Topic Wiki

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 161696 times)

Offline Pesach

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #680 on: July 25, 2019, 04:45:15 PM »
can someone suggest a sim for calling from europe to the us unlimited talk and text on a flip phone? and being able to call 1800 numbers for flight and amex etc 

Offline ExGingi

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #681 on: July 25, 2019, 05:03:54 PM »
can someone suggest a sim for calling from europe to the us unlimited talk and text on a flip phone? and being able to call 1800 numbers for flight and amex etc

When my daughter was in Seminary this past year in Europe, all her friends got a plan from Wind that included some limited minutes to the US. My daughter instead got a cheaper plan with no minutes to the US, but that worked throughout Europe, and then she used FreeVoipDeal with local access number for unlimited calling to the US.

Looks like you can also get something similar from Vodafone for 11GBP/month. https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/best-sim-only-deals with an interesting map of no-roaming charge countries.

These solutions work for unlimited calling to the US, not texting to the US.
« Last Edit: July 25, 2019, 05:52:33 PM by ExGingi »
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline a good yeshiva bachur

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #682 on: July 26, 2019, 05:36:20 AM »
But you can activate and suspend Google Fi and will be fractionally charged (down to the minute IINM) so if you use Google Fi for 5 days, you could end up paying $5
you dont pay the $20 for the monthly fee?

Offline ExGingi

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #683 on: July 26, 2019, 08:51:53 AM »
you dont pay the $20 for the monthly fee?
That too is prorated, down to the minute.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline a good yeshiva bachur

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #684 on: July 28, 2019, 06:18:35 AM »
That too is prorated, down to the minute.
wow, I didn’t know that... thanks

Is there a way to receive your texts for free while outside the US?

Offline jose34

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #685 on: July 28, 2019, 06:16:59 PM »
Going to  be in Canada for a month; what the best plan for Unlimited Texting and Calling to US and Canada?

Offline ExGingi

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #686 on: July 28, 2019, 06:18:34 PM »
Going to  be in Canada for a month; what the best plan for Unlimited Texting and Calling to US and Canada?

What do you have in the US. Several US carriers have that included.

See https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=81959.0
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline jose34

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #687 on: July 28, 2019, 06:29:09 PM »
Thanks, I should have clarified, coming from Israel. So no US plan.

Offline a good yeshiva bachur

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #688 on: July 28, 2019, 06:40:50 PM »
Is there a way to receive your texts for free while outside the US on Google fii?

Offline ExGingi

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #689 on: July 28, 2019, 06:46:01 PM »
Is there a way to receive your texts for free while outside the US on Google fii?

Google Fi includes unlimited SMS
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #690 on: July 28, 2019, 07:04:07 PM »
Google Fi includes unlimited SMS

my bad, I forgot to add when the service is paused, but I assume that the answer is no... thanks though...

Offline ExGingi

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #691 on: July 28, 2019, 07:33:57 PM »
my bad, I forgot to add when the service is paused, but I assume that the answer is no... thanks though...
Well, you can always use Google Voice for free US texting. Google Fi was going to take over my GV number upon sign up, so I created a separate account with a separate number, as I wanted to keep GV for what I use it now. I don't know what happens to GV if it is allowed to take over your GV number.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #692 on: July 29, 2019, 02:01:42 AM »
What service does google fii give you while in Israel?
@Dan ?

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #693 on: October 04, 2019, 04:25:38 AM »
Does anybody know were i could get a Toggle sim? currently not possible to order online.

Offline yeshivish

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #694 on: January 06, 2020, 03:37:36 PM »
They have shut down permanently

Offline ual902

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #695 on: January 26, 2020, 12:27:52 AM »
What sim card for Western Europe, Scandinavia and mainland Europe mainly for Data outside of WiFi Area's?  (Not T-Mobile)
« Last Edit: January 26, 2020, 12:33:29 AM by ual902 »

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #696 on: January 26, 2020, 07:50:09 AM »
What sim card for Western Europe, Scandinavia and mainland Europe mainly for Data outside of WiFi Area's?  (Not T-Mobile)

From what I've seen (when kids were in Italy and UK) you can get very inexpensive plans in Europe (without roaming charges throughout Europe or European territories).
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline RebTuvia

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #697 on: January 26, 2020, 08:55:39 AM »
   
What sim card for Western Europe, Scandinavia and mainland Europe mainly for Data outside of WiFi Area's?  (Not T-Mobile)
From what I've seen (when kids were in Italy and UK) you can get very inexpensive plans in Europe (without roaming charges throughout Europe or European territories).
For example 3 Mobile Sim has plans starting at 8GBP for like 4gb data, works in most of the world.

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #698 on: February 08, 2020, 08:19:39 PM »
Is this a good deal from eBay? Or I can do better at LHR? will be transferring to OSL.

UK Europe 30days Prepaid SIM Card 12GB Unlimited call 71 Countries Three network $24.99

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233393076810

Offline RebTuvia

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #699 on: February 09, 2020, 12:08:47 PM »
Is this a good deal from eBay? Or I can do better at LHR? will be transferring to OSL.

UK Europe 30days Prepaid SIM Card 12GB Unlimited call 71 Countries Three network $24.99

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233393076810

That's Three Mobile's regular price you won't do better than this in the airport, but just know that you won't be able to make calls to the Usa.