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Roaming on U.S. carriers
Verizon: $25 per each 100MB when Gobal Data feature is activated. Exorbitant calling rates.
AT&T:
T-Mobile: Simple Choice plans (postpaid-only which requires credit pull, but you can cancel anytime) include unlimited data roaming at 2G speeds in 120+ countries. Calls between any of these countries are $.20 /min.
Sprint: - For some reason its a bit complicated - https://www.sprint.com/landings/openworld/index.html - http://www.sprint.com/landings/international-value-roaming/ - http://support.sprint.com/global/pdf/support/BizMultiCountryDataPack.pdf
intlroam.sprint.com
 


International SIM cards

Google Fi
All plans include coverage in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Unlimited Plus and Flexible also come with data in 200+ international destinations, and 5G in select countries for supported Pixel and Samsung phones. Try Fi for free: Test our coverage to see how we keep you connected. Our 7⁠-⁠day trial works right on your phone alongside your current service.

Toggle Mobile:
Covers the U.S., many European countries (though not Italy or Belgium), and Australia. Rates from these countries are £.03 to all USA and UK phones both mobile and landline, £.03 to landlines and £.09 to mobiles in many other countries, £.06 to Israel landlines and £.15 to Israel mobiles. SMS to most (looks like all) countries is £.07. Data bundles start at £5 for 500 MB in the UK and £20 for 1GB in the other Toggle countries. Incoming calls are free in 20+ countries.

SIMs can be ordered online and shipped free to many countries. You automatically receive a free permanent U.K. number. Before each trip you must register online for a local incoming number in the countries you are travelling to, which activates the roaming plan and lasts 30 days at no cost. You can pay £5 a year to keep numbers permanently.

Golan Telecom:
The 99₪ unlimited talk/text/internet/international calling plan, which also gives you up to 2 virtual foreign numbers, also includes for many countries (not all have launched yet) unlimited global data roaming (6GB high-speed), incoming calls & texts, and calls & texts to Israel.

Alternatively, Golan also offers a ₪29 per day data-only roaming plan which gives 100MB a day in these countries (all have been launched). These roaming options can be very useful for foreigners regardless of whether they need Golan for Israel.


VOIP calling apps

Vonage Mobile: Free calls to US/CA, very cheap int'l rates (see link). Uses your real number for outgoing caller ID, and also for incoming calls if you are a tmobile/AT&T customer and activate ReachMe roaming in the app.

Google Hangouts: Uses your Google Voice number over VOIP. Free calls to US/CA, very cheap int'l rates (see link).


Local SIM cards

Israel: See wiki on this thread.

Global MiFi
FreedomPop $10/500mb
https://www.freedompop.com/worldwide


eSims

See PlatinumGuys post for more info.

Perhaps this is common knowledge, but I was just mindblown. In 60 seconds online, I was able to buy a data package in a different country from Airalo and install it on my iPhone - keeping calls on the primary Verizon SIM and data on the Airalo eSim.

FWIW, they offer 15GB in Israel for $15 - and you can buy more easily online if it runs out, but I don't know which network Annatel resells

Airalo promo code FOUNDERS30 for 30% off up to $7 (I don't benefit in any way)

Another vendor is https://esim.knowroaming.com, I guess you have to compare destination to destination.
https://esimdb.com is a great database for vendors in different locations.

« Last edited by Suave on September 19, 2023, 07:25:51 AM »

Author Topic: International Sim Discussion  (Read 161695 times)

Offline Live N Learn

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #560 on: August 16, 2015, 03:59:52 AM »
Can someone please help me unlock my Sprint Galaxy 6s that I am currently leasing?  Need to use it in Israel for the upcoming school year.

Call Sprint.
".איזהו חכם, הלומד מכל אדם"

Offline yochiek93

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #561 on: August 16, 2015, 04:10:21 AM »
Call Sprint.
They would unlock it even if its not totally paid for?

Offline yakov116

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #562 on: August 18, 2015, 07:51:20 PM »
They would unlock it even if its not totally paid for?
No
Money talks...mine says goodbye!

Offline yochiek93

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #563 on: August 18, 2015, 07:57:35 PM »
No
Thought so, so why would calling sprint help?

Online Sam Finkelstein

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #564 on: August 18, 2015, 07:58:17 PM »
Thought so, so why would calling sprint help?

He probably means that everything should be done the straight way.
Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. –J. Paul Getty

Offline Hatastah

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #565 on: October 18, 2015, 09:18:09 PM »
Im currently based in the US, and am about to move to London. I'm looking for a way to keep my US number as I while be frequently traveling to the US, as well as keeping my existing number for Whatsapp. What is the best way to go about doing such?

Offline LoLo

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #566 on: October 18, 2015, 11:25:37 PM »
Im currently based in the US, and am about to move to London. I'm looking for a way to keep my US number as I while be frequently traveling to the US, as well as keeping my existing number for Whatsapp. What is the best way to go about doing such?
Port to google voice.

Offline Hatastah

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #567 on: October 18, 2015, 11:27:32 PM »

Port to google voice.
Thanks. How do I go about using my number once it's ported? Google voice app? I have an iPhone...

Also, can I sync my locks number to ring on Google voice?

Offline LoLo

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #568 on: October 18, 2015, 11:29:43 PM »
Thanks. How do I go about using my number once it's ported? Google voice app? I have an iPhone...

The app, Or you can fwd the calls to any US number.

Offline David Smith

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #569 on: October 18, 2015, 11:37:33 PM »
Google voice charges for porting. Port to ring.to, which is free, and can be used as VoIP through the app, if you ever want to use your American number in England.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline LoLo

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #570 on: October 19, 2015, 12:12:53 AM »
Was Three.co.uk already mentioned here?
Free roaming in 18 countries, works best with the All in one 20 plan, i used it in israel and use it in USA as a spare phone, and pretty pleased.
Though you need a UK CC to top-up online.

Offline eli1571

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #571 on: October 19, 2015, 05:12:59 AM »
Was Three.co.uk already mentioned here?
Free roaming in 18 countries, works best with the All in one 20 plan, i used it in israel and use it in USA as a spare phone, and pretty pleased.
Though you need a UK CC to top-up online.
but you dont get a local usa number so not so ideal for people living in the usa.

Offline jshelton

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #572 on: October 19, 2015, 04:36:50 PM »
I have an unlocked iphone. ill be in the UK for approximately 8 days. I would love a phone that can call in London and I don't need texting just data. what is my best option for phone or SIM rentals? I have AT&T and alternatively I could activate my international for that month.

thanks

Offline eli1571

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #573 on: October 20, 2015, 04:25:52 AM »
most uk companies have monthly packages you can just buy a sim card and top up £10 - £20 and get calls text and data

Online Sam Finkelstein

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #574 on: October 20, 2015, 11:29:54 PM »
What's a good one for Vietnam? AT&T iPhone 6 if that matters.
Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. –J. Paul Getty

Offline jojo-nj

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #575 on: October 21, 2015, 08:44:56 AM »
Next month I will be traveling to Israel, Taiwan, China and India and was looking for one international sim card that would would work for all countries. I am not a big phone talker so I don't need unlimited talk. I found Worldsim https://www.worldsim.com/?___store=usa which is based in the UK. (charge on CC will be in UK currency). They give you a  UK # and also would provide US access # for free (no monthly charge), but calling the US # would be cost $.25/minute, otherwise most incoming calls are free. Depending on how much credit you load, the more you load the less the sim card itself costs. Loading $75 in credit and the sim card cost $7.5 (to own not rent). Shipping options are numerous, but I'm not in rush so I paid $5.25 for regular mail and it shipped from Detroit. One important note is that when making calls they use the call back method, so when you dial it will ring you back to connect.

To top it off, when I went to check out they show an offer to get an International Data Roaming Internet Dongle for free. This allows data roaming on your laptop almost anywhere in the world. If you add it to your shopping cart it will give the the Dongle and $15 credit free. If you go back and add another one with $75 credit and delete the one with $15 credit in your shopping cart you will get the $75 and the Dongle free. The data dongle works in the US too (I didn't check data rates) but in a pinch you can get internet access almost anywhere in the world.

I will report back on how the service is after my trip.

Offline mancunian

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #576 on: November 02, 2015, 07:11:54 PM »
So... looked through close to 39 pages, but what's the verdict on Australia? US number best rate

Is there anything like plans they have in Israel?
« Last Edit: November 02, 2015, 07:15:20 PM by mancunian »

Offline myb821

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #577 on: November 04, 2015, 10:06:30 AM »
most uk companies have monthly packages you can just buy a sim card and top up £10 - £20 and get calls text and data
Can you give more information and possibly a link?

Online Sam Finkelstein

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #578 on: November 18, 2015, 01:29:07 PM »
Is there any place in the 5 Towns area which has walk-in service for Israel phones and SIMs?
Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. –J. Paul Getty

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #579 on: November 18, 2015, 01:56:14 PM »
Five towns judaica