SIM Cards

Does anyone have experience of using a pay as you go simcard from
www.simcardguru.co.uk whilst travelling in Australia ?

I gather this is purchased before leaving the UK but can be topped up in
Australia.

Thanks

Peter

In article , PJT says...
Does anyone have experience of using a pay as you go simcard from
www.simcardguru.co.uk whilst travelling in Australia ?

I gather this is purchased before leaving the UK but can be topped up in
Australia.

You can easily buy a SIM card upon arrival in Australia. Just don't get
a Vodafone card and make sure that the place where you buy the card
activates the card for you (ask before buying the card).
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

"Alfred Molon" wrote in message
...
In article , PJT says...
Does anyone have experience of using a pay as you go simcard from
www.simcardguru.co.uk whilst travelling in Australia ?

I gather this is purchased before leaving the UK but can be topped up in
Australia.

You can easily buy a SIM card upon arrival in Australia. Just don't get
a Vodafone card and make sure that the place where you buy the card
activates the card for you (ask before buying the card).
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

Why not a Vodafone card? I've found their rates better than many of the
others, and coverage sometimes superior.
They had the contract to do major highways. If you're travelling within
major population centres the GSM network is fine, for a lot of country work
the Telstra Next G is more expensive but gives better coverage. If you go
remote outback you'll want a satellite phone.

You can buy sim cards all over the place, from supermarkets, Post Offices
and service stations. If you buy from a Woolworths or Dick Smith store
you'll get a 10% discount. But make sure your phone isn't locked to a
particular network before you leave the UK - my cousin didn't check that out
and found his phone useless when he arrived.

Regards

David Bennetts
Australia

In article ,
David Bennetts says...

Why not a Vodafone card?

See here what happened with the Vodafone card:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Aust...art2.html#0101

Compare it with Malaysia, where after purchasing the SIM card I could
make phone calls after 10 minutes (in the meantim the store clerk would
activate the card). With the Vodafone card in Australia I wasn't able to
make calls on the first day.
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

Alfred Molon wrote:
In article ,
David Bennetts says...

Why not a Vodafone card?

See here what happened with the Vodafone card:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Aust...art2.html#0101

That's not normal, and without the specifics (*which* number (for
activation) did not work?) the complaint is rather meaningless.

And BTW, in most *any* country - probably also in Germany :-( - you
will have to give a local address. Most of the time, we give the first
logical address we have (hotel, car rental, etc.).

[...]

In article me.nl,
Frank Slootweg says...
Alfred Molon wrote:
In article ,
David Bennetts says...

Why not a Vodafone card?

See here what happened with the Vodafone card:
http://www.molon.de/travelogues/Aust...art2.html#0101

That's not normal, and without the specifics (*which* number (for
activation) did not work?

Both numbers listed in the travelogue.

) the complaint is rather meaningless.

Sure, go to Australia and enjoy a Vodafone SIM card.

And BTW, in most *any* country - probably also in Germany :-( - you
will have to give a local address. Most of the time, we give the first
logical address we have (hotel, car rental, etc.).

No local address needed in Malaysia, China and Vietnam - just to name a
few examples.

Requiring a local address from a foreign traveller is idiotic. At best
the traveller can give the local address of the first hotel where he is
staying - if the traveller has a booking.
--

Alfred Molon
http://www.molon.de - Photos of Asia, Africa and Europe

[Default] On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:03:56 +1100, "David Bennetts"
offered the following words of wisdom:

Why not a Vodafone card? I've found their rates better than many of the
others, and coverage sometimes superior.

You're obviously not talking about New Zealand where Vodaphone's
coverage and service are a disgrace.

PJT wrote:
Does anyone have experience of using a pay as you go simcard from
www.simcardguru.co.uk whilst travelling in Australia ?

I gather this is purchased before leaving the UK but can be topped up in
Australia.

I would only consider this option if you *have* to know your
Australian mobile number *before* you arrive in Australia.

In all *other* situations, I would *not* use this option.

You can buy prepaid SIMs 'everywhere' in Oz and the main brands
(Telstra, Vodafone, etc.) can be activated over the (mobile) phone, so
activation isn't a problem.

For *me*, coverage is the most important. If you also want/need to use
your phone in smaller/rural towns, then the Telstra *network* is the
only option. This (www.simcardguru.co.uk) SIM uses the Vodafone
network. Vodafone itself will not let you roam onto other networks, so I
doubt that this SIM will. Vodafone network means less/no coverage.

I also doubt that recharge vouchers for this SIM are widely available,
unless it also accepts Vodafone vouchers.

OTOH, the rates to call (from Australia) to other countries seem
rather attractive, so if you intend/need to do that a lot, this SIM
might be a good choice.

OTOH2, considering the low price of this SIM (4 pounds), you probably
can do *both*, i.e. buy this SIM before you go and, if needed, buy a
'better' one at you leisure after you arrive.

FYI, I use a Telstra pre-paid SIM. Higher rates, but the best
coverage.

Thank you all,

I have now read elsewhere that Vodafone coverage is not as good as Telstra
so will stick with the latter even if it is a little more expensive.

Peter




"Frank Slootweg" wrote in message
.home.nl...
PJT wrote:
Does anyone have experience of using a pay as you go simcard from
www.simcardguru.co.uk whilst travelling in Australia ?

I gather this is purchased before leaving the UK but can be topped up in
Australia.

I would only consider this option if you *have* to know your
Australian mobile number *before* you arrive in Australia.

In all *other* situations, I would *not* use this option.

You can buy prepaid SIMs 'everywhere' in Oz and the main brands
(Telstra, Vodafone, etc.) can be activated over the (mobile) phone, so
activation isn't a problem.

For *me*, coverage is the most important. If you also want/need to use
your phone in smaller/rural towns, then the Telstra *network* is the
only option. This (www.simcardguru.co.uk) SIM uses the Vodafone
network. Vodafone itself will not let you roam onto other networks, so I
doubt that this SIM will. Vodafone network means less/no coverage.

I also doubt that recharge vouchers for this SIM are widely available,
unless it also accepts Vodafone vouchers.

OTOH, the rates to call (from Australia) to other countries seem
rather attractive, so if you intend/need to do that a lot, this SIM
might be a good choice.

OTOH2, considering the low price of this SIM (4 pounds), you probably
can do *both*, i.e. buy this SIM before you go and, if needed, buy a
'better' one at you leisure after you arrive.

FYI, I use a Telstra pre-paid SIM. Higher rates, but the best
coverage.

On 20 Feb, 10:21, "PJT" wrote:
Does anyone have experience of using a pay as you go simcard fromwww.simcardguru.co.uk*whilst travelling in Australia ?

I gather this is purchased before leaving the UK but can be topped up in
Australia.

Thanks

Peter

Thay may have a .co.uk address but thay are based in Australia so the
card looks like it might be shiped from Australia not UK. May as well
wait untill you get there. In Australia sim cards are for sale in most
places and your get a much better choice.