Pre-paid provider that has roaming- going overseas

Hi,

Im going overseas for 4 months. I am not in a contract with Vaya (my provider).

What is the best way to keep my phone number, and be able to use roaming to receive calls?

Curious as to what people normally do here

Comments

  • +1

    I always buy a local SIM that has data - most of my initial contact is now through apps like Whatsapp that run on data/wifi - then I determine whether a call is warranted and work things out from there.

    I carry my aussie phone with me (on contract with roaming) and leave it in my room so that I can see who's tried to call during the day.

    I don't know of any pre-paids that allow roaming. If there are any, I'd say that would need to put a pretty sizeable deposit down since not all billing between the countries are done in real time.

  • +1

    Many providers provide international roaming on prepaid. Recently I used Optus and had no issues at all.

    • Did they require a deposit? Or a large sum of credit on the account?

  • Yeah ideally it just requires a deposit (which can be refunded) as I don't intend on using the phone for outgoing calls.

    Any one know of a provider?

  • +1

    I dont remember paying a deposit with Optus and I just used it for incoming calls, no outgoing.

    • So you just bought the $2 sim and went overseas? Or did you have to recharge?

  • +1

    Go on the Vodafone 1 year credit option (check if they have service where you're visiting) and make sure you allow for international roaming.

    It is not cost efficient to use any home provider whilst traveling for four months.
    Maybe in your post, place where you are going and we might be able to make some suggestions.

  • Where are you going ?

    • USA

      • Last year I spent 6 weeks in the US. I I just ordered a prepaid T-Mobile sim from http://www.travelgear.com.au/usa-sim-cards/
        Worked fine could top up at any gas station, I'd just use that and use whatsapp for your calls.
        The oz carriers are a rip off. Who's gunna call that is that important anyway, just give them you US number and your whatsapp details etc.

  • Roaming in prepaid is easy enough but gets expensive. I get a local sim and redirect my own number (via voip cause telstra won't redirect prepaid internationally) but miss txts unless I carry my home sim in a second phone.

    • How do you re-direct your own number via VOIP?

      Do you leave your Aus sim-card in Aus while you travel- hooked upto something that can forward your calls?

  • Interesting option by these guys here.
    Just for whatsapp though.

  • Not great but Vodafone have some ok roaming deals on prepaid
    You could top up with a 365 day pay as you go plus recharge and then text the relevant amount when neeeded to get the packs

    http://www.vodafone.com.au/prepaid/plans/international-roamiā€¦

  • Telstra prepaid also comes activated with international roaming.

    If you really want to use your phone in the US, AT&T prepaid sim packs is the most convenient and best coverage, can be had from most supermarkets and Walmart etc. Walmart sometimes have AT&T prepaid phones (such as Lumia 650) for around $US50 with $30 credit inc. The phone has built-in maps that you can download using wifi, and can navigate offline. Cheap and easy GPS setup if you do any driving in the US. Also since it's a US phone, you can use their AWS 4G network for better data speed and coverage.

    Ultramobile on the Tmobile network is also a good option if you want to make calls back to Australia, but their sim packs are harder to find. If you have a friend and an US address, Ultramobile can send one out for you before hand. Their $29 plan gets you 1GB of 4G data and unlimited calls in the US and to Australia's landlines, which is pretty good for calling your travel agent or insurance if you need to.

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