Cheap global data, physical/eSim ?
Nov 12, 2019 | 7:56 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 726
I just visited the Airalo website and see that they are now offering a new esim for worldwide coverage. It's called Sim4Crew and provides 20Gb for 90 days of service in various locations for $40. It seems to come with a +44 phone number (UK based) but the fees and how they are charged against the account are not described. This compares favorably with most roaming data plans from US carriers like T-Mobile, who charges $50 for 15Gb, valid for 30 days. It could be interesting for those who spend months at a time on the road. I have sent a few questions to them and will report any significant features as they are revealed.
Nov 28, 2019 | 5:38 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: NEXUS/GE/JPNTTP/APEC/CREW
Posts: 33
As someone who is really only concerned with High Speed Data overseas and travel frequently this is what I do.
In my case, my SO and I share one Fi account via having an extra free Data Only sim that allows us to share the 15GB and you can order once you have activated the primary SIM. We both have our primary T-Mobile numbers activated on our iPhone eSIMS, and the Google Fi SIM in the physical slot. While stateside we keep the Google Fi service paused, which incurs a positive bill credit of $0.66/day. And when we go overseas we unpause and use data as needed.
And since the devices are DSDS we can keep iMessage and our normal numbers as needed, and use Digits over data to make calls while not on Wi-Fi. If we need to make a call within the country I eat the cost as its still overall cheaper.
Rather than pay $100 for the both of us regardless if we travel that month (T-Mobile Global Plus) I pay minimum $20 (not including the $0.66 daily credit for line pause) extra for the two of us, and if we go through all 15GB overseas. Than that month alone were only responsible for $80 in service (again not including the time paused credit.
Of course this is my use situation and everyone is different, if youre needing to make calls overseas often than another solution should be looked into.
In my case, my SO and I share one Fi account via having an extra free Data Only sim that allows us to share the 15GB and you can order once you have activated the primary SIM. We both have our primary T-Mobile numbers activated on our iPhone eSIMS, and the Google Fi SIM in the physical slot. While stateside we keep the Google Fi service paused, which incurs a positive bill credit of $0.66/day. And when we go overseas we unpause and use data as needed.
And since the devices are DSDS we can keep iMessage and our normal numbers as needed, and use Digits over data to make calls while not on Wi-Fi. If we need to make a call within the country I eat the cost as its still overall cheaper.
Rather than pay $100 for the both of us regardless if we travel that month (T-Mobile Global Plus) I pay minimum $20 (not including the $0.66 daily credit for line pause) extra for the two of us, and if we go through all 15GB overseas. Than that month alone were only responsible for $80 in service (again not including the time paused credit.
Of course this is my use situation and everyone is different, if youre needing to make calls overseas often than another solution should be looked into.
Nov 28, 2019 | 8:10 am
#18
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 726
That's an interesting strategy. I'm unclear what your monthly charges are when you are not travelling. Your post seems to say it's $20, but then you mention a $.66 a day credit, which would seem to offset the $20. So if you pause your account while stateside, what's the charge to warehouse the account? I looked at the Fi website, but it wasn't particularly clear about the account pause.
Nov 28, 2019 | 11:42 am
#19
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
I went in for the Airalo SIM4Crew for 20GB of data allotment to be used within 90 days across a bunch of countries. I'll easily get my $40 out of the eSIM. I have already used it in two countries since purchasing it today and it worked fine.
I just hope that the number of countries where eSIMs are available -- wherever sourced -- increases above the current set of countries/operators.
I just hope that the number of countries where eSIMs are available -- wherever sourced -- increases above the current set of countries/operators.
Last edited by GUWonder; Nov 28, 2019 at 11:57 am
Nov 28, 2019 | 12:02 pm
#20
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
I just visited the Airalo website and see that they are now offering a new esim for worldwide coverage. It's called Sim4Crew and provides 20Gb for 90 days of service in various locations for $40. It seems to come with a +44 phone number (UK based) but the fees and how they are charged against the account are not described.
Since it's a prepaid SIM for a total of 20GB data to be used across one or more of the listed countries of validity (i.e., Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine), what kind of fees and structures for fee charging do you foresee taking place while using the initial $40 for the 20GB of data?
I would expect that there is no additional fee/charges against the account applicable unless and until the 20GB data allowance is used up, as it's a prepaid account for a data-only eSIM.
Nov 29, 2019 | 10:53 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 726
I am curious about what do you mean about the fees and how they are charged against the account?
Since it's a prepaid SIM for a total of 20GB data to be used across one or more of the listed countries of validity (i.e., Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine), what kind of fees and structures for fee charging do you foresee taking place while using the initial $40 for the 20GB of data?
I would expect that there is no additional fee/charges against the account applicable unless and until the 20GB data allowance is used up, as it's a prepaid account for a data-only eSIM.
Since it's a prepaid SIM for a total of 20GB data to be used across one or more of the listed countries of validity (i.e., Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine), what kind of fees and structures for fee charging do you foresee taking place while using the initial $40 for the 20GB of data?
I would expect that there is no additional fee/charges against the account applicable unless and until the 20GB data allowance is used up, as it's a prepaid account for a data-only eSIM.
Dec 1, 2019 | 10:24 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 882
That's an interesting strategy. I'm unclear what your monthly charges are when you are not travelling. Your post seems to say it's $20, but then you mention a $.66 a day credit, which would seem to offset the $20. So if you pause your account while stateside, what's the charge to warehouse the account? I looked at the Fi website, but it wasn't particularly clear about the account pause.
"In the Flexible plan, depending on when you paused your service, you won't be charged or you'll get partial credit for the days when your service was paused.
In the Unlimited plan, you can choose to pause at any time, but you will be charged through the end of your billing cycle. When you unpause, you will be charged for the remaining days in the cycle, regardless of whether you re-pause before that cycle ends. When you temporarily pause your Fi Unlimited service, your Google One benefits will continue to be active."
according this if you're on flexible plan, will get pro-rated $20 basic monthly fee back, so 0.66/day credit
if it's on unlimited plan, no credit back for pro-rated.
Dec 16, 2019 | 8:54 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,699
[MENTION=26902]richarddd[/MENTION]
Did a europe trip with the 3UK sim (15GB for 365 days for USD$38)
1) works as expected, across Europe. No complaints about speed
2) data is proxies back to UK (as expected)
3) haven't seen a way to refill
4) the UK adult content filter is enabled,haven't seen an easy way to disable it
5) works in my phone, hotspot too after I added dun to apn, incoming calls&text are actually free/non-chargable even when roaming. Able to activate it in USA and use on at&t/TMobile before stepping foot in UK
Hasn't been a month yet, will see if sim still works (some people complain that their sin only worked for 1 month)
Did a europe trip with the 3UK sim (15GB for 365 days for USD$38)
1) works as expected, across Europe. No complaints about speed
2) data is proxies back to UK (as expected)
3) haven't seen a way to refill
4) the UK adult content filter is enabled,haven't seen an easy way to disable it
5) works in my phone, hotspot too after I added dun to apn, incoming calls&text are actually free/non-chargable even when roaming. Able to activate it in USA and use on at&t/TMobile before stepping foot in UK
Hasn't been a month yet, will see if sim still works (some people complain that their sin only worked for 1 month)
Last edited by paperwastage; Dec 16, 2019 at 8:59 am
Dec 16, 2019 | 9:34 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PDX
Posts: 908
I've had 3 UK for a year, and it still works. Occasionally, I even use it for data inside the US if I run out of my 3Gb on Mint Mobile. They have a daily data add-on that gives you 120 Mb / day for only 0.50. Hard to beat that. The speed can be very fast on AT&T I recently clocked 59Mbps near Portland. This add-on is available in the US because it's "GO Roam" destination. Surprisingly, Canada is not. Go figure...
Dec 17, 2019 | 3:20 am
#25
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: TH
Posts: 13
Alright, how about regional sim(EU, Asia etc) that has decent expiry ? A lot of them expire after 1 week or 1 month, or don't roll over
Basically, I don't mind (pre)paying for a larger bucket of data that can be used over multiple trips in a year, within a decent coverage of countries
Otherwise, I'll need to buy a separate bucket of data per trip (and data expires), making the price/GB a little higher
Basically, I don't mind (pre)paying for a larger bucket of data that can be used over multiple trips in a year, within a decent coverage of countries
Otherwise, I'll need to buy a separate bucket of data per trip (and data expires), making the price/GB a little higher
Anyway, with an iPhone or Pixel you have multiple eSIM profiles, so just wack a few different ones in there, switch around as needed.
Dec 17, 2019 | 5:15 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,699
People on the other esim thread say that esims are one time use only. Once you switch to another esim, you lose the first one (cannot switch back)
Dec 17, 2019 | 6:01 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 726
You can switch back and forth between active esims by merely switching one off and another on. I do it nearly daily on my Pro Max and while testing Airalo. Where the confusion may arise is if a prepaid esim expires and has no option to renew or add credits. i imagine that is something that the issuing agent has control over when they sell a plan. Also, if you delete an esim they cannot be reused, even from a US carrier like Verizon or AT&T from what I've heard. You'll need to start over with that setup.
Dec 17, 2019 | 8:19 am
#28
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: TH
Posts: 13
I have read IPhone supports as many as 10 sim profiles (one active at a time) meaning you could have a portfolio of 10 eSIMs you switch between on a single device.