eSims, what is your experience.

[daft009]

I'm going to go the opposite for my next trip.
I feel esim is still too hit and miss with providers.

Have converted my local Optus to esim and will keep the physical SIM slot free for the local SIM I'll buy on arrival or online

 

[Quickstatus]

without a phone number

Will need a phone number

feel esim is still too hit and miss with providers.

What issues are you seeing with eSIM?

 

[SYD]

I'm going to go the opposite for my next trip.
I feel esim is still too hit and miss with providers.

Have converted my local Optus to esim and will keep the physical SIM slot free for the local SIM I'll buy on arrival or online

That certainly makes sense for those with an existing collection of local physical SIMs.

It might be a covid thing but the other thread on local SIMs has been very quiet for ages…

 

[SYD]

Will need a phone number

A local prepaid telco will provide that.

What issues are you seeing with eSIM?

Probably a reference to some of the 3rd party “global” providers being inconsistent?

That wouldn’t be an issue getting a local telco esim.

 

[Askance]

Will need a phone number

Does your home carrier do VoWifi? Ive recently changed to Boostmobile who allow Wi-Fi calling. This "enables you to make calls using a fixed Wi-Fi connection from your compatible Boost phone when you can’t connect to the mobile network. Your phone simply uses your Wi-Fi network instead of the mobile network, so you can make and receive calls as you would normally."

so next time i need a data only eSim and can use its Wifi to make calls while OS

 

[Quickstatus]

Does your home carrier do VoWifi

Yes but will still need mobile phone number. I’ll check with the local prepaids

 

[p--and--t]

Does your home carrier do VoWifi? Ive recently changed to Boostmobile who allow Wi-Fi calling. This "enables you to make calls using a fixed Wi-Fi connection from your compatible Boost phone when you can’t connect to the mobile network. Your phone simply uses your Wi-Fi network instead of the mobile network, so you can make and receive calls as you would normally."

so next time i need a data only eSim and can use its Wifi to make calls while OS

Thanks for that tip - I have Boost mobile annual package.

But wouldn't I have to use the Boost data to use that facility, and I can't use Boost data overseas.

If I am overseas and buy a data e-sim, would it still work thru the Boost sim.

Or do I need to buy a VoWiFi e-sim overseas to achieve making calls on data.

Not sure how it all hangs together.

Please keep it KISS for me. Say I go to SIN and Indonesia and buy an e-sim for data and I have Boost Mobile.

 

[Thibault]

Thanks for that tip - I have Boost mobile annual package.

But wouldn't I have to use the Boost data to use that facility, and I can't use Boost data overseas.

If I am overseas and buy a data e-sim, would it still work thru the Boost sim.

Or do I need to buy a VoWiFi e-sim overseas to achieve making calls on data.

Not sure how it all hangs together.

Please keep it KISS for me. Say I go to SIN and Indonesia and buy an e-sim for data and I have Boost Mobile.

No, as long as the second SIM card has access to the internet in the country you are visiting, your Telstra Boost SIM card will be connected with wifi calls.

You can send/receive sms and mms to Australian phone numbers for free and call Australian phone numbers anywhere for free.

It’s fantastic !

 

[Askance]

Thanks for that tip - I have Boost mobile annual package.

But wouldn't I have to use the Boost data to use that facility, and I can't use Boost data overseas.

If I am overseas and buy a data e-sim, would it still work thru the Boost sim.

Or do I need to buy a VoWiFi e-sim overseas to achieve making calls on data.

Not sure how it all hangs together.

Please keep it KISS for me. Say I go to SIN and Indonesia and buy an e-sim for data and I have Boost Mobile.

Your phone lets you choose which sim is used for calls, sms and data. Boost is Sim1 and so you set calls to Sim1 and sms to Sim1. Once overseas your eSim (such as Airalo) is Sim2 and you set data to go against Sim2.

It can all be purchased before you leave and Airalo at least doesnt activate until youre in the overseas zone for which you purchased an eSim.

For your particular case im not sure if they have one eSim that covers both Singapore and Malaysia

 

[djkelly69]

YMMV, but my understanding (and current experience in the US) is that the VoWifi on Boost, etc, only works when your second data sim is not roaming.

Therefore I don't think this would work with an Airalo sim or similar as I believe they roam everywhere, and would need a local sim for each country.

 

[SYD]

For your particular case im not sure if they have one eSim that covers both Singapore and Malaysia

Yes, TruPhone and Flexiroam have plans that cover both. As probably do other 3rd party service providers.

 

[Askance]

YMMV, but my understanding (and current experience in the US) is that the VoWifi on Boost, etc, only works when your second data sim is not roaming.

Therefore I don't think this would work with an Airalo sim or similar as I believe they roam everywhere, and would need a local sim for each country.

You can get them global, regional (which i used in Europe) or for an individual country sim. Im looking at their service for Jordan and Egypt atm, and it'll work out cheaper to buy one for each country.

Im going to stop now before i get modded for advertising

 

[Thibault]

YMMV, but my understanding (and current experience in the US) is that the VoWifi on Boost, etc, only works when your second data sim is not roaming.

Therefore I don't think this would work with an Airalo sim or similar as I believe they roam everywhere, and would need a local sim for each country.

That's interesting.

Boost has launched its new roaming options so Telstra may have changed the VOWIFI preference over cellular.

I haven't tried since plans were launched but on my previous trip overseas in August/September, vowifi works everywhere in France/Germany/Spain, onboard Etihad services, and in the UAE.

The wifi calls over cellular can be changed on android devices but unfortunately not when using IOS.

Otherwise, go to settings, choose a provider that Telstra/Boost cannot access, and set it as manual. This will force the Telstra Sim to activate vowifi calls and sms.

 

[p--and--t]

Your phone lets you choose which sim is used for calls, sms and data. Boost is Sim1 and so you set calls to Sim1 and sms to Sim1. Once overseas your eSim (such as Airalo) is Sim2 and you set data to go against Sim2.

It can all be purchased before you leave and Airalo at least doesnt activate until youre in the overseas zone for which you purchased an eSim.

For your particular case im not sure if they have one eSim that covers both Singapore and Malaysia

Interesting I just checked Airalo and they don't cover Singapore under any of their plans Local, Regional or Worldwide. Other companies do seem to have a regional option. But it seems to be cheaper to buy one per country if looking at Singapore and Indonesia.

The wifi calls over cellular can be changed on android devices but unfortunately not when using IOS.

Otherwise, go to settings, choose a provider that Telstra/Boost cannot access, and set it as manual. This will force the Telstra Sim to activate vowifi calls and sms.

Oh this seems to be getting complicated - I have iPhone (IOS)

 

[SYD]

Interesting I just checked Airalo and they don't cover Singapore under any of their plans Local, Regional or Worldwide. Other companies do seem to have a regional option. But it seems to be cheaper to buy one per country if looking at Singapore and Indonesia.



Oh this seems to be getting complicated - I have iPhone (IOS)

This is probably the best value prepaid SIM for SIN and Malaysia (also does Indonesia, Thailand and Oz!). But it’s only a physical SIM as far as I can see.

Buy the best Tourist SIM or eSIM In Singapore | Singtel Prepaid

Wondering where to buy a SIM card or eSIM when travelling to Singapore? Check out the tourist SIMs that suit your travelling needs with up to 120GB of 5G data.

www.singtel.com

 

[serfty]

This is probably the best value prepaid SIM for SIN and Malaysia (also does Indonesia, Thailand and Oz!). But it’s only a physical SIM as far as I can see.

Buy the best Tourist SIM or eSIM In Singapore | Singtel Prepaid

Wondering where to buy a SIM card or eSIM when travelling to Singapore? Check out the tourist SIMs that suit your travelling needs with up to 120GB of 5G data.

www.singtel.com

I have use the SG$12 version a couple of time this year (at calender ... still 2022). Can easily preorder and pick up at booth in T3 at Changi airport.

Good for a week or so (with the wifi available I can easily make 3GB last) for the time. If needed for just a couple of days, I simply pay the Optus $5 per 24h.

 

[drron]

Interesting I just checked Airalo and they don't cover Singapore under any of their plans Local, Regional or Worldwide. Other companies do seem to have a regional option. But it seems to be cheaper to buy one per country if looking at Singapore and Indonesia.



Oh this seems to be getting complicated - I have iPhone (IOS)

I’m currently using Airalo with their Asian regional e sim and it certainly works in Singapore and now Thailand.

 

[SYD]

Is anyone seeing 5G on any of the 3rd party service providers? eg Flexiroam, Truphone, Airalo. Obviously not referring to local eSIMs that you’d expect to provide 5G.

 

[asterix]

Is anyone seeing 5G on any of the 3rd party service providers? eg Flexiroam, Truphone, Airalo. Obviously not referring to local eSIMs that you’d expect to provide 5G.

I used Flexiroam and Airalo in December 2022 in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, both were 4G which was what both providers said I'd get.

 

[Askance]

Is anyone seeing 5G on any of the 3rd party service providers? eg Flexiroam, Truphone, Airalo. Obviously not referring to local eSIMs that you’d expect to provide 5G.

I remember noticing i had 5G on the Airalo European region sim while Belgium. Each country had different partners and some had 5G, others just LTE.


Scotland had no 5G but i was well away from cities.