eSims, what is your experience.

[SYD]

Yeah it's still an eSIM per plan, as they're just reselling carriers in HK, Thailand etc. with cheap roaming plans.

That’s annoying. FLX did that for a couple of months. No idea why but reverted back to a single eSIM - so much easier.

As mentioned earlier, after FLX rejigged their pricing (not necessarily for the better*), they’re pretty much $ for $ the same as Airalo. Although, from what I’ve seen/used, FLX has slightly better network coverage (but that could vary wildly).

*a while back, FLX halved their overpriced plan prices to match Airalo but they did use to have regular 70% to 90% off sales. They’re now only 20% to 40% off Sales - but can be very good value. I’ve not seen similar offers from Airalo.

The other negative with FLX was you could buy say 5GB for 7d, 14d, 30d etc They simplified it it so more days = more GBs = more $$$….. Basically the same as Airalo.

 

[prozac]

That’s annoying. FLX did that for a couple of months. No idea why but reverted back to a single eSIM - so much easier.

As mentioned earlier, after FLX rejigged their pricing (not necessarily for the better*), they’re pretty much $ for $ the same as Airalo. Although, from what I’ve seen/used, FLX has slightly better network coverage (but that could vary wildly).

*a while back, FLX halved their overpriced plan prices to match Airalo but they did use to have regular 70% to 90% off sales. They’re now only 20% to 40% - but can be very good value. I’ve not seen similar offers from Airalo.

The other negative with FLX was you could buy say 5GB for 7d, 14d, 30d etc They simplified it it so more days = more GBs = more $$$….. Basically the same as Airalo.

Well, MasterProzac would not take advice to buy an eSim and is using Vodaphone roaming at aud$5/day. He is away 22 days.

 

[Scarlett]

@Scarlett how’s escapesim going for you on your trip?

I was just looking at it for an option in NZ soon. It appears to be Oz owned?

I haven’t actually enabled it yet @SYD. In Addis Ababa at the moment so will do it in a day when I get to Europe (ATH).

There was a note in the enabling instructions saying better to go through the enabling process when in the region of the sim. Hopefully it works well as we ended up buying three of them, one for each phone for self and family. If it doesn’t work great, no big loss as they were only ~$7.
The interesting test will be to see how they go with the domestic Portuguese networks in Azores and Madeira.

 

[SYD]

Well, MasterProzac would not take advice to buy an eSim and is using Vodaphone roaming at aud$5/day. He is away 22 days.

Well, that’s still half the cost of Telstra… But does come with the convenience of also being able to make and receive calls/txts while roaming plus access pretty generous data allowance.

For the more budget conscious you can use Vodafone “as required” (just turn OFF data roaming and don’t initiate a call/txt) and use an eSIM / local SIM for data while travelling.

That would be my option except amaysim was significantly cheaper and achieves a similar result.

 

[prozac]

For the more budget conscious you can use Vodafone “as required” (just turn OFF data roaming and don’t initiate a call/txt) and use an eSIM / local SIM for data while travelling.

This was my back-up suggestion for him. Yeah, nah dad.

 

[VPS]

This was my back-up suggestion for him. Yeah, nah dad.

dads hey -what on earth would you know - you're so last century

 

[encryptededdy]

For the more budget conscious you can use Vodafone “as required” (just turn OFF data roaming and don’t initiate a call/txt) and use an eSIM / local SIM for data while travelling.

...or use Telstra WiFi calling whilst overseas to make calls and send SMS for free

I do wish there was one carrier that had both cheaper daily roaming ($5 - Optus & Vodafone) and free WiFi calling whilst overseas (Telstra) but alas

 

[Danger]

...or use Telstra WiFi calling whilst overseas to make calls and send SMS for free

I do wish there was one carrier that had both cheaper daily roaming ($5 - Optus & Vodafone) and free WiFi calling whilst overseas (Telstra) but alas

I'm not familiar with Telstra wifi calling but on my recent overseas trip, I could only receive incoming calls when wifi was on. There was no issue receiving text messages. When I used Skype to call my number (without wifi on my phone on), I simply got a message on Skype, 'number unavailable', it wouldn't even go to message bank.

 

[encryptededdy]

I'm not familiar with Telstra wifi calling but on my recent overseas trip, I could only receive incoming calls when wifi was on. There was no issue receiving text messages. When I used Skype to call my number (without wifi on my phone on), I simply got a message on Skype, 'number unavailable', it wouldn't even go to message bank.

Yeah, that's how it works. Calls when you're connected to wifi are not considered roaming. If you want to receive calls over the mobile network, you'll need a roaming day pass. I'm surprised it didn't go to MessageBank though.

 

[Danger]

Yeah, that's how it works. Calls when you're connected to wifi are not considered roaming. If you want to receive calls over the mobile network, you'll need a roaming day pass. I'm surprised it didn't go to MessageBank though.

Is that a relatively new thing, perhaps introduced with changes to roaming/day pass introduced earlier in the year? For years, when travelling overseas, I never used roaming, but my phone would ring so at least I knew who was trying to get a hold of me, even if I didn't answer. Now it seems that's not even possible, at least with spending on Telstra's exorbitant day pass.

 

[SYD]

...or use Telstra WiFi calling whilst overseas to make calls and send SMS for free

…but that requires paying through the nose for Telstra… So maybe swings and roundabouts?

 

[Danger]

…but that requires paying through the nose for Telstra… So maybe swings and roundabouts?

So Telstra wifi is different from regular wifi?

 

[SYD]

So Telstra wifi is different from regular wifi?

No. Telstra is the only Oz telco with wifi calling enabled OS

 

[prozac]

…but that requires paying through the nose for Telstra… So maybe swings and roundabouts?

Isn't that what Telstra means in Latin?

 

[encryptededdy]

Is that a relatively new thing, perhaps introduced with changes to roaming/day pass introduced earlier in the year? For years, when travelling overseas, I never used roaming, but my phone would ring so at least I knew who was trying to get a hold of me, even if I didn't answer. Now it seems that's not even possible, at least with spending on Telstra's exorbitant day pass.

I *think* this happened with the migration to the Upfront plans, since there's no more PAYG roaming.

Anyway, I usually just have my phone set up so my Telstra SIM "WiFi" calls through my second local data SIM, so I can make/receive calls and SMS at any time whilst overseas (even when disconnected from WiFi), without incurring roaming charges.

 

[moa999]

that requires paying through the nose for Telstra…

Also available on Telstra Wholesale... Eg. Everyday Mobile (Woolworths) and Aldi, or Boost if you need Regional coverage.

With the 10% discounts my Woolworths plan (on the 12-mth one for moderate date usage) pays for itself

 

[Danger]

I *think* this happened with the migration to the Upfront plans, since there's no more PAYG roaming.

Anyway, I usually just have my phone set up so my Telstra SIM "WiFi" calls through my second local data SIM, so I can make/receive calls and SMS at any time whilst overseas (even when disconnected from WiFi), without incurring roaming charges.

Very interesting. I didn't know that was possible. I might send you a PM before I head off next for some advice on how that's done.

 

[Cessna 180]

I used “Maya” mobile on a recent trip. Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.
Very simple and efficient i thought. I used it for google maps whilst driving a lot. Booking accom etc. Data only but with WhatsApp and messenger I didn’t really miss the “normal” phone.

Interestingly I received a few phone calls from Aus. Possibly whilst I was on wifi as mentioned above but I cannot exactly remember.

 

[encryptededdy]

Very interesting. I didn't know that was possible. I might send you a PM before I head off next for some advice on how that's done.

Yeah, it's a bit of a messy setup depending on the phone, but it's the feature called "Allow cellular data switching" (iPhone), "Switch mobile data automatically" (Pixel), or "Backup Calling" (Samsung).

Depending on the phone, it will either just work if enabled if your Telstra SIM is roaming and your data SIM isn't, or you may have to fiddle with your phone settings to force the Telstra SIM into a "No Service" state before this feature will kick in. I find that for Pixels and the latest Samsungs it will just work, but on older Samsungs and iPhones you have to do the workaround.

The important prerequisite is that the data SIM you're using must not be in roaming mode. I've mentioned this in the past on this thread, but that's why I'm careful to only buy a local SIM or use a provider I know doesn't require roaming, such as Ubigi.

 

[Scr77]

No. Telstra is the only Oz telco with wifi calling enabled OS

And Boost, which is owned by Telstra but cheaper. I’m using boost without any roaming plan, Airalo for data and can make/receive wifi calls when not on wifi (uses data eSIM instead). Works a treat for calls to and from AU, but you can’t make calls to overseas numbers. So I paid a little extra for a global plan that included calls.