Casual Mobile Data Which Has Roaming

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Geek

#2818121 24-Nov-2021 03:03

Technofreak:

I only get to Aussie once or twice a year for work and perhaps one other time for personal reasons. Covid has prevented any work trips till now but am about to head over for work shortly so checking out my options. The likes of Optus is my first choice but we'll be like we're in MIQ while we're there so there'll be no chance to buy a new sim card unless they can deliver it to the hotel.

NZ travellers can come into Australia without quarantine (assuming they follow entry rules).

It's better to just buy whatever $30 SIM has been discounted to $10 or less at Woolies or Coles.

Otherwise, look into ALDI Mobile (sold at ALDI stores, activate online) which lets you keep the SIM alive with a recharge of $15 per year (you can use the credit you buy to put into a plan & buying more credit refreshes expiry again).

https://www.aldimobile.com.au/collections/plans

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#2818826 24-Nov-2021 21:18

Strayfire:

Technofreak:

I only get to Aussie once or twice a year for work and perhaps one other time for personal reasons. Covid has prevented any work trips till now but am about to head over for work shortly so checking out my options. The likes of Optus is my first choice but we'll be like we're in MIQ while we're there so there'll be no chance to buy a new sim card unless they can deliver it to the hotel.

NZ travellers can come into Australia without quarantine (assuming they follow entry rules).

It's better to just buy whatever $30 SIM has been discounted to $10 or less at Woolies or Coles.

Otherwise, look into ALDI Mobile (sold at ALDI stores, activate online) which lets you keep the SIM alive with a recharge of $15 per year (you can use the credit you buy to put into a plan & buying more credit refreshes expiry again).

https://www.aldimobile.com.au/collections/plans

Going shopping isn't going to be an option this time. The restrictions have nothing to do with Aussie quarantine or the lack there of, it's to do with the return to NZ . The Aldi option does seem to be worth a look for next time.

I'll probably get one of these anyway https://esim.me Then I can do it all online and be able to easily pick and choose.

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Strayfire

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Geek

#2819218 25-Nov-2021 15:26

I'm confused. Since MIQ is not required in Australia, just leave the hotel and buy an Aus SIM card in a supermarket.

When you return to MIQ in New Zealand, switch back to a NZ SIM.

And no, I have never heard of that e-sim sim card.

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#2819248 25-Nov-2021 16:23

Strayfire:
I'm confused. Since MIQ is not required in Australia, just leave the hotel and buy an Aus SIM card in a supermarket.

When you return to MIQ in New Zealand, switch back to a NZ SIM.

And no, I have never heard of that e-sim sim card.

e-SIM is an electronic SIM card, a downloadable file that provides the information needed to connect to a GSM network. Remember the old Telecom CDMA phones that didn't accept SIM cards? Like that but not fixed to any network or number. For travellers especially, e-SIM is a useful solution. You can keep a multitude of e-SIM files on your phone then activate whichever one is relevant to your location when you land.

Because really, who wants a physical SIM that does nothing more than what a virtual SIM can do? No more work out SIM card, no more lost SIM, no more hunting for a pin to poke your SIM tray out with, no more broken SIM tray. All that stuff is in the rear vision mirror with e-SIM. It seems as though implementing e-SIM is a wee bit tricky though, Spark are the only local provider of e-SIM connections, Vodafone have been promising to get the capability implemented since last year but still haven't.

Strayfire

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#2819254 25-Nov-2021 16:32

1024kb: e-SIM is an electronic SIM card, a downloadable file that provides the information needed to connect to a GSM network. Remember the old Telecom CDMA phones that didn't accept SIM cards? Like that but not fixed to any network or number. For travellers especially, e-SIM is a useful solution. You can keep a multitude of e-SIM files on your phone then activate whichever one is relevant to your location when you land.

Because really, who wants a physical SIM that does nothing more than what a virtual SIM can do? No more work out SIM card, no more lost SIM, no more hunting for a pin to poke your SIM tray out with, no more broken SIM tray. All that stuff is in the rear vision mirror with e-SIM. It seems as though implementing e-SIM is a wee bit tricky though, Spark are the only local provider of e-SIM connections, Vodafone have been promising to get the capability implemented since last year but still haven't.

Yes, I'm aware of what e-sim does, but this https://esim.me that technofreak speaks of is a physical SIM that claims to upgrade your old phone into having e-sim capability.

AFAIK you need support software side as well on the phone for e-sim.

In terms of e-sim and Australia, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone AU have e-sim as well as Woolworths Mobile.

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#2819259 25-Nov-2021 16:36

The other question is does OP have a tablet that supports e-sim? Otherwise the e-sim route is a no go.

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#2819338 25-Nov-2021 19:21

'eSIM.me' doesn't require the tablet to have/support eSIM. It's (according to their website) an app programmable physical SIM card. It appears it emulates an eSIM for when your device doesn't have one.

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#2819345 25-Nov-2021 19:34

Stu: 'eSIM.me' doesn't require the tablet to have/support eSIM. It's (according to their website) an app programmable physical SIM card. It appears it emulates an eSIM for when your device doesn't have one.

...it still uses a sim card which defeats the point of eSim...

I can't be the only one who thinks this right?

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#2819354 25-Nov-2021 20:17

Strayfire:

I'm confused. Since MIQ is not required in Australia, just leave the hotel and buy an Aus SIM card in a supermarket.

When you return to MIQ in New Zealand, switch back to a NZ SIM.

And no, I have never heard of that e-sim sim card.

Correct MIQ isn't required in Australia. If you read what I posted the restrictions are to do with my return to New Zealand which requires a form of isolation in Australia, meaning no out and about, no going shopping.

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#2819355 25-Nov-2021 20:21

MaxineN:

Stu: 'eSIM.me' doesn't require the tablet to have/support eSIM. It's (according to their website) an app programmable physical SIM card. It appears it emulates an eSIM for when your device doesn't have one.

...it still uses a sim card which defeats the point of eSim...

I can't be the only one who thinks this right?

esim.me have a sim you place into your sim slot and they have an app (software) you install on your device. Between their sim card and the app you end up with Esim capability on your device. You can convert any iOS or Android device that doesn't have Esim capability to one that has Esim capability.

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#2819356 25-Nov-2021 20:25

Technofreak:

esim.me have a sim you place into your sim slot and they have an app (software) you install on your device. Between their sim card and the app you end up with Esim capability on your device. You can convert any iOS or Android device that doesn't have Esim capability to one that has Esim capability.

I get this but the whole point of eSim is NOT to use a Sim card...

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#2819372 25-Nov-2021 20:42

MaxineN:

Technofreak:

esim.me have a sim you place into your sim slot and they have an app (software) you install on your device. Between their sim card and the app you end up with Esim capability on your device. You can convert any iOS or Android device that doesn't have Esim capability to one that has Esim capability.

I get this but the whole point of eSim is NOT to use a Sim card...

Correct, but if your device does not have an eSim this give you that capability and the opportunity to take advantage of an eSim. The fact it uses a sim card and sim slot is irrelevant.

For my upcoming trip with an esim.me sim card I could choose which ever eSim that suited my needs from the comfort of home or my hotel and not need to go to a shop to buy a physical sim. When I get home again I download an local eSim, when I go away next I can get what ever sim I want by going online. It makes life simpler for travelling.

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#2819387 25-Nov-2021 20:51

Technofreak:

Correct, but if your device does not have an eSim this give you that capability and the opportunity to take advantage of an eSim. The fact it uses a sim card and sim slot is irrelevant.

For my upcoming trip with an esim.me sim card I could choose which ever eSim that suited my needs from the comfort of home or my hotel and not need to go to a shop to buy a physical sim. When I get home again I download an local eSim, when I go away next I can get what ever sim I want by going online. It makes life simpler for travelling.

I guess on one hand it does but to me I'd rather just buy a local sim with a truck load more data and possibly a phone number as well.

Different use cases different story 🤷‍♀️

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#2819394 25-Nov-2021 21:01

MaxineN:

Technofreak:

Correct, but if your device does not have an eSim this give you that capability and the opportunity to take advantage of an eSim. The fact it uses a sim card and sim slot is irrelevant.

For my upcoming trip with an esim.me sim card I could choose which ever eSim that suited my needs from the comfort of home or my hotel and not need to go to a shop to buy a physical sim. When I get home again I download an local eSim, when I go away next I can get what ever sim I want by going online. It makes life simpler for travelling.

I guess on one hand it does but to me I'd rather just buy a local sim with a truck load more data and possibly a phone number as well.

Different use cases different story 🤷‍♀️

Unless I've missed the point somewhere that's exactly what you get with an eSim.

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#2819397 25-Nov-2021 21:06

Technofreak:

Unless I've missed the point somewhere that's exactly what you get with an eSim.

Most eSim providers do not give you a phone number. Most also charge you up the behind for data.

https://esimdb.com/australia

Here's a great comparison page.

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