eSims, what is your experience.

[Colin 2905]

Nothing about the Galaxy S23 series being supported - anyone tried it with this model?

I don't have one, but have you tried installing the Eskimo app? It'll soon tell you if it's supported or not.

 

[serfty]

Nothing about the Galaxy S23 series being supported - anyone tried it with this model?

It would surprise me if it didn't, but I can't really say.

I see the compatibility list was last updated "10th March 2023". The S23 was released just three weeks later on Feb 17th 2023, so maybe it slipped through the cracks.

 

[Lat34]

Nothing about the Galaxy S23 series being supported - anyone tried it with this model?

I just installed the app today and Samsung supported devices definitely includes S23, 23+ and S23 Ultra toegether with Z Fold 2/3/4 & Z Flip 3/4.
Supported devices Last updated: 10 March 2023

 

[moa999]

Anyone use bnesim.com before?
Some very good low data use plans for Europe.

 

[Scarlett]

Maybe going against the current trend but having been a couple of nights in France, Cabo Verde, Andorra and now in Senegal, I never got around to activating Airalo. Have coped with nearly universal wifi and downloaded Google maps for offline navigation.
Although I’ve used Flexiroam in the past, Airalo packets (a couple of) were going to be much cheaper this trip. Just haven’t really needed it.

 

[SYD]

Maybe going against the current trend but having been a couple of nights in France, Cabo Verde, Andorra and now in Senegal, I never got around to activating Airalo. Have coped with nearly universal wifi and downloaded Google maps for offline navigation.
Although I’ve used Flexiroam in the past, Airalo packets (a couple of) were going to be much cheaper this trip. Just haven’t really needed it.

That was the beauty of the Optus plan. 4GB per month was easy to manage to fill in the gaps when desirable.

 

[Colin 2905]

I've just received another useless reply from Airalo.....

Hi Colin,

Thank you for your message.

Please note that the speeds and latency on a roaming platform will differ from that of a local SIM card from that region.

Speed is dependent on several factors such as coverage, congestion or prioritization of the local carrier.

This means that there might not be good coverage in your current location or that there might be congestion due to a high number of connection attempts at a given time.

Can you please try to restart your device and then turn off 4G/LTE for 3 minutes before enabling it again and see if that makes any difference in speed?

You may set the device to 3G only temporarily and see if that would help with the stability of the network. If your eSIM only supports 3G, you may keep the device set to 3G.

Please let us know how you go and do not hesitate to reach out if you need any more help.

Warm Regards,
Airalo Support

My question to them was.....

Hi,

What is the minimum data session for an Airalo eSIM? eg; 1KB, 10KB, 100KB, 1MB, 10MB, something else? We're trying to understand why the data usage reported by Airalo is a LOT higher than what the phone is reporting. If it makes any difference, it's a Guay Mobile data eSIM in Spain. I had a look on your web site, and the wider Internet, but couldn't find any mention of how data is counted.

Thanks,
Colin

Maybe they should be in politics.

EDIT: They were pretty quick with this reply, but it still doesn't answer the question....

Hi Colin,

Thank you for getting back.

We appreciate your clarification.

Please kindly note that the data consumption that you are seeing on the Airalo app and the device won't match as the usage from the app is real-time consumption whilst the one on your device settings is often times delayed.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or suggestions you wish to share.

Warm Regards,

Airalo Support

I give up.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I've just received another useless reply from Airalo.....



My question to them was.....



Maybe they should be in politics.

EDIT: They were pretty quick with this reply, but it still doesn't answer the question....



I give up.

Youu have to appreciate that most support these days is done by ChatGPT or AI...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For SYD, your Optus plan is the post paid one, isn't it?
Maybe that is why it works.
Twice now on an Optus X delight aka ZTE, it didnt want to link to any thing ie phone companies in NZ.
I had turned data on, had roaming on, had made sure flight mode was off, turned phone off, and then on again.
X always appeared, and emergency calls only showed up.
Slight thing is that after a trip, there is left over data.
Some esim companies ,(that are not linked to your home mobile companies), they sell in 2/3 gb blockes, good for long trips, nit so good for shorter one off trips.
Harder to get 1 gb to start with, esp Simsdirect one.

 

[SYD]

I've just received another useless reply from Airalo.....



My question to them was.....



Maybe they should be in politics.

EDIT: They were pretty quick with this reply, but it still doesn't answer the question....



I give up.

I received a similar genetic response to my complaint about rapid data usage…

After Optus finishes, I might give them one more go. If their reported usage and phone stats differ wildly then that’ll be the 2nd and last time.

 

[pks]

Something to note for Telstra users, not sure if this is specific to eSIM or some other change.
I have a Telstra eSIM and had Data Roaming set to off on my iPhone however still got pinged $10 on my first day in the UK.

I found through the MyTelstra app there was a
default setting for ‘International Data Roaming Pack’ set to Yes!! This also needed to be set to No to avoid any Telstra charges whilst still able to receive SMS messages.

 

[exceladdict]

Something to note for Telstra users, not sure if this is specific to eSIM or some other change.
I have a Telstra eSIM and had Data Roaming set to off on my iPhone however still got pinged $10 on my first day in the UK.

I found through the MyTelstra app there was a
default setting for ‘International Data Roaming Pack’ set to Yes!! This also needed to be set to No to avoid any Telstra charges whilst still able to receive SMS messages.

I was charged a fraction of a cent for data roaming while in the EU a few months back (had just turned on my roaming to get some OTPs).
Data roaming was off on my handset, also an esim. Fortunately I'd turned off the $10 daily pass feature.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

At least with Telstra post paid, even if you get pinged $10, at least you have the option of that, ie, at the least having your Aust home phone number able to be used, either for OTP or for contacting ground service providers who you have ordered service from, ie, booked a ground transfer from the airport at your international airport of arrival to your hotel, esp if the bus or the shuttle hasn't turned up.
On Telstra prepaid, I had added roaming prepaid credit, but no bars, emergency calls only

 

[Flashback]

It would surprise me if it didn't, but I can't really say.

I see the compatibility list was last updated "10th March 2023". The S23 was released just three weeks later on Feb 17th 2023, so maybe it slipped through the cracks.

I might try this today on my S23+, just trying to work out first if there are any promos for my first use of Airolo or whether I just pay retail, its only $7 USD for 2gb over 15 days for Bosnia & Herzegovina anyway.

Ignore that actually, the query on the S23 was regarding Eskimo.

I understand there is $3 off by using a referral code for Airolo?

 

[Flashback]

I might try this today on my S23+, just trying to work out first if there are any promos for my first use of Airolo or whether I just pay retail, its only $7 USD for 2gb over 15 days for Bosnia & Herzegovina anyway.

Ignore that actually, the query on the S23 was regarding Eskimo.

I understand there is $3 off by using a referral code for Airolo?

If someone wants to PM me their code then I can sign up.

 

[SYD]

I think I just followed basic instructions from 28deg website which probably did involve downloading the Flexiroam app as the primary step. I recall it was quite a simple process from there: something like enter card number to check validity (my 28 deg was valid - it rejected another Mastercard number I tried…).

Can’t remember whether there was an issue of selecting start date for the 15 days or it started during that registration process. I think to be safe I activated it in the Istanbul lounge enroute to France.

The app ‘home’ page looks like this and it does say Complimentary starter pack there in the middle.
View attachment 333933

Has anyone used the complimentary 3GB / 15d eSIM option recently?

The Flexiroam Help page says you can activate it later (up to 6 mths) but when I click through to select the eSIM starter pack it shows “Instant activation”. It’s not clear if that’s just saying you’ll be good to go immediately (once you get the confirmation email) or if the 15d clock starts ticking immediately?

 

[SYD]

Has anyone used the complimentary 3GB / 15d eSIM option recently?

The Flexiroam Help page says you can activate it later (up to 6 mths) but when I click through to select the eSIM starter pack it shows “Instant activation”. It’s not clear if that’s just saying you’ll be good to go immediately (once you get the confirmation email) or if the 15d clock starts ticking immediately?

Answering my own question, the comp 28° MC Global plan can indeed be activated within a six month window after ordering it.

Currently visiting Canada and USA and routinely seeing 5G but also a lot of LTE.

In a bit of a “Travel mistake” moment, I’ve only come close to half the data used:
a) Vancouver has free and fast wifi EVERYWHERE!
b) three days in Yellowstone with ZERO mobile coverage…

As an aside, I had a weird situation where the Flexiroam app showed my plan “Paused” and then later complete (zero data balance) - even though only a few days in and about 400 MB of 3GB used. However, I could still connect and use data…!

 

[RooFlyer]

Answering my own question, the comp 28° MC Global plan can indeed be activated within a six month window after ordering it.

Downloaded, ready to start next Monday when I fly away. TBH I thought I had activated it (but I have it turned off on the iPhone controls).

Unfortunately they don't cover my main destination - Moldova - but Airalo do, so I'll have the excitement of changing eSIMS back and forth. Not looking forward to that.

 

[MikeG]

The wife used Airlo in the UK recently and it worked a charm. Data only, but allowed her to use messenger or skype to call me/home - funny thing is even though she had her Woolworth SIM in the phone, to receive free SMS, she actually received a free call once or twice (in the middle of the night annoyingly) which was bizarre...

 

[djkelly69]

funny thing is even though she had her Woolworth SIM in the phone, to receive free SMS, she actually received a free call once or twice (in the middle of the night annoyingly) which was bizarre...

Woolies Mobile has VoWifi, so maybe the calls came through over wifi when she connected to the hotel internet?