My Adventures with Toggle Mobile (Mostly Good)
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,737
I tried ordering a card last night for a friend - ran up against the same brick wall, wouldn't take any of my US cards.
I wrote their customer service an email, and they immediately offered to send me a card for free (presumably with no credit on the card.)
I would like this company to succeed, because they have a great service. While they are not there on data yet, their prices for voice in many cases are (much) cheaper than a local SIM card. So let's all be nice Flyertalkers and only write to their customer service if we've tried ordering online first and the order was rejected.
I wrote their customer service an email, and they immediately offered to send me a card for free (presumably with no credit on the card.)
I would like this company to succeed, because they have a great service. While they are not there on data yet, their prices for voice in many cases are (much) cheaper than a local SIM card. So let's all be nice Flyertalkers and only write to their customer service if we've tried ordering online first and the order was rejected.
#17
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,737
They now have updated their website and it is now clear that you do not need to register for UK travel (as the global number is the UK number):
If travelling to any of the toggle mobile countries excluding the UK make sure you register for that country before you travel, to do so just login into your account and click Register Local Number, then follow the steps on the screen. You will automatically receive a local country number and benefit from the toggle countries local rates. (SIM must be inserted into the phone and have network signal)
If travelling to any of the toggle mobile countries excluding the UK make sure you register for that country before you travel, to do so just login into your account and click Register Local Number, then follow the steps on the screen. You will automatically receive a local country number and benefit from the toggle countries local rates. (SIM must be inserted into the phone and have network signal)
From their emailed replies to me, you have to first register in order to get a UK phone number (or other country's number from their list) as the number that comes up when you first put in the SIM is their "global number" which doesn't get the low rate on calls. I saw the UK listed in their dropdown list to register, as was Canada listed, but that's as far as I could go, as I couldn't get them to accept either a Canadian or UK address on the website so I could register and then choose which country (UK in this case) I'd use the phone. Fine if the UK is the default number after registering, but the global number that first comes up before registering isn't the one that gets the 3 pence per call. So one must register, which gets the default UK number, or then choose another country from their list. That's probably why the UK doesn't show up on the country list dropdown to choose from after registering, as it's the default number already once you've registered.
bj-21.
bj-21.
#20
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,945
My understanding you need to register your sim card number online then you can choose a local number for 30 days of the country you are planning to visit.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,502
Also, even though buying a new SIM can't use Paypal, reloading can use it just fine - I added 10 GBP to my account to make sure I could do it.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,753
Just tried it. Won't work in Canada. So I assume it hasn't been activated which is good as I won't be in Europe for another few months. Would it be a problem if I first activate it in the NL (layover in AMS) before I use it in Austria, Italy and France?
I also plan on being in France for an extended period. Will the French number expire after 30 days and if so, do I just renew it or get a new one?
I also plan on being in France for an extended period. Will the French number expire after 30 days and if so, do I just renew it or get a new one?
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,737
Note that although you can use the SIM in Austria and Italy, you cannot get local numbers there, and outgoing calls are 28p within the EU and 1.02 to North America.
You should be able to activate and use in NL.
Supposedly the French number will disappear after 30 days,I believe you can just get another one at that point. If it is important to you to keep the same number, you can pay 5 and keep the number for a year.
Note that your caller ID will always show the UK number.
Were you able to use a Canadian credit card to order the SIM?
You should be able to activate and use in NL.
Supposedly the French number will disappear after 30 days,I believe you can just get another one at that point. If it is important to you to keep the same number, you can pay 5 and keep the number for a year.
Note that your caller ID will always show the UK number.
Were you able to use a Canadian credit card to order the SIM?
Just tried it. Won't work in Canada. So I assume it hasn't been activated which is good as I won't be in Europe for another few months. Would it be a problem if I first activate it in the NL (layover in AMS) before I use it in Austria, Italy and France?
I also plan on being in France for an extended period. Will the French number expire after 30 days and if so, do I just renew it or get a new one?
I also plan on being in France for an extended period. Will the French number expire after 30 days and if so, do I just renew it or get a new one?
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,753
You should be able to activate and use in NL.
And again, one needs the local in-country number to get the in-country rates?
Were you able to use a Canadian credit card to order the SIM?
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,737
I have seen reports that the SIM will not work at all in the TOGGLE countries if you don't first get a local number before entering that country. So, you should at least go online, register, and get yourself an NL number before leaving. If you could log into a mobile network in Canada, your SIM would get an IMSI update and you should be good to go in NL.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by activation, now that I think of it. I turned it on and added some money to it online and it worked. The one that I have had a phone number already assigned, both on the SIM card holder, as well as on the back of the package. Do you have a number already?
I would also suspect that if you work at it you will be able to get onto a network in Canada. You would need to go to the place where you select networks in your phone. First choose automatic selection and leave the phone for half an hour and see if it registers with a GSM/UMTS network. If that doesn't work, you can select each network manually - from what I read you may have to select a network 4 times on some occasions because of roaming steering (the home carrier trying to push you to a particular roaming carrier.)
Apparently the roaming IMSI is from Vodafone NL, which is how the Canadian networks will see the SIM.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by activation, now that I think of it. I turned it on and added some money to it online and it worked. The one that I have had a phone number already assigned, both on the SIM card holder, as well as on the back of the package. Do you have a number already?
I would also suspect that if you work at it you will be able to get onto a network in Canada. You would need to go to the place where you select networks in your phone. First choose automatic selection and leave the phone for half an hour and see if it registers with a GSM/UMTS network. If that doesn't work, you can select each network manually - from what I read you may have to select a network 4 times on some occasions because of roaming steering (the home carrier trying to push you to a particular roaming carrier.)
Apparently the roaming IMSI is from Vodafone NL, which is how the Canadian networks will see the SIM.
Thanks for the heads up. Probably won't need to make calls the 1st 2 weeks but nice to be able to get incoming ones free.
Thanks again for that. So I just turn on the phone and let it do its usual thing and then get the phone number?
And again, one needs the local in-country number to get the in-country rates?
Yes, transaction went through with no problems.
Thanks again for that. So I just turn on the phone and let it do its usual thing and then get the phone number?
And again, one needs the local in-country number to get the in-country rates?
Yes, transaction went through with no problems.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,315
I am thinking of getting a Toggle mobile number as I travel to the US a lot and having a local number there helps (I will likely pay the 5 per year to retain it).
A couple of questions:
1) I am mostly in CA and would prefer a 408 area code - is there a choice of area code?
2) If the caller id shows my UK number when I call them when I am in the US, and they then store it on their phone then it seems to me that unless they edit their contacts that they will be calling my UK number - is that correct? ie. they will not see my local US number unless I explicitly give it to them ?
A couple of questions:
1) I am mostly in CA and would prefer a 408 area code - is there a choice of area code?
2) If the caller id shows my UK number when I call them when I am in the US, and they then store it on their phone then it seems to me that unless they edit their contacts that they will be calling my UK number - is that correct? ie. they will not see my local US number unless I explicitly give it to them ?
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
2) If the caller id shows my UK number when I call them when I am in the US, and they then store it on their phone then it seems to me that unless they edit their contacts that they will be calling my UK number - is that correct? ie. they will not see my local US number unless I explicitly give it to them ?
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,315
I haven't got it. It was one of my questions before I do.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,663
I am thinking of getting a Toggle mobile number as I travel to the US a lot and having a local number there helps (I will likely pay the 5 per year to retain it).
A couple of questions:
1) I am mostly in CA and would prefer a 408 area code - is there a choice of area code?
2) If the caller id shows my UK number when I call them when I am in the US, and they then store it on their phone then it seems to me that unless they edit their contacts that they will be calling my UK number - is that correct? ie. they will not see my local US number unless I explicitly give it to them ?
A couple of questions:
1) I am mostly in CA and would prefer a 408 area code - is there a choice of area code?
2) If the caller id shows my UK number when I call them when I am in the US, and they then store it on their phone then it seems to me that unless they edit their contacts that they will be calling my UK number - is that correct? ie. they will not see my local US number unless I explicitly give it to them ?
When I use the USA number in the USA I am on T Mobile and the receiving phone sees my USA number. To be safe I would txt your USA number to your friends and have them put that in their contacts.
Here is my post about my recent adventures with Toggle
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22001841-post153.html