Comments on: Thanks to telecom oligopolies, it’s always raining in the cloud

By: sanjivkh

sanjivkh — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:27:54 +0000

Fair warning though, if you put your home sim in a phone and register it to the international roaming carrier, then some carriers will charge you roaming, even if you dont answer the call or let it go to voice mail. In “theory” they signaled the international call to you and probably the voicemail indication too…

I would recommend using a cheap or free voip number as your permanent main number and then forward to whatever device you want to receive calls on… Google voice is great if you live in the US or can use a proxy for the signup…

By: dotpeople

dotpeople — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 23:44:51 +0000

For travel, buy a Samsung Duos unlocked Android phone on eBay. A choice of two models: one touchscreen, one keyboard (BB clone). Two SIM slots, one for your home SIM, one for the local SIM which in many countries receives free incoming calls. Forward your home SIM to a VOIP provider that can forward to your local SIM. You’ll pay “normal” LD costs for the call to the foreign SIM. Many VOIP providers provide callback services, which allow you to place a call from the foreign SIM while using it in receive-only mode.

For countries that block VOIP (e.g. Middle East), use a UMA WiFi phone which includes native IPSEC encryption, e.g. old UMA-capable Blackberries. A T-mobile USA prepaid SIM costs $2/day for unlimited talk via UMA wifi.

By: tennisdata

tennisdata — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:22:17 +0000

Matt, I went the other way – US to Canada – this summer and also went over the 250MB data limit (allegedly) – in 5 days. I called and complained and asked for a listing of the sites I’d hit and amount of data up/down-loaded from each. My provider couldn’t come up with a detailed list so that, coupled with the fact that I’m a longstanding customer, got me out of paying that. Then there was the ‘$12 ‘fee’ for signing up in the middle of a billing cycle’ – got out of that because it wasn’t divulged when I ordered. A miserable experience. On my Oct trip to Shanghai, just used wi-fi – and there’s not a lot, especially as you get away from the center of the city. Ridiculous.

By: Rich Osman

Rich Osman — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:04:09 +0000

Roaming rates are nuts. Prepaid is better, and usually they will take the hotel address on the application. On a trip to Germany a few months ago I grabbed a prepaid card at an Aldi Grocery store. About 35€ for 3 gig of data and a few hours of calls. Prepaid is usually a much better deal for travelers, especially in country. The advance purchase SIMs are usually a poor deal.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:49:02 +0000

As others mention here, the subsidized phone is a convenience for the carrier, not for the consumer. An unlocked phone, or even better an unlocked dual-sim phone is much better for the frequent traveler. Knowing in advance that roaming rates are ridiculous will make the decision of what you will do and how you will do it easier.

By: Christopher William Crawley

Christopher William Crawley — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 20:37:33 +0000

WE are the only solution,and we push towards a 2013 launch date, remember market competition will lower products and services prices and then after the dog eat dog scenario plays out we will all win ,they wont have a choice,it will happen ALL OVER ALL markets with our revolutionary business model soon,what then hehe~CWC http://www.Apollios.com

By: Ondrej

Ondrej — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 06:56:57 +0000

People who travel don’t buy locked subsidized phones from their carriers. They buy phones in stores for the full price. It pays for itself in days on the first trip. Then get to the habit of buying a local SIM card as soon as you collect your luggage at the airport. Sorted. And yes, get a cheapo phone on eBay, to which you stick you home SIM card, so that you could see that somebody called you and could get back to them from the the primary phone via, say, Skype-to-phone.

By: TJGodel

TJGodel — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 20:15:44 +0000

Thanks for the heads up. In my next visit to Europe I’ll do things the old fashion way and turn of my smartphone and use a print out in case wi-fi isn’t available.

By: Brian. Sharwood

Brian. Sharwood — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:14:53 +0000

I recently moved over to one of our new providers and with that got about unlocked Android phone. I have recently been on a few foreign trip and just bought sim cards while there. I was in Spain about 8 months ago and paid about $30 for and entire week of unlimited data. Right now I am in China and have had exceptional and inexpensive service. In Hong Kong I paid about $10 for a week of service including the sim card. In Mainland china I bought a card through china unicom for about $30. I am not exactly sure how much I bought because of the language barrier but it’s been 12 days of heavy use and still hasn’t run out.

That’s really the solution to extortionate local pricing. You need your own device, and just buy on your own. In most countries there are lots of folks who are happy to sell more service than we get in a month for a fraction of the price we pay.

By: Karl Snow

Karl Snow — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:52:39 +0000

It is possible to “use your number abroad” and be possible for others to reach you through your number and not get “robbed” at the same time.
Forward your real number to a VOIP number which is cheap to call international. Then forward that number to a prepaid SIM card you buy in the country you are staying. Yes it is complicated for just a short trip, but for longer stays or frequent flyers it really pays.

Telecoms should be sued by their customers, or best move your money from them overt to the VOIP companies.