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Old May 16, 2024 | 12:30 pm
  #781  
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I've been a Airalo user for a couple years and it works great. I generally go with a Global SIM as I often travel UK and around Europe as well.

I have VZW on my iPad as my primary eSim when in the states, there have been occasions where there is no coverage. Is there any way to specify what carrier Airalo would use?

I'd have no problem buying a Global Airalo eSim for use in the US as well, but can I specify the carrier? Likely AT&T?


NVM: They use AT&T in the US... so I'm sorted.

Last edited by Igene; May 16, 2024 at 12:39 pm
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Old May 31, 2024 | 10:23 am
  #782  
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Besides Airalo, are there any eSIM data-only providers that are known to run on Verizon towers? Have AT&T primary, and looking to fill in coverage gaps.

Also, with iPhones cellular data switching feature, Apple makes it sound like it can use both lines depending on coverage. In practice, Ive found it seems to hold on to the primary data connection far longer than it should... I dont know if that really means it will switch only when the primary connection has zero signal, instead of very weak signal, but that seems to be the case. Anyone else experiment with this? Id love for the phone to more aggressively switch connections if I have 1 bar and slow speeds on the primary line, and full signal on the secondary line, dual SIMs would be a lot more useful if it switched automatically in that circumstance.
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Old May 31, 2024 | 11:51 am
  #783  
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Originally Posted by javabytes
Besides Airalo, are there any eSIM data-only providers that are known to run on Verizon towers? Have AT&T primary, and looking to fill in coverage gaps.

Also, with iPhones cellular data switching feature, Apple makes it sound like it can use both lines depending on coverage. In practice, Ive found it seems to hold on to the primary data connection far longer than it should... I dont know if that really means it will switch only when the primary connection has zero signal, instead of very weak signal, but that seems to be the case. Anyone else experiment with this? Id love for the phone to more aggressively switch connections if I have 1 bar and slow speeds on the primary line, and full signal on the secondary line, dual SIMs would be a lot more useful if it switched automatically in that circumstance.
Keepgo uses AT&T, Verizon, and T-mobile, you can switch carriers in the phone settings. The data never expires if you top up with $3 every year, so if you are looking for backup but not regular usage they are a great deal. They have an ongoing free data offer with signup, but their topup prices are on the high side.
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Old May 31, 2024 | 2:19 pm
  #784  
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Originally Posted by javabytes
Also, with iPhones cellular data switching feature, Apple makes it sound like it can use both lines depending on coverage. In practice, Ive found it seems to hold on to the primary data connection far longer than it should... I dont know if that really means it will switch only when the primary connection has zero signal, instead of very weak signal, but that seems to be the case. Anyone else experiment with this? Id love for the phone to more aggressively switch connections if I have 1 bar and slow speeds on the primary line, and full signal on the secondary line, dual SIMs would be a lot more useful if it switched automatically in that circumstance.
My default setup in Europe is two SIMs from different providers, based on the same idea like yours. Unfortunately I encounter the same, data switching is only switching when there is no data connection at all on one of the lines. Not totally useless but could be made much more useful.
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Old May 31, 2024 | 7:59 pm
  #785  
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Can you force it to switch to a specific SIM for the data manually?

Because if one of your SIMs is for your US carrier, you wouldn't necessarily want to data roam on it, especially if you got a local SIM in order to avoid having to roam.
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Old Jun 1, 2024 | 2:24 am
  #786  
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Originally Posted by frappant
Can you force it to switch to a specific SIM for the data manually?
Yes of course, in the iPhone Settings you can choose which SIM to use for voice and which for data. The automatic data switching can be turned off too, it is actually turned off by default.
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Old Jun 1, 2024 | 5:38 am
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Originally Posted by javabytes
Besides Airalo, are there any eSIM data-only providers that are known to run on Verizon towers? Have AT&T primary, and looking to fill in coverage gaps..
How much data a month and how often (yearly)?


Redbullmobile works on TMobile/Verizon/att. There should be a code for free 1GB/365 day, otherwise it's 4€/GB/month, proxy via Europe.

https://esim.redbullmobile.com/

This one here says it's TMobile/Verizon/att too, $1.53/GB 7 days or various buckets for 30/90 days under $1.5/GB . Haven't had a chance to try it yet. Might be worth it over keepgo
https://www.ezsim.com/USA-esim-tmobi...rizon?p=esimdb
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Old Jun 1, 2024 | 9:23 am
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Originally Posted by frappant
Can you force it to switch to a specific SIM for the data manually?

Because if one of your SIMs is for your US carrier, you wouldn't necessarily want to data roam on it, especially if you got a local SIM in order to avoid having to roam.

yes, you can specify the esim for data. I set my domestic esim to use WiFi calling over cellular data using the local esim. With iPhones XR and newer, this is frequently called IMS which has been discussed in several threads in this forum.
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Old Jun 6, 2024 | 7:32 pm
  #789  
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If you have a US Citibank card, check the merchant offers for a 6% back on Airalo esims
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Old Jun 8, 2024 | 6:21 pm
  #790  
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Originally Posted by BigFlyer
Keepgo uses AT&T, Verizon, and T-mobile, you can switch carriers in the phone settings. The data never expires if you top up with $3 every year, so if you are looking for backup but not regular usage they are a great deal. They have an ongoing free data offer with signup, but their topup prices are on the high side.
Thanks! Yeah a bit steep per gigabyte, but for my infrequent usage use case, probably works out cheaper than constantly buying more eSIMs at cheaper per-GB prices that have shorter expirations.

Originally Posted by CheckInPeach
My default setup in Europe is two SIMs from different providers, based on the same idea like yours. Unfortunately I encounter the same, data switching is only switching when there is no data connection at all on one of the lines. Not totally useless but could be made much more useful.
Im a bit disappointed honestly, the help text makes it sound more intelligent. If they can figure out how to seamlessly hand off data and voice when you leave your house and move from WiFi calling to cellular towers, it seems like they should be able to do better here.

Originally Posted by paperwastage
How much data a month and how often (yearly)?


Redbullmobile works on TMobile/Verizon/att. There should be a code for free 1GB/365 day, otherwise it's 4/GB/month, proxy via Europe.

https://esim.redbullmobile.com/

This one here says it's TMobile/Verizon/att too, $1.53/GB 7 days or various buckets for 30/90 days under $1.5/GB . Haven't had a chance to try it yet. Might be worth it over keepgo
https://www.ezsim.com/USA-esim-tmobi...rizon?p=esimdb
Thanks! Hard to beat free. Ill report back on ezsim if I buy one. My needs for this SIM are minimal - literally only a rescue SIM when my AT&T line has very poor coverage or speeds.
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Old Jun 20, 2024 | 4:28 am
  #791  
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Have a trip coming up.

One of the few recognized brands, not like these MVNOs which have sprung
up all over the place.

Not the cheapest.

https://travel.orange.com/en/buy-a-s...e/orhldeur50gb

100 GB for 28 days for €50. Normally it’s 50GB but they doubled the data from June to early October.

Last edited by frappant; Jun 20, 2024 at 4:37 am
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Old Jun 21, 2024 | 5:55 am
  #792  
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Originally Posted by javabytes
Thanks! Yeah a bit steep per gigabyte, but for my infrequent usage use case, probably works out cheaper than constantly buying more eSIMs at cheaper per-GB prices that have shorter expirations.



Im a bit disappointed honestly, the help text makes it sound more intelligent. If they can figure out how to seamlessly hand off data and voice when you leave your house and move from WiFi calling to cellular towers, it seems like they should be able to do better here.



Thanks! Hard to beat free. Ill report back on ezsim if I buy one. My needs for this SIM are minimal - literally only a rescue SIM when my AT&T line has very poor coverage or speeds.
Someone reported Verizon didn't work (att did), goes through Warsaw.

https://www.howardforums.com/threads...#post-17277405
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Old Jul 3, 2024 | 5:56 am
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Originally Posted by javabytes
.



Thanks! Hard to beat free. I’ll report back on ezsim if I buy one. My needs for this SIM are minimal - literally only a rescue SIM when my AT&T line has very poor coverage or speeds.

Originally Posted by paperwastage
Someone reported Verizon didn't work (att did), goes through Warsaw.

https://www.howardforums.com/threads...#post-17277405
Ezsim Verizon worked for me. even got access to 5GUW (NSA n261/n77) . More info

Att (5g NSA n77), TMobile (5g NSA n41/n71/n261, but no access to 5G SA)

https://www.howardforums.com/threads.../post-17278469.


If you just want free, dent gives away free data on TMobile (daily raffle or watch ad, get 10-50MB free that expires in 7 days). Firsty esim has slow 128kbps data , don't recall what network

Last edited by paperwastage; Jul 3, 2024 at 6:57 am
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Old Jul 4, 2024 | 11:10 pm
  #794  
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Was in Singapore last week. Singapore has always been great for pre-paid SIMs for travelers (going back 10+ years, well before eSIMs were a thing), but their legal requirements meant that you generally had to go to one of the telco's stores and show a passport to pick them up. Whilst you could also do this at the airport, the cheaper deals were generally not available there.

However Singtel now has a tourist eSIM offering that gets around all of that. Purchase in advance (cheapest is S$12 for 14 days, 100GB including some local and international calls) and install their app so you're ready. Then when you land you just connect to Wifi at the airport, enable location so they know you're in country, take a photo of your passport and yourself, and then it'll install the eSIM.

Not quite as quick/easy (or as cheap, if you don't plan to use much data) as Airalo and friends, but IMHO worth it to get local data via a 1st rate telco rather than roaming like you'll often get with an eSIM.
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Old Jul 4, 2024 | 11:38 pm
  #795  
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Not as cheap as Airalo?

Which Airalo eSIM give you 100 GB for 12 SGD?
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