Mine is area code 323.

I haven't really used mine yet, but it will be interesting to use in the US because of the broader network coverage than either AT&T or T-Mobile alone.

[rfranzq]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

I haven't really used mine yet,

Have you tested it in Canada?

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by rfranzq

Have you tested it in Canada?

It works - I placed and received calls. (Didn't answer either call, mind.)

I can test further if that's useful.

[adam917]

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

It works - I placed and received calls. (Didn't answer either call, mind.)

I can test further if that's useful.

Do you get charges any roaming rates in Canada if you don't answer an incoming call?