amaysim Now Requires International Roaming Packs When Overseas

bozbargain on 14/03/2023 - 21:37
Last edited 17/04/2023 - 04:15 by 1 other user

On 4 April 2023, we’re launching four new International Roaming Packs to choose from to suit your needs whilst travelling to over 90+ destinations! These will only be available for purchase from 4 April through the app, stay tuned for more details.

What does this mean?
From 12:01am AEST on 5 April 2023, you will no longer be able to use As You Go (AYG) credit for International Roaming.

Received the above in my inbox this morning. Can't figure out if receiving SMS overseas will continue to work without an (expensive) pack. The small print doesn't mention receiving SMS so hopeful I can continue to receive 2FA messages whilst overseas?

Does anyone else have any insights here? Would be annoying if I have to move to Optus Flex as I won't be back in Oz until December.

Mobile International Roaming

Related Stores

amaysim
amaysim

Comments

  • vodamerc on 14/03/2023 - 22:18

    The fact they don't mention it means receiving sms will likely still work.

    • Master Bates on 14/03/2023 - 22:32
      +2

      I found the same thing with Telstra. None of their literature, nor chat support could tell me whether I would be able to receive SMS for free when overseas, when in fact I could. I suspect this is a tactic to scare you into buying their expensive roaming packs.

    • Benno007 on 27/07/2023 - 07:32

      Weird, I’ve never been able to receive SMS on amaysim overseas :-(

  • clover on 14/03/2023 - 23:31

    From their wordings, I think receiving sms should still work.

    • bozbargain on 15/03/2023 - 01:36

      That would be great then as that means I could leave my amaysim esim always on for SMS and not have to worry about incurring any costs as I won’t be able to accidentally use the line to make or receive calls then!

  • toofast on 15/03/2023 - 02:06

    I've been using my Amaysim purely to receive SMS overseas for the last 8 years (while living in the US), just topping up $10 once a year to keep it active.

    I wonder they are fed up with people like me doing this?

    Any thoughts on another provider I could move to if they do cut off the option to receive texts for free?

    • bozbargain on 15/03/2023 - 02:37
      +1

      According to the other forum topics, Optus Flex. Also, what are you still doing on OzBargain after 8 years in the US? :-)

      • toofast on 15/03/2023 - 04:25
        +1

        I'll check-out Optus Flex, thanks!

        Good question! I just came back to OzBargain after getting the Amaysim email, but I've been keeping a watchful eye on the finance section for interest rates etc. I still have accounts there, and will hopefully be back home sometime!

    • CereaL on 18/03/2023 - 01:32

      @toofast … can we test if you still receive SMS after the 5th April? ;)

      The fact that you're currently overseas on the Amaysim prepaid plan is a perfect test to see what happens :D

      • toofast on 22/03/2023 - 05:37
        +1

        Yes, I'll report back here after the 5th.

        I use my Amaysim every few days anyway, so will need a new solution pretty fast if it does stop working.

  • HardQuiz on 15/03/2023 - 07:36
    +1

    I read somewhere that majority of mobile network operators around the world agreed that SMS delivery will be reciprocal.

    Basically, they don’t charge each other, hence free for customers regardless of roaming.

  • OzBestDeal on 15/03/2023 - 11:19

    My Boost annual plan will be finished in April.
    I was planning to move to Amaysim to be able to receive SMS overseas without roaming pack.
    Looks like I'll stick with Boost in the meantime as people mentioned Boost have Voice/SMS over Wifi

    • ThirdRonnie on 15/03/2023 - 22:10

      Boost also has free SMS receipt while overseas.

      • OzBestDeal on 16/03/2023 - 06:59

        Not directly on roaming cellular network without roaming pack purchase. You have to connect to wifi to be able to receive sms.

        I went overseas couple weeks ago and unable to receive any sms on cellular network alone even though I have data connection from 2nd sim.

        • CereaL on 18/03/2023 - 01:27

          I even noticed on Wifi I wasn't getting SMS's come through …. :(

          • OzBestDeal on 18/03/2023 - 08:46

            @CereaL: Public wifi might block those.
            I tested it with private wifi and it works

            • ThirdRonnie on 18/03/2023 - 23:31

              @OzBestDeal: I was in Vietnam last November and as soon as I took the phone out of flight mode, the Boost SIM latched on to a local mobile network, and almost as instantly, a text message came through from Boost worded something like "Hey 3-Boy, we see that you are in Viet-NAM so you'll want to open up the app right away and buy one of our ridiculously overpriced roaming packs. They include 3 megabytes of data, 3 minutes international calling, 3 included SMS and the pack lasts for a whole 3 days. All for just $30. Wowsa!"

              I didn't buy the pack.

              For the rest of my stay, which also took me into Cambodia, I continued to receive SMS messages through my Boost SIM, mostly 2FA, some spam and a text from a friend who didn't know I was away. This was exactly as I expected.

              You might need to go into settings and set your Boost SIM as the one which will receive SMS, rather than your local SIM in the second slot.

              I also found that whenever I could get the phone to drop into WiFi calling mode, I could make calls to Australia via the Boost SIM. Unfortunately, in Vietnam and Cambodia, when in mobile reception range, the phone was getting 4 and 5 bars of 4G signal strength, unlike in Australia where 2 is about the best you can hope for, so it was difficult to get the phone to drop into WiFi calling.

  • discounthunter2022 on 05/04/2023 - 00:30

    I just tried buying a sim on their website as I am going overseas tomorrow and I keep getting "we can't add this to your cart right now"

  • toofast on 05/04/2023 - 02:14
    +6

    They have posted details about the new roaming packs here:

    https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/mobile-plans/international/…

    It is now past 12:01am AEST on 5 April 2023, and I just tested my service in the USA, without buying a roaming pack, and it's still working fine for receiving texts here!

    • CereaL on 05/04/2023 - 08:41
      +1

      Cheers for the update 🙂

  • bozbargain on 11/04/2023 - 16:24

    Sorry, I’ve posted something similar in my other amaysim thread. This is what amaysim now sends you when you start roaming:

    International Roaming is now active for your mobile service however you currently don't have an International Roaming product so will only be able to receive incoming SMS' while overseas. Use the amaysim app to add a roaming product, to turn off roaming or if you need other services while roaming.

    That’s great I thought as the key reason I still have this service is for 2FA, so SMS is all I need. I therefore kept my AU number on for a while and started to get a few incoming calls. I answered some (mainly call centres) and to my surprise, no charges on my bill. I was at home at the time so could it be that amaysim is also allowing international wifi calls through?

    • toofast on 14/04/2023 - 06:02
      +1

      This is an interesting development!

      I'm going to some tests on mine over the weekend, and will report back here. (I'm currently in the US)

  • toofast on 16/04/2023 - 13:31

    Update on this. I did some tests having mates in Australia call my mobile (while I'm overseas) without having a roaming pack, and with wifi calling enabled.

    My phone would never ring, and they would either get a message saying my phone was switched off, or just wouldn't ring at all, silence.

    • Stingo on 16/04/2023 - 23:42

      Not really surprising they couldn't get through but disappointing that Optus can't handle it in a consistent fashion and didn't provide a recorded announcement about being unable to connect the call temporarily. Were any of your mates calling from Optus? With VoIP in the mix these days some errors are signalled without recorded announcements relying on the calling carrier or even the calling user's equipment to interpret the code which doesn't work that well.

      • toofast on 18/04/2023 - 06:28

        One mate was on Amaysim too, and another on Telstra.

    • tonester on 17/04/2023 - 04:15

      amaysim currently don't allow wifi calling when roaming overseas

      Using a Mobile phone Overseas - eSIM, Travel SIM, International Roaming

      • toofast on 18/04/2023 - 06:29

        Yes, I didn't think it would work. Was just experimenting based on the experience of @bozbargain to see if it would.

    • bozbargain on 17/04/2023 - 22:16

      Was your phone showing having reception through a roaming carrier though? So odd that it worked for me (in Europe) but not for you?

      • toofast on 18/04/2023 - 06:27

        Yes, I had reception, and was able to receive SMS with no problem.

  • mikeadwell on 17/04/2023 - 21:19

    I can't see any reference to the $10/365 day SIM on the website anymore. Can anyone else see it?

    • Stingo on 17/04/2023 - 23:02
      +1

      The last time I looked they had hidden it under student plans. I don't know if there still is a way to navigate there from the main page so here's a direct link. Seems good enough for adding the product to the cart. Check out cash backs and referral codes but I suspect nothing applies for AYG. If you need to find it again I recommend the Wayback machine.

    • AssociatedRDD @ amaysim on 18/04/2023 - 22:55

      https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/mobile-plans/as-you-go/

      • mikeadwell on 19/04/2023 - 21:59

        @RDD

        Thanks. Regardless of if I login with my existing account or sign up as a new user, I get the error below. The same error on multiple browsers on different days. Any ideas of the issue?

        Our shopping cart isn't working right now…
        Whilst we twiddle with the on/off switch, we suggest you come back later and try again.

  • TanedaR on 28/10/2023 - 01:32
    +2

    just a quick update: I am now in Japan, with an active Amaysim service, no Roaming Packs,
    I can confirm I can receive SMS sent frrom Aust.
    It does take 15 mins for it to search for a mobile network before I can receive SMS.

  • Brick50 on 03/11/2023 - 05:53

    In the US and I can’t get it to connect to any network with roaming turned on or off.

    Previously with boost I certainly had signal and was able to receive sms with no issues

    • Stingo on 03/11/2023 - 11:57

      Same phone as last time? Roaming enabled in the portal? amaysim/Optus may have stuffed up.

      • Brick50 on 04/11/2023 - 04:32

        Thanks, data roaming was disabled in the portal

        Enabled it for both sims, mine works perfect now however partners won’t get any reception which is odd

        But thanks for the tips

        • Stingo on 04/11/2023 - 18:29

          Is your partner's phone the same as yours? It might lack the necessary bands for the US. Does your partner see any carriers when they choose to manually select a network operator?

          • Brick50 on 05/11/2023 - 06:21

            @Stingo: Yes both 14 pro max, and I have just tried manuallly selecting AT+T as that’s what network mine connected to

            So manual or auto still no service, weird issue

            • Stingo on 05/11/2023 - 19:13

              @Brick50: OK, not a phone issue then but an amaysim/Optus issue. Short of contacting amaysim I'd try switching roaming off and then back on again. I don't know how long you should wait between switching it off and back on again.

              • Brick50 on 11/11/2023 - 07:02

                @Stingo: Wouldn’t work in LA or Vegas, but flew into San Fran and it worked straight away

                Go figure

                • Stingo on 11/11/2023 - 23:24
                  +1

                  @Brick50: Whatever changes you or amaysim/Optus made earlier might have taken a while to be processed. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

                  • djoz on 11/11/2023 - 23:28
                    +1

                    @Stingo: I've figured this out while roaming overseas. Select preferred network type to '3G' manually, and then wait for the phone to select a network automatically. It may take up to 15 minutes, but it will register on the network and you will have service. Also do note that even after you get network, incoming SMS may not immediately start (I know, weird), but keep it that way and it will work for sure.

                    Tried in multiple countries over past 6 months.

                    • alexkaratedo on 15/01/2024 - 05:34
                      +1

                      @djoz: Mate, thank you so much for this tip. My wife couldn't receive SMS text messages on her Amaysim SIM card while overseas, even after enabling "International Roaming" on her Amaysim app settings. So I followed your advice and selected network type "3G" in her phone settings. Then I scanned manually for a local network and selected a local one. All of a sudden her phone registered correctly on the network and the "R" letter appeared near the signal bars at the top of the screen, indicating "Roaming". In addition, the "SIM card status" menu showed the following:
                      - Service state: In service,
                      - Roaming: Roaming.
                      The crazy thing is that we already had multiple signal bars at the top of the screen beforehand, suggesting there was good signal… so we didn't realise the SIM was actually not registered on the the network. The "SIM card status" menu of the phone gave me a hint in the right direction, because it said "No service" and "Not roaming".
                      Big problem solved, thank you!

                      • djoz on 15/01/2024 - 09:11

                        @alexkaratedo: Happy to help :-)
                        Having multiple bars on the network symbol, is sometimes deceiving. I have noted this on Samsung Handsets, where the network bars show up even when the phone doesn't have a network. Maybe it is to indicate that SOS / Emergency calls would still work on your device, but yeah very confusing.

                        Was your device too a Samsung handset? Maybe the same happens in some other phone models too.

                        • CereaL on 16/01/2024 - 01:34

                          @djoz: Due to the way mobile phones work, it will connect to ANY available networks to allow 112 Emergency calls….

                          This is why you can get signal even if you don’t have a SIM card in a phone…

  • wwwboy on 20/02/2024 - 20:08

    I just tried to login to the my gov website and couldn't receive the SMS code.
    Currently I am in Laos. I tried twice on the website but not luck.

    I notice that the roaming packs (which I don't have and shouldn't need to receive sms), don't support Laos.

    So does that potentially mean that amaysim don't have a agreement with any providers here so I can not receive SMS messages?
    (as in Thailand and singapore I was able to receive sms messages no worries) I did try turning phone off and on.

    • Stingo on 20/02/2024 - 22:21

      So does that potentially mean that amaysim don't have a agreement with any providers here so I can not receive SMS messages?

      Optus still lists Laos as a Zone 2 country which is what counts AFAIK but hey it's Optus so who knows what going on with their roaming? Have you ruled out any potential problem with MyGov by seeing if you can receive an SMS from somewhere else? You should still be able to text or call amaysim short codes e.g. text BAL to 568. I assume you can ring customer service on 555 too. I think that's the way that's supposed to work but I've never roamed on Optus.

      • wwwboy on 20/02/2024 - 23:55

        I actually just went back and checked my Optus text messages I received when I entered Laos. I actually got a message saying
        "Optus roaming isn't available in Laos. this means you won't be able to use your service with us here"

        So I am guessing that means it doesn't roam.. bummer. I tried a second website that tried to send me a SMS no luck.

        I will also try using the app to chat with support tomorrow.

        Just wanted to updated this thread in case anyone else has a issue.

        • Stingo on 21/02/2024 - 00:36

          "Optus roaming isn't available in Laos. this means you won't be able to use your service with us here"

          If it's not available then how were they able to send you that message! Optus still have prepaid roaming rates listed for Laos. People have previously reported that SMS reception is available on amaysim in Optus Zone 2 countries so either the situation has changed or Optus is selectively restricting roaming arrangements in Zone 2 countries. Bloody Optus. but looking at a Telstra MVNO and Vodafone MVNO neither of them lists Laos as a supported country but Telstra at least have WiFi calling but you need to be a Telstra retail or Boost customer for WiFi over SMS. Porting your number to a VoIP provider that supports mobile virtual numbers like Crazytel is another option if you are sorted for data. Now you've got me curious about whether Optus postpaid roaming still works in Laos.

  • wwwboy on 21/02/2024 - 15:09

    ok I chatted online to 3 diff amaysim support staff.. hardest bit was finding someone that confirmed I don't need a roaming pack to receive sms messages in supported countries.
    The last person confirmed that I don't need the roaming pack, which is what I sort of knew.

    And they also confirmed that my phone will not work in Laos. So there is nothing I can do with them to receive sms.

    Oh well, will wait till I change countries to do what I need to do I guess. But just wanted to update this thread in case in the future someone traveling to Laos is curious etc.. Definitely check what countries Amaysim supports before you travel. I checked looks like Laos is the only Asian country that they don't support perhaps. They even support Myanmar (not that I am going there).

    • Stingo on 21/02/2024 - 16:19

      Thanks for sharing. Did amaysim happen to give you any reason for the SMS barring in Laos? Clearly, they are able to roam there since you received an SMS from them when you arrived but Optus choose to block delivery of SMSs from 3rd parties. If you're still there, how about texting or dialling the short codes I suggested just to see what happens.

      • lgacb08 on 21/02/2024 - 17:24

        Probably because optus is stingy and don't want to pay arm and leg with local carriers for roaming. Laos is still a very much communist protected economy, probably second only to North Korea in the region so you have to either pay handsome bucks or know someone in the gov for access that Optus don't want/have.

  • firebrace on 02/04/2024 - 12:47

    I’m now in Tokyo and the sim is not working without a roaming pack. Anyone been here and have it work without a roaming pack?

    • wwwboy on 02/04/2024 - 13:02
      +1

      I had a similar issue in Japan about a week back. Make sure you have roaming enabled in the app. (but no pack) so it shouldn't cost you money to have it enabled. And I had to select network manually I ended up selecting KDDI if I remember right as SoftBank didn't seem to allow me to receive all SMS messages. Amaysim support actually told me to turn of auto network search (which was interesting).
      I hope this helps.

      • firebrace on 02/04/2024 - 13:15

        Great! Thanks! That worked. Didn’t realise I have to enable it in app as the last time I travelled in December 2023 I didn’t have to do anything. Saved me from purchasing a roaming pack in desperation.

        • wwwboy on 02/04/2024 - 17:51

          Glad I could help. Did you have to do manual network selection or did Auto work?
          (am curious )

          • firebrace on 05/04/2024 - 15:00
            +1

            @wwwboy: I had to select manually as well for it to work

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join