Advice from UK people please

[Octane]

Hello all,

I'm going to the UK for a month next week. My mobile phone provider people here in Australia have said don't do the roaming thing, "the charges are horrendous" (surprised they said that..).

What I'll need is a sim card for the handphone and one for the USB modem for the laptop. I need 2 cards, I don't want to use the handphone for internet, It's too hard.

I won't be making many calls (don't know many people in the UK) so my usage will be low. Internet access is more important.

Suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Cheers

Octane

[Genghis the Engineer]

The best company in the UK for voice signal strength nationwide is generally Vodaphone.

The best company in the UK for data connectivity is almost always 3 (which is an Australian company, Hutchinson Telecom)

The cheapest in my experience is 3, although they're all pretty competitive.

You can buy PAYG sims at the main London airports, they're usually sold from vending machines. Or, most high streets in most towns have multiple shops and in the largest towns you'll find dedicated shops for all of the main mobile phone providers (Vodaphone, O2, 3, Orange would be the main players).


For the record, I use 3, for my phone (and daisy-chain my laptop to it) and apart from an occasionally crap voice signal out in the countryside somewhat, am very happy with them.

SIM Only data (http://store.three.co.uk/SIM_Only/Mobile_Broadband_Pay_As_You_Go)
SIM Only Voice + data (http://store.three.co.uk/SIM_Only/Voice_Pay_As_You_Go)


And don't forget to get your phone unlocked before you come!

G

[Octane]

Thanks Mr G,

Very useful info.

My phone is unlocked (wildfire S thanks to advice from this forum!)

Sounds like I ought to able to leave Heathrow equipped. I just have to get the appropriate clothing....

Cheers

[spannersatcx]

sim only (http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/pay-as-you-go/sim-cards) Depends where you go though? boss has Vodafone and can never get a signal. O2 has worked well for me. Have had orange and t-mobile, but moved as poor signal coverage a few years back, may of improved not sure.

I had a usb dongle a while a go was quite reasonable for 30 days usage, again O2.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Wildfire S is the phone I use on 3, if your laptop has wifi you shouldn't need a data sim card, just use the WiFi hotspot app.

G

[TZ350]

For PAYG calls, check out the rates on these two outfits ;

International Calls & Free SIMs | Pay As You Go & Pay Monthly | Lebara (http://www.lebara.co.uk/) and Lycamobile | Cheap international calls | Best international SIM card | Low Cost Calls | Cheap calls abroad (http://www.lycamobile.co.uk/home/en)

Their international and domestic rates are pretty good and the SIM s are cheap.

[OFSO]

I just have to get the appropriate clothing.

For that, move your question to Jet Blast and fire away........

Have you loaded Skype onto your HTC ? Lots of free wifi in London.

[hellsbrink]

Not only Skype, but Viber as well, as long as you wish to talk to someone with Viber on their android phone or iPhone.

I use both on my Galaxy Ace and the quality is as good as the internet connection.