Traveling overseas is fun, that is, until communication with people back home becomes a challenge.
Using your existing subscriber identity module (SIM) card overseas often results in expensive roaming bills applied by your service provider at home. As an alternative, you may get an international plan, but this is never a good idea either – you’re still likely going to pay a lot for it.
Problem is, the vast majority of phone service providers follow this same controversial strategy, so chances are, you’ll still be paying the additional roaming fees. That’s why you’ll want to find alternative low-cost solutions. Often, these will be:
- Grab a local SIM in the country you are visiting, or;
- Find a international SIM card you’ll use during your time overseas.
Swapping your home plan for either of these will translate to reasonable call and texting charges. You’ll can also go online without having to break the bank. However, you may still want to eliminate one option for the other.
Why using local SIM card option isn’t a good idea
Even though you enjoy the same rates as the locals, local SIM cards mean that your family and friends calling or texting you from home will be charged more.
Additionally, it’s not always possible to obtain a SIM card from the local stores in all the countries you visit. Note that some countries such as Japan and India require you to provide proof of residency before you can buy one. Otherwise, an international SIM card would be your best option overseas.
How do you find the best international SIM card?
There are your criteria in choosing the right SIM card while travelling abroad.
Customer service and support
You won’t immediately know where services are overseas, especially during your initial days there. This means that in case you cannot make a call, your best source of help would be the phone service provider.
As such, an international SIM card provider that offers reliable customer support and ready help is your best bet. Before buying the service, check if they provide help 24/7. If not, know which hours they offer customer service. One that also offers help online will be great.
Data perks
Travelling overseas means you will not be able to access WiFi most of the time. Bundles will save you a lot of cash for your internet needs as against availing a stand alone service.
Bundles also give you a peace of mind as you’ll not have to worry about your data consumption and cost on every event.
Coverage
While some international SIM cards provide coverage for a few countries, some cover well over 200 countries across different regions.
International roaming charges
Ideally you’ll want to go for a SIM card that allows you to receive calls for free while travelling to keep your call expenses ultra-low. So consider that the card you are buying offers free international roaming for the country you are visiting.
Expiry of SIM and credit
If the credit on your SIM card expires really quick, then you’ll be forced to top up every other time and you may also lose unused airtime. Thus, you should avoid companies that terminate your SIM if you don’t top up frequently, such as after every 30 days.
It’s the most clever way to keep your international SIM card for life so your contacts can always reach you on the same number when you travel.
Ease with which to top up your card
A good company will provide you with convenient, alternative ways of topping up your card so you don’t have to look everywhere for a top up shop every time you need credit. Being limited in options like these can be frustrating if you are travelling to far-flung places. You should be able to top up your card at any time.
Call quality
The infrastructure provided by the phone company will determine the quality of your calls.
You want a card that will provide both good signal quality and connectivity so you can have no trouble calling, texting or getting online. Phone networks with tier 1 carriers are often preferred as they tend to provide leading quality.
Size of SIM card
There are 3 different SIM card sizes you can get: the standard size, micro SIM and nano SIM size. Be sure you buy the right size for your handset.
The phone number you get
There are SIM cards that come with several numbers. So you can get a single SIM card with numbers for USA, UK or Eastern Europe for instance.
Be sure to choose one with a number that will be easy to remember so it would be easy for people to contact you.
Additional perks
Additional perks will differ among service providers.Do your homework and ensure you buy a SIM card that offers you the best perks in both call and data, as well as in terms of customer service.
OneSimCard offers a $29.95 Plus SIM package for cheaper international calls and SMS in different countries. Travellers who would wish to get cheaper calls can go for the Plus SIM and enjoy lower voice call rates across the various countries they visit.
We also provide roaming mobile phone service in more than 200 countries across different regions, with a standard saving of 85 percent on voice calls. You can enjoy free incoming calls in 160 countries and data service in over 170 of these countries.
We also offer a Data & Roam package on all unlocked GSM phones, with some of the lowest data rates in the market. What’s more, we allow you to take a bi-weekly or monthly package, whichever you want.
Added to our VoIP app that allows customers to send cheap SMS and make and receive low-cost calls over Wifi, OneSimCard international sim card is the best in the market.
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