Prepaid Mobile & Prepaid Broadband Blog

Let me say from the outset that anything to save customers money on international roaming is a good thing, but there are much better options than using your existing sim card to travel with. Buy an international roaming sim card or a local prepaid sim card when you arrive.

Below is an announcement from Telstra on the new alert service they are launching:

Telstra has introduced an SMS alert system designed to minimise bill shock by keeping customers informed of how much data they are using whilst travelling overseas.

Tim Webber, Director, Telstra Mobile said the new SMS alerts would be sent for every 20 megabytes (MB) of data used overseas*.

“A growing number of our customers are taking their mobile devices overseas to access their emails, get live maps and stay connected to their favourite social networks while travelling,” Mr Webber said.

“While most travelers will have booked in vaccinations, organised their passport and bought travel insurance, many don’t think to check in with their mobile provider about international roaming.

“To help customers manage their data costs, we will now automatically send our customers data usage alerts via SMS every time they roam overseas.

“These will be sent each time 20MB of data is used overseas and is designed to keep our customers informed of how much data they are using whilst travelling.”

Mr Webber said Telstra had also recently increased the value included in its International Casual Traveller Data Packs, which come with pre-purchased allowances to help keep roaming costs managable.

“Not only have we doubled the included data in these packs but we’ve also doubled, to a total of 50, the eligible countries in which customers can use them, by adding popular international destinations including India, Ireland and Vietnam”.

Mr Webber said Telstra had worked to make sure customers were better informed about roaming charges before and while they were overseas.

“As smartphones and tablets become even more mainstream, we’re finding some later adopters are less likely to know about data charges – both in Australia and overseas. 

“Before flying out we encourage our customers to contact us and make sure they are fully informed about all potential costs and charges of international roaming.

“The last thing we want is for customers travelling overseas to return home to an unexpected bill that costs as much as their night in a New York hotel room.”

As many people have rightly pointed out, 20MB of international roaming data will cost you over A$300, however if you buy a data pack from Telstra, 20MB costs $30. My issue is, how long do you think 20MB will actually last you? If you are serious about using data overseas then look at alternative options.

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Sylvia contacted me just over a month ago regarding mobile sim options for her two sons who where just about to travel overseas with some friends. Having heard that roaming charges can result in huge bills when you return from your break she wanted to do the right thing and empower them with a sim card that would enable them to use their phones whilst overseas as well as use the internet so that they could stay in touch and follow the much anticipated journey.

Below I have a thread of emails that we exchanged over a period of days that enabled Sylvia to eventually end up with the right product. The great news is that the choice of product was right and whilst the final savings aren’t known, there are savings compared to the alternatives.

As ou will see, it is not all roses trying to get yourself setup with an international roaming service, unlocking phones, sim sizes, roaming settings, it can be a little confusing and leaving it to a few days before you travel probably doesn’t reduce anxiety.

21/3 – The initial enquiry

Hi Arthur

I’ve been trying to find a solution for something and it just occurred to me that you’re the right person to ask!

My sons are going overseas on the weekend and I desperately want them to have at least one phone between them that has a sim that I can contact them on if necessary. I don’t want my boys using their regular sims for obvious reasons … too many incoming calls and texts which will cost heaps.

I thought the best solution would be to get a prepaid sim for one of them to share. The number would be unknown to all their friends but I’d be able to communicate back and forth with them. I realise a local sim in each country would be cheaper but to be honest, they will only need their phone for emergencies, perhaps a daily text to and from me and MAYBE a bit of data in case they need to look up maps. I understand they will have to use global roaming but I’m happy to pay for that for my peace of mind.

Can you recommend anything? We’re all with Optus. Do you think they should just take a prepaid Optus sim with them and keep it in the phone?

Oh … the countries they’re going to are Singapore (3 days), Italy, Slovenia, Turkey (several weeks for Europe) and Dubai (5 days).

I’d love to hear from you in time to buy it tomorrow. Thanks, Arthur!

21/3 – My Response

Sylvia, if you take an Optus sim with you, the credit will not last very long and roaming charges will be applied to the prepaid sim. For cheaper rates you can buy an international sim card. There are a few to choose from but not sure they are all in retail outlets. Try travelsim and woolworths global roaming. They also come with another number and a guide on how to use them. Your kids can then use this sim card to make local and international calls. It is most likely that a calling card will work best when oseas for long calls home or skype if they have computer access.

Travelsim should be able to be picked up from 7eleven or Allphones stores.

Woolworths is obviously at the supermarket.

http://www.woolworthsglobalroaming.com.au/

Let me know if you have any other questions.

21/3 – Doing the research

Thank you SO much, I really appreciate that. I’d been looking closely at RoamingSIM but Woolworths is cheaper! Now I just have to see if I can pick one up at my local Woolies tomorrow, or settle for a RoamingSIM from Officeworks.

Your website is incredibly helpful. Even before you responded, I actually found the info I needed (though no mention of Woolworths) and started my research. I should have contacted you much sooner and by now I would have everything in order. But thanks anyway for responding so promptly. I’ll let you know what I end up going with. Meanwhile, I’m organising Find My iPhone and Find My iPad which I’m sure will be very enlightening, and fun to do each day to see where they are, especially as it provides a satellite view as well.

22/3 – Where to buy

Hi Sylvia, RoamingSim is good as well I didn’t realise they were in Officeworks or I would have recommended them too.

In terms of pricing, the difference is minimal unless you are going to do lots and lots of calls. These services work well. As I mentioned calling cards are probably cheapest for longer calls and you can pick them up from any convenience store.

I have added Woolworths after I sent you the email. The problem with adding more options is that I then need to maintain it and for many people, too many options means more confusion.

23/3 - Just learned that woolworths sim doesn’t work with iphone5, any other suggestions?

23/3 – Try travelsim https://www.travelsim.net.au/Shop/

23/3 – Global Roaming Settings

No problem; I found travelsim myself but appreciate your reply. It’s quite a bit more expensive than the WW one but I’m happy for my sons to have contact. Travelsim’s customer service via phone was exceptional and I’m really pleased with it. Still have another couple of questions to ask them tomorrow.

Would you happen to know, do they have to have global roaming enabled on their phone to use these cards? Is that something in settings or to do with Optus, their usual carrier?

28/4 – Happy Ending

That’s really kind of you to check in. My elder son returned from the trip just two weeks in and his Woolworths card was excellent the whole way through. My younger son is currently in Turkey, heading for Dubai some time next week and then home on the 10th May. He has the Travelsim nanosim and it’s been excellent too. It was difficult trying to keep up with whose card did what most economically (e.g. Woolworths sim gets charged for incoming calls, Travelsim receives incoming calls for free) but now there’s only one to be concerned about so it’s fine.

Really happy with both of them for different reasons. Thanks so much for your help when I really needed it

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