eSIM thread
May 6, 2023 | 7:48 am
#316
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: KSUX
Posts: 919
Just got back from two weeks in Europe and thought I'd report back. Orange's Holiday package worked great for me in the UK, Poland and Germany as well as in Brussels for a few hours while transiting through Belgium and France. I got the 20GB package with a French phone number for €40 and only used about 5.5GB but all I used it for was maps, email, FB, light web browsing but hardly any streaming. Probably could have gotten away with the 8GB for €20 but the last thing I wanted was to be in the middle of traveling between cities and run out of data. One thing to note is to make sure you have data roaming for that line turned on or your data speeds will be horrible. Never did try calling home over cell data so I don't know if that actually worked right or not but calling over hotel wi-fi worked fine. I wish AT&T's international package wasn't $40/week or it'd have been perfect. I didn't bother registering the eSIM since I have no plans to return to Europe this year.
May 11, 2023 | 3:09 pm
#317
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,698
Us mobile new global plan. They have other plans too (eg $30-$60/month for unlimited data, may slow down after 20GB)
https://www.usmobile.com/global
$60 for 365 day , pick one of these options
1) 35GB usa/Canad/Australia/UK/HKG/NZ.
2) 17GB APAC.
3) 13GB global.
(See fineprint for countries in 2/3).
https://www.usmobile.com/global
$60 for 365 day , pick one of these options
1) 35GB usa/Canad/Australia/UK/HKG/NZ.
2) 17GB APAC.
3) 13GB global.
(See fineprint for countries in 2/3).
May 11, 2023 | 6:45 pm
#318
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: YVR ✈ SIN ✈ SYD
Programs: House MD, How I Met Your Mother...
Posts: 135
Us mobile new global plan. They have other plans too (eg $30-$60/month for unlimited data, may slow down after 20GB)
https://www.usmobile.com/global
$60 for 365 day , pick one of these options
1) 35GB usa/Canad/Australia/UK/HKG/NZ.
2) 17GB APAC.
3) 13GB global.
(See fineprint for countries in 2/3).
https://www.usmobile.com/global
$60 for 365 day , pick one of these options
1) 35GB usa/Canad/Australia/UK/HKG/NZ.
2) 17GB APAC.
3) 13GB global.
(See fineprint for countries in 2/3).
May 11, 2023 | 11:03 pm
#319
Join Date: May 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 731
Us mobile new global plan. They have other plans too (eg $30-$60/month for unlimited data, may slow down after 20GB)
https://www.usmobile.com/global
$60 for 365 day , pick one of these options
1) 35GB usa/Canad/Australia/UK/HKG/NZ.
2) 17GB APAC.
3) 13GB global.
(See fineprint for countries in 2/3).
https://www.usmobile.com/global
$60 for 365 day , pick one of these options
1) 35GB usa/Canad/Australia/UK/HKG/NZ.
2) 17GB APAC.
3) 13GB global.
(See fineprint for countries in 2/3).
These are 3HK's esim plans that they sell for $268HKD (~$34). The quickest giveaway is that HK is included in their USA & Canada plan.
https://www.three.com.hk/prepaid/DIY/en/offer/travel
May 12, 2023 | 4:23 am
#320
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MEX
Posts: 1,152
Unless this includes a US number, which I can find no mention of on their website, these prices are wildly inflated
These are 3HK's esim plans that they sell for $268HKD (~$34). The quickest giveaway is that HK is included in their USA & Canada plan.
https://www.three.com.hk/prepaid/DIY/en/offer/travel
These are 3HK's esim plans that they sell for $268HKD (~$34). The quickest giveaway is that HK is included in their USA & Canada plan.
https://www.three.com.hk/prepaid/DIY/en/offer/travel
3HK's "global" plan is a pretty good deal as long as you're not going places it doesn't cover (ask me how useful it was when I lived in the Caribbean). Flexiroam's plans cover more places and aren't a bad deal if you can catch one of the many 70% off sales, but 3HK's plans are always the same price.
May 12, 2023 | 6:12 am
#321
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,698
Unless this includes a US number, which I can find no mention of on their website, these prices are wildly inflated
These are 3HK's esim plans that they sell for $268HKD (~$34). The quickest giveaway is that HK is included in their USA & Canada plan.
https://www.three.com.hk/prepaid/DIY/en/offer/travel
These are 3HK's esim plans that they sell for $268HKD (~$34). The quickest giveaway is that HK is included in their USA & Canada plan.
https://www.three.com.hk/prepaid/DIY/en/offer/travel
May 12, 2023 | 7:51 am
#322
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 2,226
I will try this esim on my next trip to Europe. All the countries I will be visiting are listed. 27 for a UK number and unlimited data which will work with the iPhone IMS settings.
https://esim.net/travel/super
https://esim.net/travel/super
May 14, 2023 | 2:27 am
#324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 11,700
Yeah, those rather odd data limits are a dead giveaway. 3HK will sell you the eSIM directly and they take credit cards from anywhere, so no point in paying US Mobile to be your middleman. These are definitely data-only.
3HK's "global" plan is a pretty good deal as long as you're not going places it doesn't cover (ask me how useful it was when I lived in the Caribbean). Flexiroam's plans cover more places and aren't a bad deal if you can catch one of the many 70% off sales, but 3HK's plans are always the same price.
3HK's "global" plan is a pretty good deal as long as you're not going places it doesn't cover (ask me how useful it was when I lived in the Caribbean). Flexiroam's plans cover more places and aren't a bad deal if you can catch one of the many 70% off sales, but 3HK's plans are always the same price.
Is Tethering an issue in places like US, Canada and Mainland China? (Term says: 6. Tethering availability depends on network operators in the destinations. 3HK does not restrict the use of tethering with Data Roaming Day Pass.)
In Mainland China, I guess it works like any foreign roaming and you can bypass the Great Firewall?
Thanks.
Last edited by username; May 14, 2023 at 2:43 pm
May 14, 2023 | 6:36 am
#325
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: YVR ✈ SIN ✈ SYD
Programs: House MD, How I Met Your Mother...
Posts: 135
I will try this esim on my next trip to Europe. All the countries I will be visiting are listed. 27 for a UK number and unlimited data which will work with the iPhone IMS settings.
https://esim.net/travel/super
https://esim.net/travel/super
May 14, 2023 | 8:06 am
#326
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MEX
Posts: 1,152
I have been looking at Flexiroam's prices but it seems 3UK is sufficient for the places I plan to visit. It seems Hutchinson has a much longer history than Flexiroam...
Is Tethering an issue in places like US, Canada and Mainland China? (Term says: 6. Tethering availability depends on network operators in the destinations. 3HK does not restrict the use of tethering with Data Roaming Day Pass.)
In Mainland China, I guess it works like any foreign roaming and you can bypass the Great Firewall?
Is Tethering an issue in places like US, Canada and Mainland China? (Term says: 6. Tethering availability depends on network operators in the destinations. 3HK does not restrict the use of tethering with Data Roaming Day Pass.)
In Mainland China, I guess it works like any foreign roaming and you can bypass the Great Firewall?
I can't speak for China, but I've never had any problem tethering in the U.S., Canada, India or Europe with 3HK (or 3UK for that matter).
May 14, 2023 | 2:04 pm
#327
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 11,700
3/Hutchison is a real mobile provider; Flexiroam is an MVNO bundling service from who-knows-where. If you don't need the additional countries Flexiroam covers, there's not really any reason to use them. 3HK has been super reliable for me everywhere but India, where it works great in Delhi and less great elsewhere. In the U.S. you get T-Mobile and AT&T, which is really nice.
I can't speak for China, but I've never had any problem tethering in the U.S., Canada, India or Europe with 3HK (or 3UK for that matter).
I can't speak for China, but I've never had any problem tethering in the U.S., Canada, India or Europe with 3HK (or 3UK for that matter).
I am a little confused on the extension terms. It says "Each time you recharge your card [HKD] $20 or above, its validity will be reset that the relevant day of extension according to the recharge value to retain the remaining balance and mobile number, or else they will be fortified." Does this apply to the 365 day passes? Does the additional recharge money buy anything?
I am trying to not have a monthly plan in the US and I think these data plans make sense for me - about US$35 for 30+5 GB for a year! Now I just have to find a US voice / text service that works over the mobile phone. My Vonage bill is ridiculously high because of all the taxes and fees - I have never looked into Google Voice.
Last edited by username; May 14, 2023 at 2:52 pm
May 14, 2023 | 5:00 pm
#328
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 2,226
Porting from Vonage to Google Voice requires a port to a mobile carrier then to Google Voice. Porting from Vonage was a pain for our old home number. I ported to the discontinued $3 T Mobile plan then to GV for $20. No charge from GV to port out.
May 16, 2023 | 3:30 am
#329
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
Airalo has gotten significantly worse for me this quarter, worse than Airalo has ever been. Using Airalo eSIMs in Europe in particular seem to be subject to more recurring and extreme data throttling and even complete connectivity disruptions for multiple days this year than during any prior period of my using them. Even after my earlier report this month of an improvement, the problems have been recurring.
May 16, 2023 | 6:22 am
#330
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: DCA
Posts: 480
I'm leaving for a 2 week trip to Europe next week and will be primarily in the UK, Germany and Poland. I currently have an iPhone 13 Pro Max with my AT&T service on a physical SIM and plan on using Orange's 20GB Europe Holiday plan while traveling on an eSIM. I'll be starting and ending my trip in London if it matters. That said I have a couple questions.
1. Can/should I install the eSIM before departing the US or would I be better off just installing and activating it once in London? From their FAQ it looks like I can install it before leaving ad once it recognizes a European carrier it will automatically activate. I just don't want to do something that could cause it to activate in the US because I'll need all 14 days the plans offer as my flight home will be on day 14. I'd like to have it installed and working before leaving LHR but in a worst case scenario if I could wait until I get to my hotel. I've stayed there several times and know how to get there.
2. I've seen it mentioned several times that you can enable wifi calling, turn off roaming on your US SIM and use the data from the local SIM to make and receive calls to/from US numbers as if you were in wifi. Is that all there really is to it? I have a Google Voice number that I know I can use over cell data to make and receive calls and texts to the US if need be but I'd rather just be able to use my existing US number since that's what all my friends and family already have.
I'm sure I'm over thinking things as usual but thought I'd ask before doing something potentially stupid.
1. Can/should I install the eSIM before departing the US or would I be better off just installing and activating it once in London? From their FAQ it looks like I can install it before leaving ad once it recognizes a European carrier it will automatically activate. I just don't want to do something that could cause it to activate in the US because I'll need all 14 days the plans offer as my flight home will be on day 14. I'd like to have it installed and working before leaving LHR but in a worst case scenario if I could wait until I get to my hotel. I've stayed there several times and know how to get there.
2. I've seen it mentioned several times that you can enable wifi calling, turn off roaming on your US SIM and use the data from the local SIM to make and receive calls to/from US numbers as if you were in wifi. Is that all there really is to it? I have a Google Voice number that I know I can use over cell data to make and receive calls and texts to the US if need be but I'd rather just be able to use my existing US number since that's what all my friends and family already have.
I'm sure I'm over thinking things as usual but thought I'd ask before doing something potentially stupid.