Topic Wiki

*=More info below
Company  Price  Sim  Talk/SMS  Web  Free Int'l  Signup Bonus  Israeli CC  Real TZBlackerry
Hot99₪49₪Unlimited3GB31 countries49₪/6 months*  Yes*Yes*
Golan99₪49₪UnlimitedUnlimited  53 countries  ₪59 /1st yearYesNoNo
01292₪Unlimited3GB42 countries*44₪/6 months  YesYes29₪
Rami Levy89₪59₪Unlimited1GB  No1₪/3 monthsYesYesNo
PelephoneYes*Yes*Free
Partner129/135₪*0₪*Unlimited  1GB/3GBAdd'l 20₪NoNoNo*39₪
CellcomA lot of $180₪  NoNo75₪

Rule #1- The Israeli cell phone service market is difficult. But cheap.
Rule #2- It is illegal for a company to "lock you in" a contract. ALL plans may be cancelled at any time with no penalty. Though, they do prevent you from opening and closing plans by charging a sim card "fee". This fee must always be paid even if paid for once before, and ranges from 39₪ to 180₪.
Rule #3- For those places that need an Israeli credit card, you may need to get one from an Israeli bank with a passport and income information although YMMV.
Rule #4- It is rarely, if ever, worthwhile to rent a "vacation plan" or prepaid, as the price for a regular unlimted plan for a month is less that a vacation plan for a week. Get a GSM phone that covers 900/1800 bands and save your money
Rule #5- All Israeli plans, whether regular or prepaid, include free incoming calls/texts.

Hot- 99₪ a month - includes unlimited calls, text and data (3 gb, then slow) and unlimited to 32 countries. Free home internet supply included. They currently have an offer if you port a number from a different network, to get the first six months for just 49₪ a month. You can move your package to a 10₪ a month plan, which includes 50 minutes and texts. You can also freeze the line once a year for up to 3 months. Regarding signup- you can use an American CC and fake TZ over the phone as one user has done.

Golan - Service is passable, but can be subpar in certain areas. There are two plans with Golan. There's the 99₪ unlimited talk/text/internet/international calling plan, which also gives you up to 2 virtual foreign numbers. This plan also includes for many countries unlimited global data roaming (6GB high-speed), incoming calls & texts, and calls & texts to Israel. They also offer a ₪29 per day data-roaming plan which gives 100MB a day in these countries. These roaming options can be very useful for foreigners regardless of whether they need Golan for Israel. See their website for details.There's a promo deal to get the 99 plan for ₪59 /month for the 1st year. There's also a ₪10 a month plan, which includes 60 min for domestic/US & CA and landlines in many countries, unlimited SMS and 10 MB of Internet, with add'l mins ₪.18 domestic, ₪.08 to US/CA and landlines in many countries, and data ₪.09 /MB. Its great for those short trips here. SIM should work in an iPad for data; you can also order a car SIM which will allow you to have 2 SIMs which draw from same plan.
[To get the sim in the USA before your trip:  golanusa.net will ship it to you for $14 (more for rush) and the 49 nis for the sim. Golan bills on the 25th of the month.  The days before the first 25th are freeprorated.(So for a trip between the 26th and the 24th of the month, you don't pay the 59 nis or 99 nis plan fee.)]

012mobile - Runs on Partner service, you will get an 054 number (unless you ported). Unlimited - 49₪ for the first 6 months and 92₪ from thereon after for unlimited everything too. Includes 3GB Data and 500 minutes to US/CA (any phone) and 40 other countries (landlines only). 9₪ plan includes 60 minutes, 60 SMS, and 100MB data. Additional domestic minutes/SMS are ₪ .09, Int'l calls to to US/CA (any phone) and 40 other countries (landlines only) are ₪ .25 per min. Add'l data bundles are available starting from ₪ 19 for 1 GB. 5GB Laptop/Tablet (data only) is 98₪.

Pelephone - Online, they accept fake TZ and US CC.

Partner - 129₪ a month for unlimited talk, text, and 1GB. 135₪ for 3GB. Family plans are cheaper.Free sim for online orders. Extra 20₪/mo. for 500 min. int'l calling. Extra 39₪ for Blackberry. May need to give 500₪ deposit that you (may) get back when you cancel the plan.  One can freeze line without charges for up to 3 months when not needed (not sure if allowed more than once per 12 months).

Freedomhot.com - 2/19/2023 - They have local pickup in lots of major frum areas and delivery too. They accept US CC. Runs on Hot Mobile. Copying and pasting from their website.
All monthly plans include: Unlimited Calls & Texts to Israeli phone numbers Unlimited outgoing calls to USA and Canada and landlines to 33 additional countries.
Unlimited incoming calls and texts from anywhere in the world. Prices include all taxes.
59 Shekels - 70GB LTE Internet Data
79 shekels - 150GB LTE Internet Data
KOSHER - Voice Only - 64 Shekels
One-time SIM card fee: 49 Shekels
Optional: add a virtual USA number for $15 per month

Misc. Info
APN settings

On Hot Mobile you can check how much data was consumed either by downloading the app or by texting גלישה  to phone number 530 from your hot mobile phone,you can as well try calling this number *6733.

Note by Menucha:
Please note: as of 4/1/13, most carriers reduce period of intro rates and at times increased cost for monthly intro. I suggest we leave the above as is, but please keep in mind new changed, which are not negotiable and based on govt agreements. monthly flat rate is still great and same. (post intro)
Also, while reps wont tell you, typically you will get longer intro rate if you activate account on your own on line, and not via rep (phone or store). confirmed with carrier. Enjoy! flat monthly, even without intro rate is still one of the lowest you will come across in the west!

Israeli cellphone rentals:

1) Talkinisrael.com
Phone: +972587564477
Whatsapp: +972536299365
Email: info@talkinisrael.com 
if you should have any problems feel free to send me a pm and I will try to help you the best I can.
Plans for sale here are primarily for long term rentals.(students and the like.)


2) Israel Rent-a-cell SIM card or eSIM with calling and data. Also you can get SIMs for Israel Kosher phones!
Contact at Israelrentacell@gmail.com or WhatsApp 972-55-333-1234
Overnight or standard delivery in USA/delivery in Israel! Pickup locations in Lakewood and Israel.
* Unlimited calls and texts in Israel
* Unlimited calls to USA, Canada and landlines in 35 countries
* Unlimited incoming calls
* 70 GB of data (can add an extra 80GB of data)
* eSIMs available!
* Free voicemail
Student discount available, $29.97 monthly, including tax! Never surprise charges or hidden fees!

3) Cellular Israel - 072-224-3300 or 718-289-0195 Full Service - short term and long term, rent phones, Kosher phones, SIM cards, mifi devices, Waze by the day or month. American Customer Service!
info@cellularisrael.com

4) Simforisrael@gmail.com free delivery to anywhere

5) UnlimitedIsrael (DansDeals Advertiser with many positive reviews on DDMS & DDF) is the leading provider of SIM card & iPhone rentals for Israel in the US.
  • Unlimited calls & texts within Israel
  • Unlimited calling to the US and Canada
  • Lightning Fast 4G Internet Speeds
  • Unlimited 4G data
  • Sim Cards - $5/day
  • iPhones - $45/week
  • Kosher Phone - $4/day
  • Mifi Hotspot - $6/day
Use code SUAVE10 for 10% off any order
« Last edited by shmuelb on August 06, 2023, 12:48:30 PM »

Author Topic: Cell Phones in Israel  (Read 1572162 times)

Offline robi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 1617
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: This Is Going to Change the Israeli Mobile Carrier Market
« Reply #180 on: May 23, 2012, 03:58:04 PM »
I wish a large American carrier would do this.
I believe simple mobile does it for 45$
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, then loved for who I'm not"

Offline Judah

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 18
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: This Is Going to Change the Israeli Mobile Carrier Market
« Reply #181 on: May 23, 2012, 04:00:22 PM »
Interesting btw, about saying a US carrier should do this. A few years back when either Verizon or Sprint came out with 'Unlimited Everything Plan' I read experts predicting the change in the US mobile market because the plans will be simple to compare from each carrier and competition will get fierce (where consumer usually wins.) However, I think what prevented it from really changing is that everyone is willing to sign up for a 2 year contracts to get new phones. So they are stuck in contracts and that slows any competition of jumping to carrier with better priced plan.

In Israel they made contracts and locked phones completely illegal. This was needed to force the carriers to be competitive (with all the other regulations etc). So with the scenario like it is, this could really change the Israeli mobile market.

Offline YudiG

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 2357
  • Total likes: 7
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: This Is Going to Change the Israeli Mobile Carrier Market
« Reply #182 on: May 23, 2012, 04:01:41 PM »
Interesting btw, about saying a US carrier should do this. A few years back when either Verizon or Sprint came out with 'Unlimited Everything Plan' I read experts predicting the change in the US mobile market because the plans will be simple to compare from each carrier and competition will get fierce (where consumer usually wins.) However, I think what prevented it from really changing is that everyone is willing to sign up for a 2 year contracts to get new phones. So they are stuck in contracts and that slows any competition of jumping to carrier with better priced plan.

In Israel they made contracts and locked phones completely illegal. This was needed to force the carriers to be competitive (with all the other regulations etc). So with the scenario like it is, this could really change the Israeli mobile market.

+1

Offline AsherO

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 25K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 32117
  • Total likes: 8951
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 79
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: This Is Going to Change the Israeli Mobile Carrier Market
« Reply #183 on: May 23, 2012, 04:11:03 PM »
For NIS 99/Month (aprox $25/month):

Not much of a margin there, sounds a bit too low, especially with the unl. offering (which tends to specifically attract the heaviest users).

They use Cellcom's Towers as they are in the process of putting up their own (No roaming charges)

It's going to cost them many $100Ms to roll out a network like Israel's big three, hard to recover those costs when your annual revenue per user is $300...

In Israel they made contracts and locked phones completely illegal. This was needed to force the carriers to be competitive (with all the other regulations etc). So with the scenario like it is, this could really change the Israeli mobile market.

Regulatory agencies in Israel actually protect consumer interests. Here in America they're all in bed with the mega-corporations.
« Last Edit: May 23, 2012, 04:15:13 PM by AsherO »
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline Judah

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 18
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #184 on: May 23, 2012, 04:19:36 PM »
Not much of a margin there, sounds a bit too low, especially with the unl. offering (which tends to specifically attract the heaviest users).

Regulatory agencies in Israel actually protect consumer interests. Here in America they're all in bed with the mega-corporations.

I don't know exactly the costs incurred to the carrier to quantify their profit projections or opine on their business plan, but the Jpost article mentioned that this already was done in France and is being backed by big investor from there. Also, it should be noted that the unlimited international is to land line only except to US and Canada which is unlimited to mobile numbers as well. I think this is because other countries have mobile connect fees while US and Canada do not.

PS sorry for not OP'ing in the right place, the other topic looked little stale

Offline Yossi.

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 1092
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn, NY

Offline cozmohoot

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 4480
  • Total likes: 99
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: This Is Going to Change the Israeli Mobile Carrier Market
« Reply #186 on: May 23, 2012, 04:24:20 PM »
+1
wasnt that posted 2 pages ago?

Offline Judah

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 18
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #187 on: May 23, 2012, 04:31:36 PM »
wasnt that posted 2 pages ago?


PS sorry for not OP'ing in the right place, the other topic looked little stale

Offline cozmohoot

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 4480
  • Total likes: 99
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #188 on: May 23, 2012, 04:33:50 PM »
its all good. these threads were merged

Offline real-brisker

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 2433
  • Total likes: 15
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #189 on: May 23, 2012, 05:35:49 PM »
Sounds to good to be true. Anyone signed up yet?

Offline Flying Fish

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 223
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #190 on: May 23, 2012, 06:57:44 PM »
Since the flow of the thread was completely ruined by the awkward merge, i am repeating my (and another poster's) question:

Has anyone successfully signed up for HOT Mobile or Golan Telecom without a teudat zehut?

Offline AsherO

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 25K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 32117
  • Total likes: 8951
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 79
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #191 on: May 23, 2012, 07:33:31 PM »
I don't know exactly the costs incurred to the carrier to quantify their profit projections or opine on their business plan, but the Jpost article mentioned that this already was done in France and is being backed by big investor from there. Also, it should be noted that the unlimited international is to land line only except to US and Canada which is unlimited to mobile numbers as well. I think this is because other countries have mobile connect fees while US and Canada do not.

I'm just doing rough math and ignoring all other costs besides the cost of building out a network (I'm also ignoring other potential revenue streams), and on the back of a napkin it doesn't look good.
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline Judah

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 18
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #192 on: May 24, 2012, 03:08:52 AM »
I'm just doing rough math and ignoring all other costs besides the cost of building out a network (I'm also ignoring other potential revenue streams), and on the back of a napkin it doesn't look good.
Well I guess the only way to know is to have the info.
I will point out about the 'building of a network' you mentioned, Golan seems to be slowly building their own towers and renting from Cellcom in the meantime for non-covered locations. So their plan seems to be to get there step by step, which is something that makes me optimistic with big ideas like these and probably reflects a business plan that was proven in France. However, renting from cellcom and not passing roaming charges on to the customer could mean a plan to take loss in the short-term. The other thing to realize is that if that the towers they do own (and more as they keep building) could already be bringing in revenue from rentals from other carriers, especially since there are a few others that just broke into the market.

Offline Judah

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 18
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #193 on: May 24, 2012, 03:13:34 AM »
Since the flow of the thread was completely ruined by the awkward merge, i am repeating my (and another poster's) question:

Has anyone successfully signed up for HOT Mobile or Golan Telecom without a teudat zehut?
Sounds to good to be true. Anyone signed up yet?

My brother is in the process of signing up with Golan. I will try to keep you posted.

Offline AsherO

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 25K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 32117
  • Total likes: 8951
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 79
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #194 on: May 24, 2012, 03:28:00 AM »
Well I guess the only way to know is to have the info.

I never professed to have the knowledge, I'm just talking hypothetically, and you haven't refuted any of my logic.

I will point out about the 'building of a network' you mentioned, Golan seems to be slowly building their own towers and renting from Cellcom in the meantime for non-covered locations. So their plan seems to be to get there step by step, which is something that makes me optimistic with big ideas like these and probably reflects a business plan that was proven in France. However, renting from cellcom and not passing roaming charges on to the customer could mean a plan to take loss in the short-term. The other thing to realize is that if that the towers they do own (and more as they keep building) could already be bringing in revenue from rentals from other carriers, especially since there are a few others that just broke into the market.

If roaming costs are of any significance (and I'm under the impression they won't be so low in this case), they'll be paying more to subsidize their userbase (who'll initially be roaming 100% of the time) than they'll ever make collecting roaming charges from those who roam on their network once it's built out (sine that number will in-all-likelyhood be lower, as they won't have as many unl. subscribers roaming exclusively on their network).
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline YudiG

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 2357
  • Total likes: 7
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #195 on: June 01, 2012, 04:09:10 AM »
any updates...which is the best new unlimited plan for one who wants a blackberry?

what about for one who wants to get a sim and put it into a android phone unlocked from usa?

TIA

Offline Jtown

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2012
  • Posts: 7
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: On The Road
  • Programs: Hertz President's Circle,Emerald Club Executive Elite, Avis Chairman, United Platinum, Lufthansa HON Circle
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #196 on: June 01, 2012, 05:07:48 PM »
A hot rep I called claimed they do have BIS. They are in the taachna mercazit until 22:00. DO anyone?


Hot don't support BIS ,
anything can be done, i just matter of $ and the right connections .

email me : jtown@meyersoft.net

Offline Jtown

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2012
  • Posts: 7
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: On The Road
  • Programs: Hertz President's Circle,Emerald Club Executive Elite, Avis Chairman, United Platinum, Lufthansa HON Circle
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #197 on: June 01, 2012, 05:15:05 PM »
The national number-porting system is down. Officially it won't be up again until Sunday.

Hot people say they have 100,000 new customers in the past few days, though the news had entirely different numbers.

They do not currently have BIS, but hope to get it in a week or two.

One manager told me a passport is OK, another refused. The lenient one later subdued herself to that guy who refused, however this might indicate it being his personal policy.

Online orders will ship in one month.


PlatinumGuy

I'm assure you that thy don't have 100000 new customers , not even 10000
anything can be done, i just matter of $ and the right connections .

email me : jtown@meyersoft.net

Offline Jtown

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2012
  • Posts: 7
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: On The Road
  • Programs: Hertz President's Circle,Emerald Club Executive Elite, Avis Chairman, United Platinum, Lufthansa HON Circle
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #198 on: June 01, 2012, 05:26:04 PM »
About Golan:

i sign up to Golan , take the sim to arrive for 16 days after i sign up.
for me it's works perfect , but a lot of complaines on the FB page , i assume thy have a lot of issues on the beginning , but thy will fix it later.
https://www.facebook.com/GolanTelecom


Cellcom is offering interesting package :

199 unlimited everything , include calls worldwide true 013 NETVISION and text and web unlimited
Bis package for extra 5 Shekel

or 3 lines with the same package for 399

if you on cellcom on this package and you travel often to israel , just forward your call's to your american phone while you in the state and continue getting calls from Israel

very good for boucherim
anything can be done, i just matter of $ and the right connections .

email me : jtown@meyersoft.net

Offline L'Chaim

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2012
  • Posts: 775
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Cell Phones in Israel
« Reply #199 on: June 02, 2012, 04:32:55 PM »
Orange:

125 Shekel unlimited calls and texts
39 Shekel extra for Blackberry Service