SIM Only Mobile Plans Discussion

[Kb27]

On 12/18/2024 at 10:36 PM, Kklee said:

IMHO.

That's great.  Yours is the SG version?

I bought it from Shopee, it's among the cheapest, but ship from MY, so it's MY version.

Although, I dunno what's the difference, besides it being distributed in MY. I think only the warranty differs.

Re the firmware there's no difference whether SG or MY. Only thing to watch out for is the hardware version, when you're upgrading.

[Kb27]

On 12/18/2024 at 10:36 PM, Kklee said:

IMHO.

That's great.  Yours is the SG version?

At my router location, giga 5G can get 5G signal.

Simba 5G can only get 4G, but it's 300GB for $5. giga is $19.

So I plan to drop giga and stay with Simba bcuz of price. 😁

[Kklee]

On 12/19/2024 at 8:18 PM, Kb27 said:

At my router location, giga 5G can get 5G signal.

Simba 5G can only get 4G, but it's 300GB for $5. giga is $19.

So I plan to drop giga and stay with Simba bcuz of price. 😁

IMHO.

If Simba works for you, that's good. But the other limitation factor is the upload speed with affects the latency-like response.

[Tkseah]

Glad to report that eight's roaming works well in Taiwan.  Luckily the $8 plan was upgraded to 10gb roaming data else not enough for us..

[Davidklt]

Actually, there is one thing I found out about these cheap non contract SIM with free roaming such as Gomo and Giga.

They actually don't come with call roaming.

And this is so dangerous. If you are in an emergency overseas, there is no way you can call the local authorities or police. And vice versa, the authorities in Singapore would not be able to contact you if there is an emergency back home.

 

[Mkl22]

On 12/21/2024 at 12:41 PM, Davidklt said:

Actually, there is one thing I found out about these cheap non contract SIM with free roaming such as Gomo and Giga.

They actually don't come with call roaming.

And this is so dangerous. If you are in an emergency overseas, there is no way you can call the local authorities or police. And vice versa, the authorities in Singapore would not be able to contact you if there is an emergency back home.

 

Says who? All mobile phones can call emergency numbers. 
in sg you can call 112, 119, 999, 911 and all goes to emergency 

Edited December 21, 2024 by Mkl22

[Davidklt]

On 12/21/2024 at 12:48 PM, Mkl22 said:

Says who? All mobile phones can call emergency numbers. 
in sg you can call 112, 119, 999, 911 and all goes to emergency 

I am referring to international call roaming.

Example, can a hospital in Singapore reach you if you don’t have call roaming when you are overseas ? You expect the hospital to WhatsApp you ?
 

Second example.Your holiday rental car stalled half way during your trip. Without call roaming, are you able to call a tow truck or the rental company even if you have their contact details on google or the rental agreement ? And are they able to call you back even if you can reach them ?
 

If you lose your passport overseas, are you able to call the Singapore embassy without call roaming ?

 

Or you left something at the hotel after you left , how are you going to call them after you left and in some remote places ? Email them ? And wait days for the email process to take place ?

Edited December 21, 2024 by Davidklt

[Ahwhye]

On 12/21/2024 at 12:41 PM, Davidklt said:

Actually, there is one thing I found out about these cheap non contract SIM with free roaming such as Gomo and Giga.

They actually don't come with call roaming.

And this is so dangerous. If you are in an emergency overseas, there is no way you can call the local authorities or police. And vice versa, the authorities in Singapore would not be able to contact you if there is an emergency back home.

 

there are other mvno that offer roaming call with/without SMS, just the matter of how much $, need to subscribe or not, etc, etc... like vivifi, zym, eight... can do, do sign up with both eyes opened.

[Davidklt]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:09 PM, Ahwhye said:

there are other mvno that offer roaming call with/without SMS, just the matter of how much $, need to subscribe or not, etc, etc... like vivifi, zym, eight... can do, do sign up with both eyes opened.

Yes, this is what I am trying to do, and advise those that would be switching or signing up. Don’t forget this important function of international call roaming overseas. Not all plans have it. I suspect there are many out there that did not realise. 

Edited December 21, 2024 by Davidklt

[Volvobrick]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:07 PM, Davidklt said:

I am referring to international call roaming.

Example, can a hospital in Singapore reach you if you don’t have call roaming when you are overseas ? You expect the hospital to WhatsApp you ?
 

Second example.Your holiday rental car stalled half way during your trip. Without call roaming, are you able to call a tow truck or the rental company even if you have their contact details on google or the rental agreement ? And are they able to call you back even if you can reach them ?
 

If you lose your passport overseas, are you able to call the Singapore embassy without call roaming ?

 

Or you left something at the hotel after you left , how are you going to call them after you left and in some remote places ? Email them ? And wait days for the email process to take place ?

Use Skype out to call regular numbers. There are alternatives. Plus hospitals don't call you de. They will message only. 

[Ahwhye]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:16 PM, Davidklt said:

Yes, this is what I am trying to do, and advise those that would be switching or signing up. Don’t forget this important function of international call roaming overseas. Not all plans have it. I suspect there are many out there that did not realise. 

aiyah, this type of things, you won't know their priority, people happy jiu hao..

[Davidklt]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:34 PM, Volvobrick said:

Use Skype out to call regular numbers. There are alternatives. Plus hospitals don't call you de. They will message only. 

Not everyone know about Skype. 
 

On the hospital scenario, if someone’s elderly parent fainted in the public and admitted to a hospital, you mean they would message and not call their sons and daughters asap ?

Once, I helped an old woman who fell and was bleeding on the head. Her young grandkids with her ….their first response was to ask me to call her son/father immediately.I called several times, but the fella did not pick up. There was no time for texts.

Edited December 21, 2024 by Davidklt

[Ahwhye]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:34 PM, Volvobrick said:

Use Skype out to call regular numbers. There are alternatives. Plus hospitals don't call you de. They will message only. 

some can't do roaming incoming and/or outgoing SMS,

but then again people will laugh nowadays who still do SMS? I have not send a single sms for very long, now only received otp, gov msg and scam msg only.

[Jamesc]

[bsswan]

As I've seen from my boy's current first solo trip overseas, this is correct and I mentioned it a page or two ago.

Maxx has incoming SMS for OTP but no outgoing and no calls, at all, during roaming. 8 is same and they cannot even forward the SG number to a secondary SG number that is okay overseas.

With these cheap-cheap lines, it appears quite a bit of preparation is required even before signing up so you know what each is capable of. On this, I was surprised by 8 not able to forward calls, for example. I guess I am naive on them taking steps backwards given I pay over the odds for safety on Singtel myself, since 20yrs.

Edited December 21, 2024 by bsswan

[Shibadog]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:07 PM, Davidklt said:

I am referring to international call roaming.

Example, can a hospital in Singapore reach you if you don’t have call roaming when you are overseas ? You expect the hospital to WhatsApp you ?
 

Second example.Your holiday rental car stalled half way during your trip. Without call roaming, are you able to call a tow truck or the rental company even if you have their contact details on google or the rental agreement ? And are they able to call you back even if you can reach them ?
 

If you lose your passport overseas, are you able to call the Singapore embassy without call roaming ?

 

Or you left something at the hotel after you left , how are you going to call them after you left and in some remote places ? Email them ? And wait days for the email process to take place ?

this is why i usually buy a local sim card if i am travelling in a country 

[Kopites]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:07 PM, Davidklt said:

I am referring to international call roaming.

Example, can a hospital in Singapore reach you if you don’t have call roaming when you are overseas ? You expect the hospital to WhatsApp you ?
 

Second example.Your holiday rental car stalled half way during your trip. Without call roaming, are you able to call a tow truck or the rental company even if you have their contact details on google or the rental agreement ? And are they able to call you back even if you can reach them ?
 

If you lose your passport overseas, are you able to call the Singapore embassy without call roaming ?

 

Or you left something at the hotel after you left , how are you going to call them after you left and in some remote places ? Email them ? And wait days for the email process to take place ?

Car rental can use the whatapps call function. Did that on many occasions.

Accomodation Bnb no issue with whatapss calling as well. 

Not sure of hospital though. 

[Dafansu]

On 12/21/2024 at 8:23 PM, bsswan said:

As I've seen from my boy's current first solo trip overseas, this is correct and I mentioned it a page or two ago.

Maxx has incoming SMS for OTP but no outgoing and no calls, at all, during roaming. 8 is same and they cannot even forward the SG number to a secondary SG number that is okay overseas.

With these cheap-cheap lines, it appears quite a bit of preparation is required even before signing up so you know what each is capable of. On this, I was surprised by 8 not able to forward calls, for example. I guess I am naive on them taking steps backwards given I pay over the odds for safety on Singtel myself, since 20yrs.

 

I thought eight can use for calling when overseas?

 

Does roaming covers calls and SMS?

Our plans do include 288mins roaming calls back to Singapore and at the destination you roam at! Learn more here, simply refer to the column “Network Operator (VOLTE Calls)”. E.g. Looking at Malaysia, MAXIS is available under VOLTE Calls and you would be able to call home under this operator.

For SMS, there will be no issues to receive OTP but our plans do not include outgoing SMS at the moment.