eSims, what is your experience.

[SYD]

Sorry poor use of 'prepaid' on my part - I meant to say 'upfront' (Telstra's new plans, basically).

So it’s “Postpaid”? ie you get a monthly statement for the monthly fee plus any extra usage charges for the month ending? If it’s that, then I believe you’re ok.

 

[exceladdict]

So it’s “Postpaid”? ie you get a monthly statement for the monthly fee plus any extra usage charges for the month ending? If it’s that, then I believe you’re ok.

Yes, but paid in advance... The worst of both worlds.
Thanks for confirmation.

 

[pangwen]

I’m in Singapore now with an iPhone 12 Pro Max and:
- my normal Boost prepaid sim installed (didn’t buy a roaming pack prior to departure)
- a Flexiroam eSim with the free 3GB for 28 degrees MasterCard holders activated

The Boost SIM latched on to Starhub when I landed and the Flexiroam SIM is connected to Singtel.

I managed to force my Boost SIM to try to connect to TPG SG (which fails as Telstra doesn’t roam into TPG here). The benefit of this is that my SIM then routes through the Flexiroam data and says it’s putting calls and texts via Mobile Data (in a similar way to Wifi Calling). Means I can keep calling and texting as if I were still at home

 

[randomly_chaotic]

Just ported my number across to Amaysim with esim, was really fast - kicked it off on Good Friday and this morning all done! Super easy to set up the esim, it was my first go with one and very straightforward.

If you're thinking of doing the same I've posted a 'refer a friend' link in the referrals forum where you and I would both get a $10 credit, which makes the new roaming plan better value.

 

[VPS]

Can anyone confirm if you go overseas with a Telstra service that uses day pass, but don't turn on data roaming, whether you can access inbound calls/SMS without incurring the $10 a day fee?

I'm on a prepaid plan with Telstra - ie they take $40 from my credit card for the following month,

I was able to use texts and receive calls without incurring any extra charges. I turned mobile data off and I could be wrong but I'm sure I received calls and texts when I wasn't on wifi - I travelled widely around UK, NYC and Western Europe for four months

 

[qaz]

Can anyone confirm if you go overseas with a Telstra service that uses day pass, but don't turn on data roaming, whether you can access inbound calls/SMS without incurring the $10 a day fee?

afaik, for all providers/networks, it's free to receive an SMS, but not a call:

Unlike an SMS, receiving a call to an Australian mobile number when overseas is not free, unless via Wi-Fi calling, which is currently available when roaming only to those using Telstra's network here (e.g. Boost)

Using your secondary sim for Wi-Fi calling with your primary is only possible if the secondary is not roaming, so likely local to its location

If you have a VoIP provider like Crazytel for your fixed/landline phone number, then you could divert your Australian mobile number to it, and receive (as well as make) calls via their app, which also allows you to set its caller ID as your mobile number

Crazytel | CrazyPhone - Softphone | Make & Receive Calls, Send and Receive SMS

www.crazytel.com.au

This from Amaysim may be of interest starting @ $20 for a years international travel roaming

International Roaming

Ditch daily roaming charges. Add roaming in 90+ selected destinations to your plan from just $20, with 365 days to use.

www.amaysim.com.au

thanks but previously posted above last week

 

[exceladdict]

I'm on a prepaid plan with Telstra - ie they take $40 from my credit card for the following month,

I was able to use texts and receive calls without incurring any extra charges. I turned mobile data off and I could be wrong but I'm sure I received calls and texts when I wasn't on wifi - I travelled widely around UK, NYC and Western Europe for four months

Just checked the day pass PDS and it says this:

A International Day Pass charge is automatically applied when you use your services overseas in eligible destinations. Usage includes making or receiving a call, sending an SMS or using mobile data.

I'm mainly wanting it to receive SMSs if needed, so I'll disable SMS and see what happens from there!

 

[VPS]

Just checked the day pass PDS and it says this:

A International Day Pass charge is automatically applied when you use your services overseas in eligible destinations. Usage includes making or receiving a call, sending an SMS or using mobile data.

I'm mainly wanting it to receive SMSs if needed, so I'll disable SMS and see what happens from there!

Well that varies to my recent experience

 

[TheRealTMA]

Well that varies to my recent experience

But did you have the Day Pass on the account? This is a money trap IMHO and not necessary.

 

[VPS]

But did you have the Day Pass on the account? This is a money trap IMHO and not necessary.

Nope

 

[p--and--t]

Well that varies to my recent experience

Just checked the day pass PDS and it says this:

A International Day Pass charge is automatically applied when you use your services overseas in eligible destinations. Usage includes making or receiving a call, sending an SMS or using mobile data.

I'm mainly wanting it to receive SMSs if needed, so I'll disable SMS and see what happens from there!

There is no problems receiving SMSs anywhere. Only if you send them from overseas.

 

[moa999]

Same with many MVNOs
I'm a fan of Woolworths Mobile (Teslstra) and with the 10% off shopping vouchers the plan pays for itself.
But I'm a lowish user, the 100GB/ 12Mths plan is plenty.

 

[VPS]

There is no problems receiving SMSs anywhere. Only if you send them from overseas.

I did send SMS when I was on wifi for no charge as well

 

[laffer]

Is the common view that for someone who needs their aussie number active and capable of receiving both calls and SMS that the Vodafone $5 day option is the best plan? Traditionally, when travelling, especially in Europe, I would find a local sim and plan and load that onto my phone for the trip. But naturally I would lose the aussie number for the duration. But as I need the aussie number active it looks like vodafone may be best? I am with Optus but they want to $10 a day (apparently not eligible for the $5 option) so perhaps I will change rather than go onto another optus plan.

 

[qaz]

I'm mainly wanting it to receive SMSs if needed, so I'll disable SMS and see what happens from there!

if you disable SMS, then you won't receive SMS?

Is the common view that for someone who needs their aussie number active and capable of receiving both calls and SMS that the Vodafone $5 day option is the best plan? Traditionally, when travelling, especially in Europe, I would find a local sim and plan and load that onto my phone for the trip. But naturally I would lose the aussie number for the duration. But as I need the aussie number active it looks like vodafone may be best? I am with Optus but they want to $10 a day (apparently not eligible for the $5 option) so perhaps I will change rather than go onto another optus plan.

depending upon the amount of travelling, no - instead of $5-$10/day, you could pay $20-$70/yr or even less

 

[transpactraveller]

If you need to receive calls (or send texts), you'll need to pay extra for roaming. The Optus plans with this included in your monthly plan were the best option but they are being removed from the market.

$5 per day is good for short trips, infrequent travel, or people who will need to use their Aussie number a lot while overseas. If you're with Telstra and have an eSIM capable phone, there's a slightly more complicated option to pick up a data eSIM for your destination and use wifi calling to make calls on your Aussie number without paying for roaming.

If you're overseas for more than a week, and don't have high usage needs (eg hours of calls), the prepaid roaming packs from Amaysim or Felix might be the best options now. For example, $20 for 365 days instead of $5 for 1 day. Or in your case $20 for every 100 minutes of calls.

 

[SYD]

There is no problems receiving SMSs anywhere. Only if you send them from overseas.

Sending an SMS may or may not be an issue. You’ll might get charged $0.50 per text but I guess it could also trigger a roaming bundle you didn’t want.

iPhone iMessage and other msg apps are free over wifi of course. As are calls using messaging apps etc.

 

[exceladdict]

if you disable SMS, then you won't receive SMS?

Yes my bad, I meant to say disable data.

 

[qaz]

Edit: airalo looks very affordable as another option.

even more so now with 20% ShopBack

 

[MikeG]

I’m in Singapore now with an iPhone 12 Pro Max and:
- my normal Boost prepaid sim installed (didn’t buy a roaming pack prior to departure)
- a Flexiroam eSim with the free 3GB for 28 degrees MasterCard holders activated

The Boost SIM latched on to Starhub when I landed and the Flexiroam SIM is connected to Singtel.

I managed to force my Boost SIM to try to connect to TPG SG (which fails as Telstra doesn’t roam into TPG here). The benefit of this is that my SIM then routes through the Flexiroam data and says it’s putting calls and texts via Mobile Data (in a similar way to Wifi Calling). Means I can keep calling and texting as if I were still at home

When I go to the UK, I have a Telstra postpaid eSIM with roaming turned off, and I simply get a three-mobile UK physical SIM with Europe roaming and use my Telstra account over data. Works a treat and is cheap.

The only problem is I can't phone internationally to countries outside Australia from my Telstra SIM as I'm overseas (dunno why that would be enforced, but that's Telstra for you). (eg. to call NZ, I had to use my UK SIM or Skype credit)

M