SIM Only Mobile Plans Discussion

[Ghgan]

On 5/11/2024 at 10:03 AM, Ysc3 said:

@Timon i just signed up day b4 ytd ... and i paid the $21 also ... so if follow te cycle means i loose 10 days ? 

anyway, hopefully can use seamlessly iin china when i go there.

For whatsapp and google are block by China Great firewall. If you need to access get a reliable VPN service or rent ChangiWifi China VPN router at the airport.

 

[Timon]

On 5/11/2024 at 10:03 AM, Ysc3 said:

@Timon i just signed up day b4 ytd ... and i paid the $21 also ... so if follow te cycle means i loose 10 days ? 

anyway, hopefully can use seamlessly iin china when i go there.

If I remember correctly, first month will be prorated and bill payment will be done after 2nd month.

Should not have any issue using in China, considering it is their homeground.

[Mkl22]

On 5/11/2024 at 11:06 AM, Ghgan said:

For whatsapp and google are block by China Great firewall. If you need to access get a reliable VPN service or rent ChangiWifi China VPN router at the airport.

 

If it’s a Singapore number why would it be affected by the China firewall 

[Ysc3]

@Ghgan i will be getting another datasim card which will not be blocked for google access.

the cmlink is for my wife to keep in touch with her friends and relatives when we are back there ... so i do not have to buy a more expensive datasim.

[Ghgan]

On 5/11/2024 at 11:19 AM, Mkl22 said:

If it’s a Singapore number why would it be affected by the China firewall 

They do not block Singapore number for normal telco calls, or China wechat or other China app calls. They block Whatsapp traffic. However, you can’t just use any VPN in China. The government actually manages to detect and block most providers. And out of the ones that do work in China, a lot of VPNs have slow speeds, lack essential VPN security features, One way is to use your company VPN if they have 1 as it is less likely to get block by the government. Otherwise spend a bit more to rent ChangiWifi VPN router.

Recently they just asked Apple to remove WhatsApp and Threads from the App Store in retaliation for the US potential Tik-Tok ban.

https://www.voanews.com/a/apple-pulls-whatsapp-and-threads-from-app-store-on-beijing-s-orders-/7578626.html

Edited May 11, 2024 by Ghgan

[Dafansu]

On 5/11/2024 at 10:50 AM, Stary said:

I think SIMBA has already been awhile?  Nobody in MCF here uses them?😃

Ok..I can be the guinea pig and try...lol

started as TPG in 2018 when they gave the free trial for free when building up their network bases. Commercial launch was in 2020, not long compared with other more established telco. 

[Stary]

On 5/11/2024 at 12:11 PM, Dafansu said:

started as TPG in 2018 when they gave the free trial for free when building up their network bases. Commercial launch was in 2020, not long compared with other more established telco. 

Thanks! The traditional telcos have been here for decades,  nothing new can be long enough as compared to them.

But to survive 4+ years under our very competitive and congested telco space is already not bad.  I can't believe there are no other MCFs that used SIMBA.   Maybe everyone is under corporate plan tie to traditional telcos is it?😄

So l will be a guinea pig and give them a try.....😃

Edited May 11, 2024 by Stary

[Mkl22]

On 5/11/2024 at 11:53 AM, Ghgan said:

They do not block Singapore number for normal telco calls, or China wechat or other China app calls. They block Whatsapp traffic. However, you can’t just use any VPN in China. The government actually manages to detect and block most providers. And out of the ones that do work in China, a lot of VPNs have slow speeds, lack essential VPN security features, One way is to use your company VPN if they have 1 as it is less likely to get block by the government. Otherwise spend a bit more to rent ChangiWifi VPN router.

Recently they just asked Apple to remove WhatsApp and Threads from the App Store in retaliation for the US potential Tik-Tok ban.

https://www.voanews.com/a/apple-pulls-whatsapp-and-threads-from-app-store-on-beijing-s-orders-/7578626.html

When you roam you use your local home network to get to the internet. The China telco just provides a tunnel back to your local network. 
not sure if I misunderstood what you mean, but when I roam in China I always have WhatsApp and Google. If you are using a local SIM card of course no access, but if you use a Singapore number 100% can remain on WhatsApp. 

Edited May 11, 2024 by Mkl22

[Ghgan]

On 5/11/2024 at 1:42 PM, Mkl22 said:

When you roam you use your local home network to get to the internet. The China telco just provides a tunnel back to your local network. 
not sure if I misunderstood what you mean, but when I roam in China I always have WhatsApp and Google. If you are using a local SIM card of course no access, but if you use a Singapore number 100% can remain on WhatsApp. 

That is correct if using SG telco roaming subscription. Otherwise need to use VPN or HK esim or sim card. If at home got router that support VPN, you can use it as a workaround when using free WiFi in China hotel or office area. ChangiWifi router more for multiusers or devices to connect on the same router.

[Kb27]

On 5/11/2024 at 1:09 PM, Stary said:

Thanks! The traditional telcos have been here for decades,  nothing new can be long enough as compared to them.

But to survive 4+ years under our very competitive and congested telco space is already not bad.  I can't believe there are no other MCFs that used SIMBA.   Maybe everyone is under corporate plan tie to traditional telcos is it?😄

So l will be a guinea pig and give them a try.....😃

SIMBA is ok. I've 2 SIMs with them. One is Seniors Plan, the other normal 20GB plan.

Since, I'm a ph driver, I drive all round the island, mostly above ground. So I can't speak of MRT or underground sites. It depends so much on the area. Also I visit Condo basement car park, some have signal, but probably not important to many.

Now, it's more stable. For 5G, don't expect too much.

I've also have zero1 and looking forward to "eight" launch.

[zipping]

On 5/11/2024 at 10:50 AM, Stary said:

I think SIMBA has already been awhile?  Nobody in MCF here uses them?😃

Ok..I can be the guinea pig and try...lol

Use them for 1 mth (fully operational $10/mth) as a stopgap btw other plans few yrs back.

tbh, if u dun nikpick, no difference to me.

Actually considering their $12 plan w 2G roaming as a replacement once my zym 12mth autoroam expires.

[Ysc3]

@Stary i aslo have 2 lines with them ... singed up for 4 when TPG came out .... then kept two when they started to charge.

one for myself as a backup should my regular line fail , and the other i let my staff have it (he pay me back $10 monthly)

they have their own equipment (not a mvno) so they should be as reliable as the other 3 players. I can't really tell as i don't use the line unless my regular line cannot work.

[AndrewLee72]

Me Me. I switch from green camp to Simba. $12 de. 5G pretty decent. My 2 kids oso each on Simba plan. Very good.

[Zxcvb]

On 5/11/2024 at 1:09 PM, Stary said:

Thanks! The traditional telcos have been here for decades,  nothing new can be long enough as compared to them.

But to survive 4+ years under our very competitive and congested telco space is already not bad.  I can't believe there are no other MCFs that used SIMBA.   Maybe everyone is under corporate plan tie to traditional telcos is it?😄

So l will be a guinea pig and give them a try.....😃

I'm on SIMBA. Not as good as Singtel and Starhub. Loading of sites and social media app are abit slower than my previous telco. I don't need more data or speed, I just need cheaper plans. I took the SuperRoam MY $39/90days as a frequent JB. So SIMBA is good for me. 

[Ysc3]

@Timon seems CMLink is pretty fast .... signed up on Thursday, card delivered on Saturday and the porting completed on Sunday morning !

[jcmm]

On 5/11/2024 at 11:53 AM, Ghgan said:

They do not block Singapore number for normal telco calls, or China wechat or other China app calls. They block Whatsapp traffic.

Others mentioned they using SG sim for data roaming...why need VPN or whatever?? China dun block foreign sim, u can do whatever whatsapp, line, google map, etc. 

[Kklee]

On 5/12/2024 at 8:32 AM, Ysc3 said:

@Timon seems CMLink is pretty fast .... signed up on Thursday, card delivered on Saturday and the porting completed on Sunday morning !

IMHO.
Thanks.  I applying for CMLink soon for China. 

[Ghgan]

On 5/12/2024 at 12:02 PM, jcmm said:

Others mentioned they using SG sim for data roaming...why need VPN or whatever?? China dun block foreign sim, u can do whatever whatsapp, line, google map, etc. 

I am referring to sim card from China telco with the exception of HK sim card.