Best Budget Plan to Keep Number Active While Overseas

jattdit on 29/12/2022 - 19:19

I'm currently overseas and coming back to Australia for short trip of 3 days. I'm moving to Canada for a new project and I'll be away for 3 years at least. I want to keep my number active all this time, I'm currently with 50$ Optus plan as it offers me free international roaming but soon I wouldn't need that.

I just need to keep my number active so I can keep getting All the OTPs ( One time passwords for 2FA) and secondly some option to call maybe once in 6 months like having some credit which I can use to call, otherwise I don't need an active plan.

Any recommendations? Thanks in Advance

Mobile

Comments

  • IceCreamBandit on 29/12/2022 - 19:24
    +4

    Aldi PAYG? $5 for 365 days, top up if you ever use it?

    https://www.aldimobile.com.au/collections/payg

    • Ryk on 29/12/2022 - 19:27
      +1

      unfortunately Aldi "Excludes all use overseas." - no otp sms delivered

      try https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/mobile-plans/as-you-go/
      $10 inc. renewals each year

      • jattdit on 29/12/2022 - 19:36

        Wow, I didn't knew about that! Perfect

        International Roaming

        SMS Send 50c/each Receive Free

        Calls Make $1.00/min Receive $1.00/min

      • dcep on 29/12/2022 - 19:37
        +2

        unfortunately Aldi "Excludes all use overseas." - no otp sms delivered

        That is a weird way of you interpreting "Excludes all use overseas."
        That is supposed to mean mobile plan inclusions excludes overseas use. Any overseas use will deduct from payg credit.

        For the record , yes you can receive sms (no cost) and send sms (with cost) whilst roaming overseas.

        • jattdit on 29/12/2022 - 19:45
          +1

          I just read their international roaming document and yes the charges are same as Amaysim.

      • jjjaar on 29/12/2022 - 20:08
        +1

        Aldi does accept SMS/OTP for free while roaming overseas. I’ve been doing it for several years.

  • parisian on 29/12/2022 - 20:48

    Optus - both with roaming included
    Optus Flex E-sim (subscribe for the day plan at $1, then cancel - number stays active for 6 months free with inbound roaming activated) - subscribe via the app
    Amaysim 10$/year esim - on their website

    Telstra any prepaid or boost - vowifi activated overseas allowing you to call/receive - send/receive sms - on telstra website

    • leiiv on 29/12/2022 - 22:36
      +1

      Does it mean you can subscribe for $1 every six months and keep doing it indefinitely?

      • parisian on 29/12/2022 - 23:24

        Yes - I have this since they released Optus Flex and works great !

    • kar200 on 04/01/2023 - 12:52

      Thanks for the different options. I have been looking for this info since I am having issues receiving SMS's on my overseas number from NAB (worked fine before).

      I just wanted to add that I have Aldi Moibile number (got it recently from OZ) and my wife has been using Aldi Mobilefor years overseas with no issues. Recently the Wifi Calling option popped up on my phone (Galaxy S22 Ultra) and it seems I can make and receive calls at local rate (haven't tested it properly yet).

      I wanted to get an esim to not free a sim slot and be able to get a new sim if anything happens and I loose the sim. downloaded the Amaysim app and got a number. I have not been able to get Wifi calling. I spoke to the guys over the chat and they said VOLTE and VOWIFI are actitve. I don't know if it's a matter of time.

      Has anyone been able to get the Wifi Calling working on Amaysim by any chance?

      • parisian on 04/01/2023 - 18:33

        Unfortunately, VOLTE/VOWIFI are not activated overseas for Optus-based carriers.
        It still works using roaming.

        What you could try is set-up a modem with a built-in VPN to Australia and connect the phone to it to see if Optus allows vo-wifi on it - but unsure.

        Best bet is to use Telstra Prepaid / Boost or a Telstra MVNOs for vowifi when overseas.

        Telstra somewhat restricts vowifi overseas for mvnos (all except boost and telstra's own prepaid and postpaid services) (can't receive calls on vowifi - you can just call) —

        Can I make a Wi-Fi voice call from overseas?
        'Yes, but only Wi-Fi voice calls from overseas back to Australia will be permitted. These calls will be charged at the Australian Domestic rate.'

        • kar200 on 06/01/2023 - 06:11

          I do have an OZ VPN AP at home but it didn't work either. I must add that my Aldi Mobile was activated in Australia and it is a normal sim card and the Amaysim is an esim activated overseas and never used in Australia (I was actually surprised that I was able to activate it directly from here).

          I can also confirm that yesterday I asked my friend to call me while I was connected to Vowifi and spent about 40m talking and it did not cost anything and was just like a normal call. I think Aldi Mobile is probably the best since you can receive and call using wifi calling + SMS. I only wanted the esim one so hopefully they will start supporting this option soon

    • LanceVance on 09/01/2023 - 15:57

      Is there anything in particular that has to be activated for Amaysim or Optus Flex to receive SMS internationally? Does that mean that when you're overseas and have dual sim in your phone you could have the aus sim just set to receive calls and messages and leave it on and have a local (ie. UK) sim to also receive calls, making calls and data? I'm heading over to the UK soon and wondering what is best pracitse.

      • Stingo on 09/01/2023 - 20:08
        +1

        Is there anything in particular that has to be activated for Amaysim or Optus Flex to receive SMS internationally?

        You might need to turn on International Roaming. Check the respective portal for the current setting.

        Does that mean that when you're overseas and have dual sim in your phone you could have the aus sim just set to receive calls and messages and leave it on and have a local (ie. UK) sim to also receive calls, making calls and data?

        Incoming doesn't require any special set up other than possibly enabling roaming on the phone itself. Dual SIMs all have some mechanism(s) for choosing which SIM is used for outbound traffic. If you want more protection there is outbound call barring but I suspect Optus don't support that, alternatively Optus do support fixed dialling which will restrict calls on that SIM to a list you have entered plus AU emergency numbers. Your phone probably has some way of restricting mobile data usage but if it is not per SIM you could ask amaysim/Optus to disable internet. Once upon a time at least this was the default.

        I'm heading over to the UK soon and wondering what is best pracitse.

        You should disable conditional diversions e.g. divert if unanswered. Either set up an unconditional diversion to voicemail (or an Australian VoIP virtual number) or have no diversions. Some phones apparently can be set to use different ring tones depending on which SIM is used for an incoming call. That seems a good idea to set up if you choose to receive incoming calls on your Australian SIM.

        BTW, you might check out the eSIM.me if your phone is an Android one and does not support eSIM. eSIM is one way of making sure you have SIM before you arrive and some offers are eSIM only. The eSIM.me does not work with providers who require you to use their app to provision the eUICC. Use their app to check phone compatibility do not trust their model specific pages for compatibility information.

    • mikeadwell on 16/04/2023 - 19:06

      Which option on the Optus Flex page is this?

      I assume you subscrube to the 7BG / 7 days (Free 7-day trial) option?

      • parisian on 16/04/2023 - 20:27

        Optus no longer offers the $1/day for new customers.
        You can still do the same method with the $7/1 week option.

        • mikeadwell on 16/04/2023 - 22:54

          OK thanks. So you'd just get this $7/1 week SIM and then just before the 6 month period is up, add $1 credit to the account and keep doing so every 6 months?

          • Stingo on 16/04/2023 - 23:50

            @mikeadwell: There's a posting on Whirlpool that $7/7 days is the minimum subscription for new customers on Flex 4G so it can't be recommended any more for low cost number parking.

          • parisian on 17/04/2023 - 12:58

            @mikeadwell: in your case $7/1 week - then cancel - then top up 185 days later 7$ and repeat

            • Stingo on 17/04/2023 - 18:00

              @parisian: Given that there are ongoing $10/365 day offers from the likes of amaysim and Lebara (standard plan) Optus Flex @ $14/year only makes sense if your annual spend with the other providers would be $14 or more and concentrated within 2 7 days periods 186 days apart. There's also Aldi's offer of $5 for the first year/$15 ongoing. Ideally, pick a provider that you want to use when you resume active use so you can make use of the credit from recharges already applied and rolled over. If there is no intention of doing that providers that take a long while to expire accounts after credit has expired can be considered. Do any of the repeated free monthly/cash back provider offer reasonable account expiry periods and overseas SMS delivery after credit has lapsed without purchase of a roaming pack? If you're OS you'd probably also want one that supported eSIM.

              • parisian on 17/04/2023 - 22:26

                @Stingo: Oh absolutely!

                Optus Flex's advantage is that when you stop topping up your service, the line stays active albeit restricted for 186 days - (great to receive SMS overseas).
                Now that the min recharge is 7$ - their offer is less attractive for new customers - 7x more expensive on a 2 recharges/year pattern.

                I'd pay a bit more to be on Telstra Prepaid or Boost - allowing free wifi calls and sms to Australia with voWIFI if I was to be away from Australia for a while.

                I haven't investigated Felix but apparently is a great offer overseas if the line is paused in Australia + a roaming pack is activated.

                • 1 for the eSIM - a great convenience.
                • Stingo on 18/04/2023 - 03:56

                  @parisian:

                  I'd pay a bit more to be on Telstra Prepaid or Boost - allowing free wifi calls and sms to Australia with voWIFI if I was to be away from Australia for a while.

                  Your usage might be sufficient to justify the higher flat pricing. I would just use a VoIP VSP for outgoing usage. Most of them are able to make calls or send texts presenting your Australian mobile number or any other number once verified. For receiving calls over WiFi or forwarded to a foreign number a cheaper "local" (geographic) number will often suffice. If an Australian M(V)NO with cheap forwarding to Australian numbers exists you have the elements of a cheap roaming solution. With high forwarding costs it might be cheaper just to port the number to a VSP or pay for roaming. It's a personal matter whether going from a plan with $0/month charge to one with a higher monthly charge with international VoWiFi is worthwhile. Successfully, fooling the other carriers that you were still in Australia might work out cheaper though.

  • Stingo on 04/01/2023 - 21:33

    Optus Flex to receive texts as above. If you want to make calls or send SMS from OS use an Australian VoIP provider that will allow you to use a verified Australian number if that's what you want displayed to avoid buying to roaming credit from Optus. Crazytel is cheap. They also have a Whirlpool offer if you want a cheap(er) AU virtual landline number for people to call but their regular offer has cheaper call rates to mobiles.

    • JamesLucas on 14/06/2023 - 13:47

      Optus flex no longer do the $1 per day. Bummer. Do you now what is next best?

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