Has anyone used Truphone? - "Our mission is to eliminate Global Roaming charges"

[jsitc]

Hi AFFer's,

My IT man recently suggested we look at using truphone "Our mission is to eliminate Global Roaming charges." in lui of a variety of different pre paid sims and/or getting smashed by Telstra on the global roaming fees for when we travel OS. We mainly to Europe, US & Asia for which they claim coverage.

I have no idea how it works and why the deals for the coverage are so cheap but I am sure technology is catching up in the Global Roaming world.

Has anyone had any experience with using them and if so what is your feedback. My IT man thinks it will save us a lot but I am very skeptical!

Any feedback good or bad about actual charges (not what is actually advertised) and/or service / coverage, ease of use etc. would be very much apprecited.

Regards

JSITC

 

[tgh]

I have used a tru sim for travel for quite a few years.
It worked everywhere that had a network
It's cheap
The costs are up front
What's not to like ?

 

[Fnordish]

I've used Tru in the US and UK/Europe and in both cases been quite happy.

As I understand it they set up local MVNO arrangements but manage the roaming between countries via their own interweb based backhaul.
Basically means they can offer pre-paid local prices with roaming service.
It also means that you can have a local mobile number in each region that all direct to the same SIM which can be convenient when dealing with rentals and accom.
Basically means that people can call you anywhere within their network for the price of a local mobile call.

In the US I seemed to be on AT&T, in the UK it seemed to wander a bit to different networks.
In both cases voice service was fine and while the data was usually pretty slow it was at least functional.
Data service around the rest of Europe was sketchy or non-existent, but that's pretty much the same for my travel partner who was using a prepaid Virgin UK SIM.
The Virgin service was a bit cheaper, but was more difficult to recharge (didn't like AUS credit cards, had to use recharge cards from shops)
The Tru website and SMS based recharge was easy enough.
I would have liked an Android widget to track usage (they might have that by now!?! not sure) but their SMS usage reports were pretty good.

Anyway, I wouldn't be able to say that it's the best solution, but it's certainly been a good one for me in two different countries.

 

[TheTroopah]

I wish we could move our entire mobile fleet to TruPhone!
<redacted> is our account rep in Melbourne and his customer service is absolutely amazing! We have 1 contracted service that we use a few times a year. I emailed him about a month ago saying that although we only use it on occasion, we now happen to have 2 staff (including myself) traveling in different directions at once and asked for advice. His response which was within 30 minutes was to express post me 3 pre-paid SIMs with credit on them saying 'hope this helps'.
Really, how often do you get customer service like that? They have a small and responsive team so you know who you are talking to. Their billing system isn't amazing (sometimes direct debit doesn't work) but the actual service, rates and contracts are great! I strongly recommend them.
His email is Phillip Lew <<redacted>@truphone.com>.

*I am in no way connected to <redacted> or TruPhone other than being a very happy customer.

[MOD edit]

Removed Truphone rep contact details.

Please PM TheTroopah if you wish for details on their truphone contact.​

[/MOD edit]

 

[drewbles]

If you want an international roaming SIM, drop me a PM. I work for TRU's opposition (I won't do the advertising spiel as i'm not allowed, and i'm not a sales guy).

Of course I think we're better We offered AFF members a free SIM earlier in the year, but I can arrange freebies on a one off basis too (and provide more info for you to compare products).

 

[moa999]

Ouch on Asia data roaming. Over $8/Mb for Singapore and Malaysia

 

[Daver6]

Not looked into Truphone, but does this mean in each country you have a different number for people to contact you on? Or can you be reached on your regular mobile number?

 

[drewbles]

Ouch on Asia data roaming. Over $8/Mb for Singapore and Malaysia

Yeah Singapore and Malaysia are two *very* expensive countries to roam in (we do data bundles, but not in these countries due to the prohibitively high cost).

Not looked into Truphone, but does this mean in each country you have a different number for people to contact you on? Or can you be reached on your regular mobile number?

If you have a regular AU mobile, you'd need to divert it to your TRU number. TRU allocate, like us, several numbers. You'd need to pickup the tab for diverting from your AU mobile to their number. In addition, you won't get SMS (diverting does not include SMS).

Of course people can call your TRU numbers directly, just like ours. With multiple numbers, you can hand them out to people in the countries you're visiting of course, and use all of them at the same time.

 

[tgh]

Folks ring you/sms you on a local au number at local call charge rates .. that's the beauty of the thing.
We have been a lot of places and the 100% success rate is pretty remarkable …
sms works well and is mostly cheap as chips.. although it is a good idea to read the rates on the sms that you get every time it puts you on a different network.
Data charges do seem to be generally very high wherever we go.

 

[drewbles]

Folks ring you/sms you on a local au number at local call charge rates .. that's the beauty of the thing.
We have been a lot of places and the 100% success rate is pretty remarkable …
sms works well and is mostly cheap as chips.. although it is a good idea to read the rates on the sms that you get every time it puts you on a different network.
Data charges do seem to be generally very high wherever we go.

It's not your 'local' AU number though, unless you divert your local phone, unless of course, you're using TRU as your everyday provider

 

[tgh]

I said "a" number, which is in fact my number, it's just not my regular number…….hellloooo ..

I'm quite happy with tru…but I don't really have a dog in this fight and don't plan to spend the rest of my afternoon batting drewbies bouncers …

 

[drewbles]

I said "a" number, which is in fact my number, it's just not my regular number…….hellloooo ..

I'm quite happy with tru…but I don't really have a dog in this fight and don't plan to spend the rest of my afternoon batting drewbies bouncers …

Sarcasm noted, I was simply pointing out the people enquiring, that whilst an AU number it is not likely to be your regular number, so the benefit is diminished (most people want the one number globally, not two AU numbers that people have to differentiate between for someone if they are or are not travelling).

Glad you're happy with them

And at least spell my name right

 

[tgh]

wasn't intended to be nasty sarcastic..was written with a smile .
I apologise about your name.. should me more careful..

 

[jsitc]

Thank you all for your thoughts. Much appreciated

jsitc