Going overseas - International roaming

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ozosborne

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Hey all,

We are going on a trip to Europe in August this year for 12 days. I am self employed and do all my work through my cell phone. I have heard so many nightmare stories of people going overseas with international roaming on and coming back to a gigantic bill. Is there any way one can control this and still be completely in contact for calls etc?

So far the option I thought of was leaving my phone here and letting someone field the calls, then following up on lap top that side. But that's not ideal.

Keen to hear what your thoughts are. Basically my phone needs to be on as per usual and any calls coming in will be answered.

Im on Cell C with Glocell if that makes any difference.
 
Calls are fine I believe with an extra charge. Just put off data
 
When I go overseas I take a dual-sim phone with me that I bought especially for this purpose. I then keep my SA sim card in the one slot, and buy a prepaid sim card in the country I'm travelling to and stick it in the other slot. Then a buy a data bundle on the overseas SIM card and setup the phone so it uses the overseas sim card for data. Works like a charm.
 
Cell C has wifi calling! Check that your phone is compatible then use your phone on Wifi, don't enable roaming, just use WiFi calling.
 
ozosborne said:
Hey all,

We are going on a trip to Europe in August this year for 12 days. I am self employed and do all my work through my cell phone. I have heard so many nightmare stories of people going overseas with international roaming on and coming back to a gigantic bill. Is there any way one can control this and still be completely in contact for calls etc?

So far the option I thought of was leaving my phone here and letting someone field the calls, then following up on lap top that side. But that's not ideal.

Keen to hear what your thoughts are. Basically my phone needs to be on as per usual and any calls coming in will be answered.

Im on Cell C with Glocell if that makes any difference.
Click to expand...

if someone calls you they pay a local call, you pay the international portion of that call. (free minutes do not apply) - and when you call out you pay international charges
Sms you pay to send and depending on country you may pay to receive.
Data just make sure its off don't even chance it - this is where all the horror stories come from , just use wifi and connect to hotspots.
 
+1 to both WiFi calling and purchasing local SIM for WiFi calling, use Skype or SIP calling.

If you use Cell C SIM make sure to enable roaming with customer centre and before leaving SA manually reset your voice mail box. It is important to disable mailbox when roamig. Why? don't ask me, there are hidden charges. In addition if you read voice mail messages roaming charges apply. USSD code to cancel all diverts and reset mail box is ##002#.

If you leave SIM in the phone, your incoming SMS's are free and you get ringing with caller ID when someone calls you, so you can call back by Skype or SIP.

Purchase $20 Skype bundle or get SIP server - check discountvoip.co.uk, they offer the best rates for calls to South Africa.
 
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xcaliber said:
Calls are fine I believe with an extra charge. Just put off data
Click to expand...

Got you. So call in and activate the international roaming as usual. Nut just switch off mobile data. Connect to wi fi when I can and download whatsapps etc then?
 
deweyzeph said:
When I go overseas I take a dual-sim phone with me that I bought especially for this purpose. I then keep my SA sim card in the one slot, and buy a prepaid sim card in the country I'm travelling to and stick it in the other slot. Then a buy a data bundle on the overseas SIM card and setup the phone so it uses the overseas sim card for data. Works like a charm.
Click to expand...

Not a bad option. I have a Note 5, don't think its a dual sim though?
 
werfie said:
Cell C has wifi calling! Check that your phone is compatible then use your phone on Wifi, don't enable roaming, just use WiFi calling.
Click to expand...

I thought of that, but I wont be in wi fi range constantly and need to be available when seeing the sites etc.
 
isie said:
if someone calls you they pay a local call, you pay the international portion of that call. (free minutes do not apply) - and when you call out you pay international charges
Sms you pay to send and depending on country you may pay to receive.
Data just make sure its off don't even chance it - this is where all the horror stories come from , just use wifi and connect to hotspots.
Click to expand...

So as long as I switch off mobile data I shouldn't get a nightmare bill? Anybody have an idea on costs for calls when made from that side?
 
sajunky said:
+1 to both WiFi calling and purchasing local SIM for WiFi calling, use Skype or SIP calling.

If you use Cell C SIM make sure to enable roaming with customer centre and before leaving SA manually reset your voice mail box. It is important to disable mailbox when roamig. Why? don't ask me, there are hidden charges. In addition if you read voice mail messages roaming charges apply. USSD code to cancel all diverts and reset mail box is ##002#.

If you leave SIM in the phone, your incoming SMS's are free and you get ringing with caller ID when someone calls you, so you can call back by Skype or SIP.

Purchase $20 Skype bundle or get SIP server - check discountvoip.co.uk, they offer the best rates for calls to South Africa.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but I don't think that will work for me. To give you an idea, I cannot really miss a call, if I miss it and only call back later there's a good chance of losing the sale.

First prize would be to take calls as per normal, so far it seems the best option is switching mobile data off and then just fielding calls.

Sounds like it would be cheaper to actually take the call when it comes in versus calling back obviously.

Thanks for the info with regards to switching on roaming etc. Something I must also make sure of as I have heard of cases where people switch on etc, but when they land that side. It hasn't been done, leaving them somewhat stranded.
 
ozosborne said:
Thanks, but I don't think that will work for me. To give you an idea, I cannot really miss a call, if I miss it and only call back later there's a good chance of losing the sale.
Click to expand...
In such case the only way is to invest in WiFi calling compatible handset. It will save R_thousands, believe me.
 
sajunky said:
In such case the only way is to invest in WiFi calling compatible handset. It will save R_thousands, believe me.
Click to expand...

Will that work when you don't have access to wi fi like when in the streets etc??
 
ozosborne said:
Will that work when you don't have access to wi fi like when in the streets etc??
Click to expand...
Not, phone will switch to cellular calling (unless there is a settings to disable cellular calls completely) and roaming charges will appply. It is why some people prefer to not enable international roaming when using WiFi calling.

There is more. It must be secure WiFi network. Unsecure hotspots cannot be used. If you don't want to lose any calls, maybe the best way is to walk with personal hotspot in your pocket. Battery powered LTE MiFi router with local SIM card and Internet bundle should work perfectly (you need to confirm it, as I didn't ask questions specific to your case).

There is a nice Cell C bundle for unlimited Wifi calling R199 valid for 30 days. Without bundle it will deplete airtime according to your tariff. See more: https://www.cellc.co.za/cellc/wi-fi-calling-personal

How it works in US: https://www.cnet.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-wifi-calling/
 
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Does anyone know a legitimate (and I mean not just rubbish a salesman throws at a disgruntled newbie) why cell phone providers can't apply the accumulated minutes and data towards roaming?
I travel a lot and I have a lot of minutes and data but I never make any calls in SA.

Why can't 100 minutes locally be applied (value wise) automatically against say 10 minutes of roaming?
Same with data. They tell you exactly what the per minute price is in SA and the roaming country, so why can't something I am legitimately paying for be used?
 
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