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 161627 times)

Offline SearchGuy

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #500 on: October 04, 2014, 11:29:10 PM »
My T-Mobile phone isn't working in Japan... :(

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #501 on: October 05, 2014, 01:50:25 PM »
What model? Japan uses the 2100mhz band of 3g.

Offline lubaby

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #502 on: October 23, 2014, 01:24:48 AM »
Anyone have experience using T-mobile in the following countries? Gonna be visiting them all in the next month and want to make sure my data will be running at a decent speed.
According to their website, all these are covered, just wanted to know if anyone has personal experience.

Amsterdam
India
Israel
Italy
Turkey

Offline Yose

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #503 on: October 23, 2014, 01:30:59 AM »
I am going to Paris for 2 days - what is the best sim to get for unlimited data? (tether/google voice)

Offline Emkay

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #504 on: October 23, 2014, 02:14:47 AM »
Anyone have experience using T-mobile in the following countries? Gonna be visiting them all in the next month and want to make sure my data will be running at a decent speed.
According to their website, all these are covered, just wanted to know if anyone has personal experience.

Amsterdam
India
Israel
Italy
Turkey
I have done Israel and Italy with them, worked fine

Offline rediplus

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #505 on: October 23, 2014, 11:42:47 AM »
i'm going to Spain in Nov. i see the discussion about SIMS. what kind of  phone though do i need to have to work with these sims ?Any VErizon phone ? does it have to be unlocked ? what about a blackberry bold ?

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #506 on: October 23, 2014, 01:47:53 PM »
i'm going to Spain in Nov. i see the discussion about SIMS. what kind of  phone though do i need to have to work with these sims ?Any VErizon phone ? does it have to be unlocked ? what about a blackberry bold ?
Vzw bold 9930 will need to be unlocked but it's easy

Offline lubaby

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #507 on: October 23, 2014, 03:59:23 PM »
I have done Israel and Italy with them, worked fine
Thanks.

Hopefully the other ones will work too, otherwise I'll have to pick up a local Sim Card.

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #508 on: October 23, 2014, 07:11:42 PM »
I see that my VZW iPhone 5 has a smaller sim card than what I am used to. 1) I thought VZW does not use Sim at all, only CDMA? 2) I wanna go to Isreal and use a Gulan sim card, are all sim cards these days so small? Will the Gulan sim fit in my iPhone?

Sorry for the noobish questions.
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline sillypainter

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #509 on: October 23, 2014, 07:24:31 PM »
I see that my VZW iPhone 5 has a smaller sim card than what I am used to. 1) I thought VZW does not use Sim at all, only CDMA? 2) I wanna go to Isreal and use a Gulan sim card, are all sim cards these days so small? Will the Gulan sim fit in my iPhone?

Sorry for the noobish questions.

Herman, I love when somebody hacks your account :-)

There are 3 different sim cards sizes, mini, micro and nano. The IPhone 5 uses the nano sim size which I'm sure golan offers.

All iphones have GSM capabilities and VZW LTE phones are all unlocked, so you can travel easy to Israel and get a Golan sim there.

Don't forget to make a good impression at the USA "exit" border :-)

Offline chff

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #510 on: October 23, 2014, 07:47:11 PM »
LTE runs via a Sim cards, so nowadays VZW & Sprint LTE phone require a Sim card at all times

If Golan doesn't offer the nano, you can take a micro and cut it down to size

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #511 on: October 23, 2014, 08:10:11 PM »
LTE runs via a Sim cards, so nowadays VZW & Sprint LTE phone require a Sim card at all times

If Golan doesn't offer the nano, you can take a micro and cut it down to size
Aren't all iPhone 5 phones nano capable? If the answer is yes, then I am sure that golan has nano cards. Or am I missing something?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline ilherman

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #512 on: October 23, 2014, 08:12:14 PM »
ilherman, I love when somebody hacks your account :-)

There are 3 different sim cards sizes, mini, micro and nano. The IPhone 5 uses the nano sim size which I'm sure golan offers.

All iphones have GSM capabilities and VZW LTE phones are all unlocked, so you can travel easy to Israel and get a Golan sim there.

Don't forget to make a good impression at the USA "exit" border :-)
FTFY.

Now, are all VZW phones unlocked? Even Galaxy? Will a ATT sim work in a VZW phone?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline cozmohoot

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #513 on: October 23, 2014, 09:03:52 PM »
FTFY.

Now, are all VZW phones unlocked? Even Galaxy? Will a ATT sim work in a VZW phone?
Vzw lte phones are unlocked so the galaxy's are too. The s3 had issues creating an apn though. Apn is a setting in the phone to access data and with an Android you may have to edit the apn. Att sims will work in vzw phones but sometimes data won't be at lte speeds.

Offline Joe4007

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #514 on: October 25, 2014, 09:49:56 PM »
How about VZW tablets, are they unlocked as well?

Offline shtank

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #515 on: October 27, 2014, 02:18:14 PM »
Anyone know if Golan Telecom can give you a US number? Going to israel in less than a month and am very interested in getting a golan sim card but it would help if they could give me a US number.

Offline sammy n

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #516 on: October 27, 2014, 03:06:57 PM »

Anyone know if Golan Telecom can give you a US number? Going to israel in less than a month and am very interested in getting a golan sim card but it would help if they could give me a US number.
Most of there plans come with a U.S. number that forwards to your Israeli number.

Offline JFEADV

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #517 on: October 28, 2014, 10:15:52 AM »
yes they do

Offline The Guy

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #518 on: November 03, 2014, 11:48:15 AM »
What the best thing to do?
I am traveling to Germany,and I need a sim for my tablet,should I buy there in the airport or before I leave?

Offline LAXtraveler

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Re: International Sim Discussion
« Reply #519 on: December 04, 2014, 04:40:59 PM »
What the best thing to do?
I am traveling to Germany,and I need a sim for my tablet,should I buy there in the airport or before I leave?

This may be old already, but when I went I bought one in the airport pre-loaded with some minutes and data for 20Euro.