Vodacom International Roaming

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dmw

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Was wondering if someone could help me with advice.

Basically the wife and I are going to Bogota, Colombia at the end of this month. The earliest we are coming back will be around the 2nd week in January 2016.

We both have Vodacom prepaid sim cards in our phones here in South Africa.
We understand that if we don't use our vodacom numbers for a certain period (3 months?), the number deactivates and we lose any credit we have associated with that number.
The wife doesn't want to lose her number and go through the hassles of getting another prepaid sim when we come back.

We asked in a Vodacom store and the guy suggested that we could use our prepaid Sims in Colombia on roaming.
So the idea would be to turn it on once a month, make a call and then turn off to keep the South African number and credit active.

However, when I look on the Vodacom website about roaming in Colombia, all it offers is SMS Roaming for prepaid customers.
Does this mean that I can only receive SMS? Or does it mean I can send SMS also?

Sorry for asking here, I will go ask Vodacom the next time I go to the mall but I am hoping someone might have been in the same situation and can advise better.

Thanks
 
I would VERY strongly recommend that you do not roam on ANY South African mobile SIM while overseas. Rather buy a new SIM once in Columbia and use that. Use the internet via WifI or a internet cafe while there.

Unless money is not a problem to you....
 
MickeyD said:
I would VERY strongly recommend that you do not roam on ANY South African mobile SIM while overseas. Rather buy a new SIM once in Columbia and use that. Use the internet via WifI or a internet cafe while there.

Unless money is not a problem to you....
Click to expand...

They're concerned about loosing their number because it's not in use.
 
I did think about taking out a contract and keeping the wifes number but if the next 3 months go well, we will be out of the country for 4-6 years and there will be no need for contract.
 
You don't have family or friends who you could leave the phone with in SA and ask them to make a call once a month or something?
 
saor said:
You don't have family or friends who you could leave the phone with in SA and ask them to make a call once a month or something?
Click to expand...

We do and by the looks of it, will ask them to do it for us. I was just exploring all possibilities. For myself, I couldn't care if I lose my number but wife wants hers kept until we are sure we are moving permanently.
 
Activate SMS roamer. (Send Roamon to 123 to activate) You can then only send and receive sms's. I'm not sure if you have to make a call to keep your number or if sending an sms will also do.
 
dmw said:
Was wondering if someone could help me with advice.

Basically the wife and I are going to Bogota, Colombia at the end of this month. The earliest we are coming back will be around the 2nd week in January 2016.

We both have Vodacom prepaid sim cards in our phones here in South Africa.
We understand that if we don't use our vodacom numbers for a certain period (3 months?), the number deactivates and we lose any credit we have associated with that number.
The wife doesn't want to lose her number and go through the hassles of getting another prepaid sim when we come back.

We asked in a Vodacom store and the guy suggested that we could use our prepaid Sims in Colombia on roaming.
So the idea would be to turn it on once a month, make a call and then turn off to keep the South African number and credit active.

However, when I look on the Vodacom website about roaming in Colombia, all it offers is SMS Roaming for prepaid customers.
Does this mean that I can only receive SMS? Or does it mean I can send SMS also?

Sorry for asking here, I will go ask Vodacom the next time I go to the mall but I am hoping someone might have been in the same situation and can advise better.

Thanks
Click to expand...

SMS Roamer is to receive AND send SMS. Voice calls and data gets removed from the line while SMS roamer is active.
 
jd.vdm said:
Activate SMS roamer. (Send Roamon to 123 to activate) You can then only send and receive sms's. I'm not sure if you have to make a call to keep your number or if sending an sms will also do.
Click to expand...

SMS's is considered a activity and therefore will keep your number active.
 
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