pre-paid international sim cards
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat, Hertz Pres
Posts: 3,649
pre-paid international sim cards
so for those of you who followed my other thread, i am leaving for a study abroad trip this weekend, which will last for 2 months around the Mediterranean and north Africa. i just picked up a Blackberry 8220 and am getting it unlocked tomorrow. Id like to pick up a prepaid sim to use while abroad to keep in touch with my family. ive been surfing a few online but its confusing. ive seen these 2 so far:
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geogr.../dp/B0021L9JDU
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=MSIM-EX01
does anyone know if these are any good? can anyone recommend any others?
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geogr.../dp/B0021L9JDU
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=MSIM-EX01
does anyone know if these are any good? can anyone recommend any others?
#2
In memoriam
Join Date: May 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: QF WP & AA EXP
Posts: 5,233
I use GeoSIM from Global Sim Card.
http://www.globalsimcard.co.uk/index.php
Never had any issues with it but have not used it in Africa before so unsure what the coverage is like there.
ETA: Also, I doubt you'd get it in time!
http://www.globalsimcard.co.uk/index.php
Never had any issues with it but have not used it in Africa before so unsure what the coverage is like there.
ETA: Also, I doubt you'd get it in time!
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat, Hertz Pres
Posts: 3,649
I use GeoSIM from Global Sim Card.
http://www.globalsimcard.co.uk/index.php
Never had any issues with it but have not used it in Africa before so unsure what the coverage is like there.
ETA: Also, I doubt you'd get it in time!
http://www.globalsimcard.co.uk/index.php
Never had any issues with it but have not used it in Africa before so unsure what the coverage is like there.
ETA: Also, I doubt you'd get it in time!
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat, Hertz Pres
Posts: 3,649
just tried to order, they only offer standard shipping, 7-10 business days =/ to late for me. darn it! know of any other good companies?
#6
In memoriam
Join Date: May 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: QF WP & AA EXP
Posts: 5,233
I've also heard MaxROAM isn't too bad, but they don't offer any free incoming call destinations I don't think (but that's not so bad as you're after a US number anyway.)
I used to use United Mobile but unfortunately they went into liquidation.
I used to use United Mobile but unfortunately they went into liquidation.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Seattle, Washington USA
Posts: 972
so for those of you who followed my other thread, i am leaving for a study abroad trip this weekend, which will last for 2 months around the Mediterranean and north Africa. i just picked up a Blackberry 8220 and am getting it unlocked tomorrow. Id like to pick up a prepaid sim to use while abroad to keep in touch with my family. ive been surfing a few online but its confusing. ive seen these 2 so far:
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geogr.../dp/B0021L9JDU
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=MSIM-EX01
does anyone know if these are any good? can anyone recommend any others?
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geogr.../dp/B0021L9JDU
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=MSIM-EX01
does anyone know if these are any good? can anyone recommend any others?
You say you are going around "the Mediterranean and north Africa." How long will you be in any one location? If you're more than a few days in one location it's cheaper to get a local prepaid card if you're going to be four or five days it's cheaper to get a new card in each country than get an international card. International cards are good for convenience, but not good for making many calls. Many times the local country SIMs will give you some starter credit with the initial account.
If you must use an international SIM look here:
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html
Telestial is definitely not a good deal.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 5
National Geographic Talk Abroad
so for those of you who followed my other thread, i am leaving for a study abroad trip this weekend, which will last for 2 months around the Mediterranean and north Africa. i just picked up a Blackberry 8220 and am getting it unlocked tomorrow. Id like to pick up a prepaid sim to use while abroad to keep in touch with my family. ive been surfing a few online but its confusing. ive seen these 2 so far:
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geogr.../dp/B0021L9JDU
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=MSIM-EX01
does anyone know if these are any good? can anyone recommend any others?
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geogr.../dp/B0021L9JDU
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=MSIM-EX01
does anyone know if these are any good? can anyone recommend any others?
#9
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: COS
Programs: JAL Global Club, One World Sapphire, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,246
Welcome to Flyertalk, GrazieRoma! Your name reminds me of the song of the same name that I got to know in the summer of '83 along with a beautiful redhead, sigh.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: United 1K, AA Plat Exec, DL Plat, Marriott Titanium Lifetime Elite, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,872
Truphone anywhere is pretty good if you won't be in a country for too long, and it others data (at $1/mb, not cheap, but ok to check email quickly).
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
But does Truphone give you access to the Blackberry APN? Blackberries aren't the best phone for prepaid wanderings because they don't work (data wise) with generic data packages.