Ok, sorry for making you spend your time to hunt for links. I am sure I used international call forwarding when I had a US SIM, but I dont remember which provider I was using. I regularly forward my Canadian and Russian SIM cards to international numbers. I guess it is buyer beware for US mobile consumers.

Just an update:

KnowRoaming has delayed delivery beyond January, which was an already delayed shipping date, with no information given as to the reason or the cause of the delay. They offered refunds, but nothing else, and haven't returned my facebook messages, tweets, or emails to their CEO. The email we received is quoted below:

At this point it's worth noting that they have given the sticker to local bloggers and DJs who have pictures of their accounts showing use, so the product is obviously working, they just are not shipping for an unknown reason.

Further update:

After emailing all the contacts there I could muster through LinkedIn, KnowRoaming has cancelled my order and still ignores the requests from other customers for a shipping or status update, email I got below:

They have now blocked my email from even sending them a message asking for clarification, they all get returned as undeliverable. At this point, you gotta wonder what happens if you're stranded over seas and they decide you aren't worthy of being a customer anymore....

Have you seen any reports of anyone actually roaming with it - as opposed to using it in their home country?

I know Engadget is now using it for a review, and apparently it has issues with Verizon SIM cards, I've actually received more information from the Writer at Engadget than from KnowRoaming itself.

You don't really use it in your home country, since it's designed to stay dormant until you roam. The bigger issue now is the disdain that KnowRoaming has treated several of their customers with. I kind of hope they end up going under and someone buys their idea who can run the company better.

I've been doing some research and came across Bibitel tonight, (www.bibitel.com) and it seems they have the same idea, and the product is already on the market.

It seems KnowRoaming has now launched. Card is US$30 (and US$5 shipping to HK) and upon activation you get US$15 credit. Rates are US$8 per day for data roaming (it seems this is a discounted rate with US$12 being their regular rate). 55 countries for data roaming.

This is clearly much more expensive than getting a local sim card, but I guess there is the convenience factor, especially if you are going somewhere for a weekend. I know in the US you have the likes of TMO with some very competitive roaming rates, but in HK our carriers are charging anywhere between US$12 to 24 a day for daily data roaming (and this is based on HK time, not time of your destination).

http://www.knowroaming.com/

Am tempted to get it to try out. I also do note that credit is valid for 15 months.

Depends. If you're spending 2-3 days in each of 2-3 countries, $8/day (is that unlimited?) is probably a bit cheaper than buying local SIM cards.

I think the most I have spent on a local sim card was about US$15, so even if you are away for a weekend, local sim card would still work out cheaper (just). But then there is the obvious hassle factor.

I think that's at the low end. The 1 GB SIM card I bought in Dubai earlier this week cost me $47.65. Sadly, looks like KnowRoaming doesn't operate here. I have never found a so-called global SIM that's really global.

Only thing I can think that this would be good for calls in countries where your planning to be only a day or 2 in. Other than that between local sims and toggle I don't see any benefit for this.

their site says this for Verizon..

Oh well.

I ordered one and just got it today. Will use it when I go all over Europe in December. Excited to try it out.

Online chat with Andrew, Customer Support:

Andrew
Hi! thanks for reaching out. we are currently in beta testing of our product with Verizon and hope to launch it within the next few months.

Just got a email to save 30% off. That would mean it would cost me $21 and I would get $15 in credit. Not too bad.