Vodafone plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per day

[DeKa]

Re: Vodafone plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per day

WOW China real bonus for me. Restricted to 45 days in calendar year though that might be a bit restrictive.

They told AusBT the following:

Following enquiries from Australian Business Traveller, a Vodafone Australia spokeswoman indicated that the 45 day ceiling exists primarily as a "fair use" policy to prevent specific cases of abuse and isn't intended to cramp the style of the jet-setting business traveller, who won't suddenly find their roaming disabled on their 46th day overseas.

Vodafone extends $5 per day global roaming to Europe - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[drewbles]

Re: Vodafone plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per day

They told AusBT the following:


Vodafone extends $5 per day global roaming to Europe - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

At around ~$150/month *extra* on top of your plan, I can't see this being abused that badly. I guess businesses would be the main abusers though, as $150/month is bugger all for most corporates (compared to traditional roaming prices).

I wonder if they eventually make the current plan for consumers, and then have a 'can use 365 days a year' for a higher fee, for corp/sme?

 

[DeKa]

Re: Vodafone plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per day

At around ~$150/month *extra* on top of your plan, I can't see this being abused that badly. I guess businesses would be the main abusers though, as $150/month is bugger all for most corporates (compared to traditional roaming prices).

I wonder if they eventually make the current plan for consumers, and then have a 'can use 365 days a year' for a higher fee, for corp/sme?

They do seem to be doing these types of deals to corporates...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

Just received reminder email from Vodafone re Red Roam Asia available from Jan 23 and had a couple of queries so called them and spoke to rep who took down my queries - put me on hold - and checked with team leader:

1. Per day timing - timing starts from first call in country you are calling from - if you make call from Singapore at 14:21 technically you have until 14:20 following day Singapore time for the $5 fee - but rep advised maybe cut it off 10mins or so sooner to make sure no crossover - seems quite clear.
2. Per day timing can extend across more than 1 country - ie if you arrive into SIN at 06:50am and then depart to PEK at 08:45 arr 14:15 - you can use in SIN from time of arrival at 06:50 and in PEK until 06:49 (SIN /PEK same time zone) for the $5/day fee - so extended train trips through Europe you could use in several diff countries on same day for 1 x $5 fee - pleasant surprise.
3. Max Annual Usage - 45days is indeed fixed - no movt on this point at this time - bummer.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

So I have been in China for past week - CX J MEL-HKG-NKG - 3 days in Nanjing - 3 days in Beijing then SQ F PEK-SIN-MEL.

I utilised Vodafone Red Roaming for 1st time with very mixed results - 4hrs in HKG it worked perfectly - 3G connection the whole time - 4hrs in SIN on way home also worked perfectly with 3G access the whole time - but in China itself different story.

When I arrived into NKG at 11pm on 11th I immediately turned on phone and it picked up China Unicom right off and 3G worked fine. About half way through next day 3G would suddenly stop and E appear - if I turned off phone and turned on again 3G back again and would work again for an hour or 2 - then repeat same thing. Wasn't the biggest prob as calling and SMS / MMS worked fine and I had wifi in hotel / factories etc.

But when I got to Beijing - totally different story - 3G just would not work at all - no matter what I tried just would not work. I do have 2 China Unicom SIM cards I have used in China over last few years and both still alive - I tried these in my second phone - I have 1 x iPhone 5S and 1 x iPhone 5 - the China Unicom cards worked perfectly giving 3G at all times but the Vodafone SIM just would / could not access 3G - again calling / SMS / MMS worked fine.

Have spoken to Vodafone this morn and they will follow it up - no offer of any sort of refund - but for $5/day it is a gift - and standard rates apply to anybody calling me whilst I am o/s - it's a dream if 3G works.

 

[Simo]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

So I have been in China for past week - CX J MEL-HKG-NKG - 3 days in Nanjing - 3 days in Beijing then SQ F PEK-SIN-MEL.

I utilised Vodafone Red Roaming for 1st time with very mixed results - 4hrs in HKG it worked perfectly - 3G connection the whole time - 4hrs in SIN on way home also worked perfectly with 3G access the whole time - but in China itself different story.

When I arrived into NKG at 11pm on 11th I immediately turned on phone and it picked up China Unicom right off and 3G worked fine. About half way through next day 3G would suddenly stop and E appear - if I turned off phone and turned on again 3G back again and would work again for an hour or 2 - then repeat same thing. Wasn't the biggest prob as calling and SMS / MMS worked fine and I had wifi in hotel / factories etc.

But when I got to Beijing - totally different story - 3G just would not work at all - no matter what I tried just would not work. I do have 2 China Unicom SIM cards I have used in China over last few years and both still alive - I tried these in my second phone - I have 1 x iPhone 5S and 1 x iPhone 5 - the China Unicom cards worked perfectly giving 3G at all times but the Vodafone SIM just would / could not access 3G - again calling / SMS / MMS worked fine.

Have spoken to Vodafone this morn and they will follow it up - no offer of any sort of refund - but for $5/day it is a gift - and standard rates apply to anybody calling me whilst I am o/s - it's a dream if 3G works.

IMHO the being able to use Data while OS for me a huge bonus the calls side of it is the real luxury.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

IMHO the being able to use Data while OS for me a huge bonus the calls side of it is the real luxury.

Guess it's a good thing we don't all like the same girl huh? Data or lack off not the deal breaker for me - having use of my normal mobile number whilst o/s just perfect for me.

 

[drewbles]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

So I have been in China for past week - CX J MEL-HKG-NKG - 3 days in Nanjing - 3 days in Beijing then SQ F PEK-SIN-MEL.

I utilised Vodafone Red Roaming for 1st time with very mixed results - 4hrs in HKG it worked perfectly - 3G connection the whole time - 4hrs in SIN on way home also worked perfectly with 3G access the whole time - but in China itself different story.

When I arrived into NKG at 11pm on 11th I immediately turned on phone and it picked up China Unicom right off and 3G worked fine. About half way through next day 3G would suddenly stop and E appear - if I turned off phone and turned on again 3G back again and would work again for an hour or 2 - then repeat same thing. Wasn't the biggest prob as calling and SMS / MMS worked fine and I had wifi in hotel / factories etc.

But when I got to Beijing - totally different story - 3G just would not work at all - no matter what I tried just would not work. I do have 2 China Unicom SIM cards I have used in China over last few years and both still alive - I tried these in my second phone - I have 1 x iPhone 5S and 1 x iPhone 5 - the China Unicom cards worked perfectly giving 3G at all times but the Vodafone SIM just would / could not access 3G - again calling / SMS / MMS worked fine.

Have spoken to Vodafone this morn and they will follow it up - no offer of any sort of refund - but for $5/day it is a gift - and standard rates apply to anybody calling me whilst I am o/s - it's a dream if 3G works.

Very interesting. Vodafone roam with both China Mobile and China Unicom. Did you try changing networks (manual network selection) whilst there?

They're using 900mHz for 2G and 2100mHz for 3G (on Unicom), both of which are on the iPhone's.

I had a situation in Melbourne (on the Yarra, next to the CBD) on Optus where I would sit and watch 3G vanish and go back to EDGE. A power cycle bought it back, and then it went away again. I spent hours and hours on the phone to Optus' 'Techs' to investigate, and never got to the bottom of it (I moved carriers). Mine was on an iPhone 3G, but same problem.

Roaming is a big lumbering beast, and carriers can do all kinds of things do de-pref roaming partners to ensure their local subscribers have a better service. It happens locally too (at least it definitely used to) with Optus and Virgin, before Virgin was acquired by Optus and run as a wholly owned subsidiary. I had two identical handsets, one on Optus and one on Virgin, and Virgin had 1 bar, Optus was full. I've also seen the same with an overseas SIM in identical handsets; both were 3G yet the o/s SIM would refuse to connect to 3G, despite the home carrier having a 3G roaming agreement with Optus.

It's these stupidly insane complexities that keeps me in a job (albeit, an extremely frustrating one at times!).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

Very interesting. Vodafone roam with both China Mobile and China Unicom. Did you try changing networks (manual network selection) whilst there?

Auto picked up China Unicom - China Unicom is only real 3G in China - China Mobile and China Telecom not as good - I am simple layman - and yes I manually selected China Unicom also.

Roaming is a big lumbering beast, and carriers can do all kinds of things do de-pref roaming partners to ensure their local subscribers have a better service.

I have no doubt this is the case - as with most things - the Chinese will promise the world and deliver nothing.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per day

Just noticed on Vodafone web site that Red Roaming facility annual cap now extended from 45 to 90 til Nov 1:

 

[heycam]

Re: Vodafone plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per day

Just noticed on Vodafone web site that Red Roaming facility annual cap now extended from 45 to 90 til Nov 1:

Oh that is awesome. I was likely to use up my 45 days. Do you know if this applies to existing accounts or would it be for new accounts only?

 

[Robbi]

Re: VF [Vodafone] plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per

Worked great for me in DXB, UK and Portugal. Voice, data and txt.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per day

Oh that is awesome. I was likely to use up my 45 days. Do you know if this applies to existing accounts or would it be for new accounts only?

It applies to all contracts but is as it is written. The 45 day cap has been doubled to 90 days but expires Nov 1 unless they decide to extend offer. So you get 90 days from Nov 2, 2013 to Nov 1, 2014 - then 45 days in next calendar year UNLESS Vodafone decide to extend offer further.

 

[dairyfloss]

Re: VF [Vodafone] plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per

I just need them to add India to their country list, and I'm all set... hopefully a possibility as they have VF in that country. I've done the maths and even with quite a bit of outbound international calling from Australia, this retail plan is a better deal than I have on our corporate VF plan. They won't allow the $5 a day roaming for Corporates, only on the Business plans...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

I need Phils added then am all set.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

Red Roaming again changed - 90day / pa window now pushed out to July 1, 2015.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

Was in China Mar 27 to 31 - this time Vodafone Red Roam thru China Unicom worked PERFECTLY - had 3G entirety of time - at $5/day this is sensational value.

 

[Simo]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

Was in China Mar 27 to 31 - this time Vodafone Red Roam thru China Unicom worked PERFECTLY - had 3G entirety of time - at $5/day this is sensational value.

Glad it all worked well for you

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone $5/day roaming plans

It worked perfectly - was sitting in The Den on Fri night - The Den is the No 1 expat bar in Beijing - was sitting on a table with 2 Yanks and 2 Germans - they just could not believe the value of this feature. I still have 2 China Unicom SIMs - using them over last 5 or 6 years I used to frequently spend $20+/day - $5 is such a bargain.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Re: Vodafone plans to let customers “Roam Like Home” in UK, USA & NZ for $5 per day

Just back from 1 week in each LHR / DUB / IST and 2 days ZRH - Vodafone Red Roam worked PERFECTLY in all countries - what a fabulous feature this is for $5/day.