Anyone have a spare Australian SIM card?

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michaelt

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#40954 7-Sep-2009 13:23

I'll be travelling to Australia on Friday this week and will be meeting with a number of people that have asked for my cellphone number. Unfortunately, Vodafone only seems to allow roaming on Supa Prepay and On Account plans (I'm on Motormouth prepay) and Telecom's website indicates my CDMA phone isn't capable of roaming at all. I do have a Chinwag 2D card, but am reluctant to rely on that. I'd also prefer to be able to receive incoming calls without paying $1 per minute.

Is there anyone in the Auckland area that has an active prepaid Australian SIM card of some variety floating around? $2-3 credit would be enough, I'll give you $5-$10 or anything reasonable for it.

EDIT: Anyone in NZ would do actually. Now that I think about it SIM cards are small enough to put in an envelope and post for 50c.

Thanks,

Michael

ajobbins

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#253753 7-Sep-2009 14:02

$5 Buy Now on Trade Me

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Mobile-phones/Vodafone/Prepay-sim-cards/auction-240086098.htm

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freitasm

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#253756 7-Sep-2009 14:06

You can just ask Telecom for a Loan Phone while in Australia. They will give it to you and a roaming SIM card with your existing CDMA number on it, only for roaming.

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#253761 7-Sep-2009 14:14

Thanks for the link adam. I did do a trademe search but was too restrictive with my terms, used 'australia' and 'australian' but not 'aussie. I've asked the seller one question, might buy it when he replies.
Freitasm, thanks for the link but I'd rather have an Australian number. I'm going to be meeting with people I don't know and want it to be simple (and cheap) for them to contact me.

EDIT: I also can't get a Telecom loan phone as my CDMA phone is prepaid. The free loan phones are for contract users only. I also might have been incorrect in assuming that my VFNZ Sim wouldn't work. I'm not eligible for the "Traveller" plan but it seems roaming in general is possible. I'd still rather have an Australian number I can give to the people I'll be meeting though.

ajobbins

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#253764 7-Sep-2009 14:24

A couple more auctions also:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Mobile-phones/Vodafone/Prepay-sim-cards/auction-239482513.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Mobile-phones/Vodafone/Prepay-sim-cards/auction-239712423.htm

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michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#253768 7-Sep-2009 14:28

Thanks again. I've found them already, I really need to refine my trademe search skills. Turns out a search for 'sim' doesn't come up with 'simcard'.

Does anyone know if one of these, both of which appear to be unused Vodafone RED Sim's, already has an Australian number and is capable of receiving calls out of the box? I might top it up once I'm there, but I want to be certain that it actually has a number I can give out.

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#253926 8-Sep-2009 01:09

As far as I can tell, Australia requires prepaid SIM cards to be "activated" before they can be used. This seems to require an Australian ID (although at least one service will accept a NZ passport) as well as an Australian address. Since those Vodafone AU Sim's are new, they obviously haven't been registered.

So I'm going to repeat my initial request. If anyone has an activated Australian sim that they'd sell or lend to me for a reasonable price, please contact me.

dickytim

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#253935 8-Sep-2009 06:56

I have a Telstra one at home somewhere, not sure on if it still has any credit but I can check. I think $5 would cover it but I'd like to confirm it still works etc and that I can find it. How soon is it needed?

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sbiddle

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#253938 8-Sep-2009 07:31

You can roam to Australia on any VFNZ Prepaid SIM. You don't need to be on Supa Prepay.

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#253991 8-Sep-2009 10:15

dickytim, I'm leaving Friday morning so I'd like to have it by Thursday. If you can check it for me that'd be greatly appreciated. Are you based in Auckland?

Thanks,
Michael

dickytim

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#253998 8-Sep-2009 10:26

I am based in Pukekohe but work in Penrose, I am sure we can work somethnig out, first I will have to find it :)

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#254000 8-Sep-2009 10:31

Ok, send me a message when you find and check it. I don't quite trust NZ Post with such a short timeframe so I'd prefer to pick it up. My father works in Penrose, or I can drive down to Pukekohe if necessary.

ajobbins

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#254002 8-Sep-2009 10:34

My mother went to Oz about a month ago and purchased a SIM from the Vodafone store at the airport. They set it all up for her without ID or an address. No issues.

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