Advice needed on PAYG SIM deal

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davidjbrooks@hotmail.com - 28 Jun 2005 20:08 GMT

Any advice gratefully received: I am leaving my job to move to USA and
be a student for two years. I would like to keep a UK SIM for use when
in the UK, and for occasionally checking for text messages/ voicemails
from the US (I have a tri-band phone).

Wishlist:
- Most of my friends and family are on Vodafone and Orange - so would
like to call them cheaply when in the UK
- Cheap GPRS data when in UK would also be a bonus
- Would like to enable roaming for the US, and be able to send/ receive
text messages and check my UK voicemail from there - preferably cheaply
- Other stuff as cheap as possible, e.g. dialling voicemail when in the
UK, text messages from within the UK etc.

Please let me know if you can suggest a good PAYG package for me. Any
opinions on which US network to join for good prices and coverage in
Philadelphia would also be much appreciated...

Thanks a lot,

David

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www.simcard.me.uk - 28 Jun 2005 20:17 GMT

> Any advice gratefully received: I am leaving my job to move to USA and
> be a student for two years. I would like to keep a UK SIM for use when
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> David

For America get a T-Mobile pay as you go. Get one thats been activated as
thay come with free mintues.
Not sure on uk sim card maybe O2 i know thay offer cheap txt and calls to
the USA for one of payment of £4.99.

Signature

http://www.simcard.me.uk/american_tmobile.htm
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/experimentalist-co-uk
http://classifieds.nochex.com/viewshop.asp?id=171955516
http://uk.ebid.tv/stores/experimentalist
www.experimentalist.co.uk/forum/index.php

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Jason - 30 Jun 2005 12:07 GMT

>Any advice gratefully received: I am leaving my job to move to USA and
>be a student for two years. I would like to keep a UK SIM for use when
>in the UK, and for occasionally checking for text messages/ voicemails
>from the US (I have a tri-band phone).

I'd start with Alan's site:
http://alan.uni-hd.de/Handy/UK_SIMs-ENGLISH.html

Note that he excludes easyMobile http://www.easymobile.com/ due to
their low usage surcharge.

>Wishlist:
>- Most of my friends and family are on Vodafone and Orange - so would
>like to call them cheaply when in the UK

The obvious answer is to opt for Vodafone or Orange then!

Both http://www.easymobile.com/ and http://www.tescomobile.com/ have
good cross-networks rates. I'd lean to Tesco because easyMobile will
charge you GBP 0.75 per quarter if you use less than GBP 5.00 - would
be an issue for your lengthy periods in the US.

There are ways one can reduce cross-network charges by using
dial-through services if not using Vodafone or Orange. For example,
Virgin charge 0871 numbers at 15p per minute, and many call-though
services use these numbers.

>- Cheap GPRS data when in UK would also be a bonus

Again, Alan's site has charges. 02 seem to be the cheapest, but Virgin
have the added bonus of charging the same for roaming GPRS as UK GPRS.

>- Would like to enable roaming for the US, and be able to send/ receive
>text messages and check my UK voicemail from there - preferably cheaply

*Should* be available on all PAYG products, and Virgin (on Direct
Debit) should offer some of the best PAYG rates from general comments
in this news group.

>- Other stuff as cheap as possible, e.g. dialling voicemail when in the
>UK, text messages from within the UK etc.

Virgin, I think, is the only one with free voicemail access.

Text messages would depend upon how many. For example Virgin and 02
offer "bundles" and "bolt-ons" respectively which can significantly
reduce the cost, but this will require a monthly fee. Orange and Voda
are more expensive @12p.

Virgin, Tesco, T-Moible, and 02 are all (generally) 10p per message.

Fresh / Mobile World / Easy offer texts @ < 10p, but have short
deactivation periods or a low usage surcharge.

>opinions on which US network to join for good prices and coverage in
>Philadelphia would also be much appreciated...

Virgin (on DD) will offer very good roaming rates, and have covering
in Philadelphia though Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile USA. See
http://www.virginmobile.com/mobile/services/abroad/paymonthly/pay_monthly_covera
ge.jsp

My examination of roaming on Orange v. Virgin ealier this year
conlcuded that Virgin (on DD) are cheaper than some Orange contracts -
but this was for Singapore and Australia rathe than USA.

Hope this helps.

--

Cheers,

Jason.

A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet and in e-mail?

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mrcamp - 30 Jun 2005 20:23 GMT

As for USA payg, tmobile is your best bet. As previously posted, get a
already activated sim on eBay, then change tha areacode to Phill
areacode if you want. You are allowed 2 free areacode changes pe
year.

I live in the states, but also visit UK very often since I have famil
there. I have both Virgin-UK and Orange-UK payg cards, they both roa
here in case you need to. You can also check your VM on both of the
from a any phone in the USA instead of from your handset itself. Fo
Orange, I call the +447973100123 and follow the prompts, for Vigin
call my mobile number and then press # and follow the prompts. It's
cheaper way to check VM from instead of paying the roaming fees if yo
use the handset. BTW, GPRS works on both of them here too, but virgi
is way cheaper....not that I need it while I am here though

--
mrcamp

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