Data abroad

Has anyone used their data 'dongle' abroad with a 'local' data SIM card?

I use Vodafone data and to my Knowledge they don't do a pay as you go data SIM card, I have a friend who uses '3' Monthly pay as you go data which he thinks you can get abroad.

So my question is..... if I buy a '3' dongle will I be able to get a '3' data SIM card abroad for around £15/Month instead of paying for roaming?

I think JockandRita is an expert on the use of dongles and Tinternet use abroad.

Will PM him and get him to post.

Johnny F

Cheers Johnny

bsb2000 wrote:Has anyone used their data 'dongle' abroad with a 'local' data SIM card?

I use Vodafone data and to my Knowledge they don't do a pay as you go data SIM card, I have a friend who uses '3' Monthly pay as you go data which he thinks you can get abroad.

So my question is..... if I buy a '3' dongle will I be able to get a '3' data SIM card abroad for around £15/Month instead of paying for roaming?

Maybe not Ian, I had a natter over at Bri&Lisa's yesterday, and he was saying that the French have stopped selling sim cards on their own, whether that applies to data sim cards I'm not sure, I will give him a nudge!

He did say it was bloody dear

Johnny F

Cheers Dave, likely to be going back to Germany next year, so looking at other Countries as well.

It is Johnny, we've spent a small fortune in other years but last year we used a lot of McDonalds (just a coffee) and a lot of street cafe's but I did still 'roam' occasionally when I had some work that needed doing.

Hi Ian,

I don't think that I can add to what you already know. I do know of someone who used their T Mobile PAYG sim in their datacard in Germany, at the same rate as the UK, ie, £1 per day. In Calais my 3, Vodafone and T Mobile, and Rita's Orange all got a great reception, but they showed up as roaming, so I didn't connect.
If you are a BT Broadband customer, you can sign up to BT FON. This is similar to the BT Openzone where you have a free monthly allowance of 250 minutes on WiFi, and BT FON is now all part of the same scheme, but you must sign up to it.

3 is now available in Eire, Italy, Sweden and Denmark, as well as the UK, but France is so lacking behind when it comes to mobile data. My 3 dongle wouldn't recognise any other sim card, but the datacard would, when configured correctly.

HTH,

Jock.

P.S. Vodafone = £7.50per Mb, and 3 is about £6.50 per Mb.

Hi

Another way to get net access overseas is to use something like the unlocked Vodafone datacard and add a foreign SIM card to it. I have successfully used a WIND ITALIA SIM card in the datacard with success and minimal cost.

Buying "just a SIM" is not as easy overseas as here in the UK. In Italy for instance, I had to prove my identity by showing my "codice fiscale" number - a bt like a tax reference.

Russell

Thanks for the reply Jock, I was hoping it would be as simple as it is here i.e. you just buy a dongle (My mates about £50) then buy a pay as you go SIM and away you go !!! He spends 6 MOnths in OZ so a contract was no good for him.

I also thought the EU Commision was supposed to be doing something about roaming, this doesn't appear to have amounted to anything.

Amazing !! how telecoms differ from other countries, when in Cyprus I can spend hours on a mobile to the U.K for what amounts literaly to pennies !!!!

Thanks for that Russell, I posted at the same time as you.

Lets hope by the time I go next year it will be a whole lot better than at present.

Still trawling around this subject with a view to getting sorted before we go away next June.............

.............has anybody had any experience with these guys

bsb2000 wrote:Still trawling around this subject with a view to getting sorted before we go away next June.............

.............has anybody had any experience with these guys

Sorry Ian, but no. However, that's a handy link.

Thanks,

Jock.

I thought it might appeal to some, I want to find a 'Guinea Pig' who's tried them first