Middle East - Best Cellphone Service - Israel

I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on the best cellphone service in Israel. The most important aspect for me is CALL QUALITY/CELLUAR QUALITY. (Don't want dropped calls, dead spots, internet that loads, texts that go through...)

I only care about Cellcom, Orange, and Pelephone. (Rami Levi is a virtual operator, and is therefore really Cellcom for this purpose; Mirs doesn't have a 3G GSM network.) While price is a factor, I have already found comparable deals with all 3 companies.

I'm also curious about people's thoughts regarding customer service. I've had Orange for the past 2 or so years, and have been less than pleased with everything. I recently got a new phone which has improved call quality, and I significantly lowered my plan, but I'm still not happy with their customer service, and I've heard Pelephone has better service.

Thanks in advance!

I have a Cellcom SIM that I use whenever I'm in Israel. I've never had an issue with the service. Can't compare to the others though, as I've never used them.

When's the last time you were in Israel? Recently, more and more friends have been complaining about Cellcom service

When's the last time you were in Israel? Recently, more and more friends have been complaining about Cellcom service

When it comes to netwerk/reception, all networks are crap! I've tried them all (currently I'm with orange).

When it comes to netwerk/reception, all networks are crap! I've tried them all (currently I'm with orange).
I agree, and with the recent smartphone boom here, they've really gone down hill. I'm with Orange, and heavily wondering whether or not it's worth switching to Pelephone. (Currently paying 110 shek/month for 500 minutes, 550 SMS, and 1 GB internet. Wouldn't mind more internet (5/10 gb) and more minutes (600-800), but don't need as many SMS.

When I travel to Israel I use orange but I find their service in certain areas to be weak (like in the Gush and up North).
I heard complaints about all, but as someone who is just there for short periods, any company will really do.

When I travel to Israel I use orange but I find their service in certain areas to be weak (like in the Gush and up North).
I heard complaints about all, but as someone who is just there for short periods, any company will really do.
I have terrible service specifically in Efrat. I am not there for only short periods - I live here!

What pay as you go card would you suggest for visitors to Israel? Will be mainly in Jerusalem.

What pay as you go card would you suggest for visitors to Israel? Will be mainly in Jerusalem.
How long will you be in Israel?

I have to disagree about the general cell service. I live in the center of the country and carry both orange and pelephone units. They are older simpler models for calls and SMS only. I don't remember the last time a call was dropped and I am talking in years not months or days

True years ago every other call ended in shouting, "Hallo, Hallo", but now I find no problems.

The only dead spot (sic) is with orange at the entrance to Jerusalem just as you pass under the Givat Shaul cemetary. 9 out of 10 times the call will drop.

I think price should be your main issue

I have to disagree about the general cell service. I live in the center of the country and carry both orange and pelephone units. They are older simpler models for calls and SMS only. I don't remember the last time a call was dropped and I am talking in years not months or days

True years ago every other call ended in shouting, "Hallo, Hallo", but now I find no problems.

The only dead spot (sic) is with orange at the entrance to Jerusalem just as you pass under the Givat Shaul cemetary. 9 out of 10 times the call will drop.

I think price should be your main issue

And the conversations started with "Allo, allo" ;)

My BlackBerry with Orange dropped calls left and right. I got a new phone, and while things have improved, calls are still dropped. My girlfriend has a Samsung Galaxy II and my roommate has an iPhone, both with Pelephone. They are dropping a fair (though not a ton) amount of calls. My sister comes every summer and has Cellcom. She has a basic phone, and has watched the quality get worse and worse each summer.

Interesting, because I've never had a problem by Givat Shaul. I have a problem getting onto Kvish 4 near Coca Cola, and also on Kvish 1 near the airport.

What pay as you go card would you suggest for visitors to Israel? Will be mainly in Jerusalem.

Like I mentioned above, I use Orange and they get the job done.

You can find an Orange booth in most malls, and Orange stores around in general. They will have a sim card available. Additionally, there are cell phone stores all over the place that sell sim cards and refill cards as well. You can also refill your account at the post office by providing your cell phone number and carrier to the postal agent, and they can credit your phone with minutes instantly.

If you are bringing your own phone with you , you will want to check out the frequencies on it to ensure that it will work in Israel. I do not have that onhand.

I have terrible service specifically in Efrat. I am not there for only short periods - I live here!

ya some areas of Efrat seem problematic. I feel like I need an antenna to get signal..constantly holding my phone up in the air... waving it...

And the conversations started with "Allo, allo" ;)

My BlackBerry with Orange dropped calls left and right. I got a new phone, and while things have improved, calls are still dropped. My girlfriend has a Samsung Galaxy II and my roommate has an iPhone, both with Pelephone. They are dropping a fair (though not a ton) amount of calls. .

Im curious to know if you know anyone who has an iphone on Orange.

What pay as you go card would you suggest for visitors to Israel? Will be mainly in Jerusalem.

Like I mentioned above, I use Orange and they get the job done.

You can find an Orange booth in most malls, and Orange stores around in general. They will have a sim card available. Additionally, there are cell phone stores all over the place that sell sim cards and refill cards as well. You can also refill your account at the post office by providing your cell phone number and carrier to the postal agent, and they can credit your phone with minutes instantly.

If you are bringing your own phone with you , you will want to check out the frequencies on it to ensure that it will work in Israel. I do not have that onhand.

If it's a short visit, I believe Talk n Save (http://www.talknsave.net/) is the best option. Deal with English customer service. And you can still save money by bringing your own phone. I don't think you can rent a smartphone, but I still recommend them for short visits.

Im curious to know if you know anyone who has an iphone on Orange.

A bunch. Interestingly, both of my roommates have an iPhone, though one's with Pelephone and the other with Cellcom, and I have an Android with Orange; but I know a bunch of people who have an iPhone with Orange. Why?

If it's a short visit, I believe Talk n Save (http://www.talknsave.net/) is the best option. Deal with English customer service. And you can still save money by bringing your own phone. I don't think you can rent a smartphone, but I still recommend them for short visits.



A bunch. Interestingly, both of my roommates have an iPhone, though one's with Pelephone and the other with Cellcom, and I have an Android with Orange; but I know a bunch of people who have an iPhone with Orange. Why?
My next trip, i will be bringing my iphone (its unlocked via apple canada).
Curious to see speeds/connectivity with data seeing how phone coverage in some areas can be iffy.

My next trip, i will be bringing my iphone (its unlocked via apple canada).
Curious to see speeds/connectivity with data seeing how phone coverage in some areas can be iffy.
I think that speeds will be roughly the same. Where in Israel will you be mostly stationed?

We'll only be in Israel for a week.

One of us has an unlocked iPhone and the other has a locked to Rogers iPhone.

thank you Joshwex90

We'll only be in Israel for a week.

One of us has an unlocked iPhone and the other has a locked to Rogers iPhone.

thank you Joshwex90
You can get a SIM card with a data plan for the unlocked iPhone. For the other one, you're out of luck (unless you get Rogers to unlock it for you). If not, just rent a regular, non-smartphone. How hard is it to detach from date for one week :)

And no problem :)

We'll only be in Israel for a week.

One of us has an unlocked iPhone and the other has a locked to Rogers iPhone.

thank you Joshwex90

I roamed my Fido phone once...expensive, and echoey..but it worked..wouldnt recommend it.

Im not sure if they sell mirco-sims though, and if not you may want to look at one of those micro sim adapters...bought
one..havent tried it out yet.

I think that speeds will be roughly the same. Where in Israel will you be mostly stationed?

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Elat, Gush Etzion.

I roamed my Fido phone once...expensive, and echoey..but it worked..wouldnt recommend it.

Im not sure if they sell mirco-sims though, and if not you may want to look at one of those micro sim adapters...bought
one..havent tried it out yet.

Micro SIM?

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Elat, Gush Etzion.

I've found that Pelephone actually has the best service in Gush Etzion. At least in Efrat. Not sure about other communities (Alon Shvut, Neve Daniel...)

Micro SIM?
...)
iphone 4 and 4s use a micro sim..

hate to bump up a old thread, but I just used my unlocked Iphone in Israel
using Orange..(a company I've hated for so long) but they have some good plans with data if your there for short periods of time.
http://www.orange.co.il/en/en/Mobile/Plans/bigtalk_cards/

unlimited local calls and text messages to all local networks + 100MB for surfing in Israel -70 sheks- only good for 7 days
unlimited local calls and text messages to all local networks + 150MB for surfing in Israel 130 sheks- only good for 14 days

I used the second plan- the 3g was good on the network and coverages were far better than what I was previously used to with Orange. I of course went to an Orange store and they told me they could not help me (:td::td::td::td::td::td::td:) and then went to one of the those cell phone shacks that sell cell phone cases etc, and they were able to pull up on their screen and get it done instantly.

Another good short term option is HOT Mobile. With HOT, you can buy the SIM card, NIS 40, and then you own the SIM and always have the same phone number forever. Costs are 10 agurot/minute to any Israeli number, 10 agurot/SMS to any Israeli number, and 10 agurot/MB internet. Calling America is 15 agurot/minute.

I believe that HOT requires an Israeli credit card. I absolutely would not recommend talk n shave to anyone, their prices are insane and the run on the pelephone network which isn't great. Definitely get orange big talk. Only problem is that it's local calls only so maybe go with talk n steal if calls to America are important. I personally have Golan which is an mvno using cellcom. Service is spotty but at the price I pay I don't care so much.

HOT does not require an Israeli credit card. I use HOT with my American credit card. Golan does require an Israeli credit card.
Golan is not an MVNO. They are one of five true networks (Cellcom, Pelephone, Orange, HOT Mobile, and Golan Telecom). They do roam off of Cellcom in places where they haven't built their network yet.
If calls to America are important, one can always get Orange or 012Smile (Orange subsidiary, roams off them) which have plans with unlimited calling to America included (NIS 135 and NIS 88 respectively). HOT has unlimited calling to America for NIS 99. Golan does too for the same price, but requires that Israeli card.

Here's a site that details the different carriers. Israel Cell Compare (http://www.israelcellcompare.com/)

Another good short term option is HOT Mobile. With HOT, you can buy the SIM card, NIS 40, and then you own the SIM and always have the same phone number forever. Costs are 10 agurot/minute to any Israeli number, 10 agurot/SMS to any Israeli number, and 10 agurot/MB internet. Calling America is 15 agurot/minute.

Anyone know where to buy a HOT sim outside of Israel? There are a lot of companies selling Orange and Cellcom. I would like to obtain before my trip. If that is not possible, can one buy on arrival at the airport?

Which network does this MVNO use?

Thanks for any assistance!

Unfortunately, you can neither buy a HOT SIM abroad nor can you get one in the airport. If you're interested in HOT, my best advice would be to get some other SIM to carry you over, and get to a HOT store once you're here.

As for MVNO, HOT is a full-service network, not a virtual carrier. They do roam off Pelephone in areas where their network isn't yet functional as they're a new carrier.

Unfortunately, you can neither buy a HOT SIM abroad nor can you get one in the airport. If you're interested in HOT, my best advice would be to get some other SIM to carry you over, and get to a HOT store once you're here.

As for MVNO, HOT is a full-service network, not a virtual carrier. They do roam off Pelephone in areas where their network isn't yet functional as they're a new carrier.

Could you provide a recommendation? I will be in Israel for two weeks, and will only be doing international calling (USA/Canada/Europe). I have been reading things that both Orange and Cellcom are lacking in certain areas, and these seem to be the big 2 choices. What is the best price/value/quality choice?

I have also seen something about a BigTalk card? Are there different types of prepaid (domestic only vs international option)? Or can I buy a sim of any network and be able to make international calls? Are there international plans to sign up for?

Thanks!

Many of the cellphone networks offer international calling. However, you will probably need to be in Israel or know Hebrew to set them up. Some also require an Israeli credit card. If you're only there for 2 weeks and only need international calling, it may be worthwhile to just rent a SIM card.

I don't know of any prepaid SIM cards specifically for international use. What do you mean by an international plan?

Many of the cellphone networks offer international calling. However, you will probably need to be in Israel or know Hebrew to set them up. Some also require an Israeli credit card. If you're only there for 2 weeks and only need international calling, it may be worthwhile to just rent a SIM card.

I don't know of any prepaid SIM cards specifically for international use. What do you mean by an international plan?

Do you know if one is able to make international calls with an Orange or Cellcom prepaid? What are the international rates to the USA from these big providers? By international plan, I meant a feature that is added (for a fee) or enabled for international calling.

I don't know much about the prepaid. Where did you find the SIM cards? Whoever's selling them would probably know.