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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 161635 times)

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #360 on: April 29, 2014, 02:52:36 PM »
Huh?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #361 on: April 29, 2014, 03:10:43 PM »
Staying by Zaidy's apt = wifi. When we're out we don't need to call each other, and we don't need to call US either. We can wait till we get back to Zaidy's.

Offline Emkay

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #362 on: April 29, 2014, 03:13:53 PM »
Huh?
I thought he was refering to his whole trip, I didnt realize you were focused on israel

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #363 on: April 29, 2014, 03:21:50 PM »
I think this deal is great for the whole trip, including Israel. I don't fully understand why ilherman suggests getting a sim for Israel.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #364 on: April 29, 2014, 03:22:45 PM »
Oh, and Emkay, if we're in Europe in the same months, we could open up big family plan. :) 4 lines at this plan would be $100...

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #365 on: April 29, 2014, 03:35:23 PM »
All I was saying is, that if you can get a sim card in Israel for $20 and not be bounded to wifi, and the ability to talk whenever you want is a big plus and I would go for it. Also all these apps are not so clear etc..
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline Emkay

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #366 on: April 29, 2014, 03:38:28 PM »
Oh, and Emkay, if we're in Europe in the same months, we could open up big family plan. :) 4 lines at this plan would be $100...
When will u be there?

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #367 on: April 29, 2014, 03:43:35 PM »
All I was saying is, that if you can get a sim card in Israel for $20 and not be bounded to wifi, and the ability to talk whenever you want is a big plus and I would go for it. Also all these apps are not so clear etc..
But the Tmobile calling is unlimited within Israel, no need for wifi. How often are we going to be calling US? Even for emergencies when there's no wifi, 100 minutes at .20 would equal a $20 sim card.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #368 on: April 29, 2014, 03:43:58 PM »
When will u be there?
Not sure if it goes by calendar month, but June and July.

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #369 on: April 29, 2014, 03:52:37 PM »
But the Tmobile calling is unlimited within Israel, no need for wifi. How often are we going to be calling US? Even for emergencies when there's no wifi, 100 minutes at .20 would equal a $20 sim card.
So I will say it for the forth time T-MOBILE REPS ARE CLUELESS. Now please don't get me angry anymore  >:( ;D
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #370 on: April 29, 2014, 03:55:26 PM »
So I will say it for the forth time T-MOBILE REPS ARE CLUELESS. Now please don't get me angry anymore  >:( ;D
So I can't trust anything?? Does that mean you get 0 minutes in all of Europe? And it's always .20/min?

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #371 on: April 29, 2014, 03:58:34 PM »
So I can't trust anything?? Does that mean you get 0 minutes in all of Europe? And it's always .20/min?
Yes, sir.
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #372 on: April 29, 2014, 03:59:31 PM »
Yes,sir.
If that's the case, then it's not worth it at all. Can get sim's in each country with cheaper rates. Uch, I was really hoping you were wrong. :)

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #373 on: April 29, 2014, 04:03:13 PM »
If that's the case, then it's not worth it at all. Can get sim's in each country with cheaper rates. Uch, I was really hoping you were wrong. :)
Maybe I am, call them  ;)
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline Emkay

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #374 on: April 29, 2014, 04:04:09 PM »
If that's the case, then it's not worth it at all. Can get sim's in each country with cheaper rates. Uch, I was really hoping you were wrong. :)
unless your fine with using the calling apps

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #375 on: April 29, 2014, 04:05:35 PM »
unless your fine with using the calling apps
Which probably won't work very well on 2G...
And if they don't know what they're talking about, maybe texting and 2G aren't free either.

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #376 on: April 29, 2014, 04:08:22 PM »
Which probably won't work very well on 2G...
And if they don't know what they're talking about, maybe texting and 2G aren't free either.
They are.

BTW there is a thread here discussing this T-mobile plan.
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #377 on: April 29, 2014, 04:09:22 PM »
And if they don't know what they're talking about, maybe texting and 2G aren't free either.
Scratch that. Took another look at that chart that lets you plug in the country you're visiting, and tried Israel, Italy and France. It clearly says all have unlimited data and texts and calls are .20

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #378 on: April 29, 2014, 04:13:11 PM »
BTW there is a thread here discussing this T-mobile plan.
Found it. http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=32891.50 thanks

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #379 on: April 29, 2014, 04:18:39 PM »
If that's the case, then it's not worth it at all. Can get sim's in each country with cheaper rates. Uch, I was really hoping you were wrong. :)
In my case where I was every day in a different country it was really worthwhile.
You can say what you think when you think what you say.