International Sim cards?

[RebeccaAx]

Hello Icmeler lovers!

I'm hoping someone will be able to help me! I have searched, searched and searched some more but I cannot seem to find a good Sim for calling Turkey from the UK. My partners family is there and we keep in touch everyday but it's becoming a bit of a pain to keep topping up every few hours! I am currently on Vectone Mobile which is an international Sim and at first it seemed to be OK, but now it seems no matter how much I top up - my balance dissapears within minutes! I've searched for a new one but have had no luck. Also, the Sim will not let me send or recieve any text messages from them, yet still takes my credit - cheeky buggers! Any suggestions will help!

Thanks!
Rebecca x

[janeypoos]

Hi Rebecca, that must be very frustrating for you, not to mention expensive!

I've never used an international sim before but I just googled and found these;

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.204-9340.aspx

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/free-int ... sim-cards/

http://freesim.o2.co.uk/yourcountry?cm_ ... +sim_exact

As I said I've never used one so can't vouch for them but they might be worth looking in to.

[John_Lane]

Have you tried Lycamobile.

Lookee here... http://www.lycamobile.co.uk

LycaMobile Plus looks the way to go? 1p a min to landlines, 9p a min to mobiles and 10p for sms.

Looks very cheap to me.

Let me know how you get on.
Another John

[janeypoos]

Have you tried Lycamobile.

Lookee here... http://www.lycamobile.co.uk

LycaMobile Plus looks the way to go? 1p a min to landlines, 9p a min to mobiles and 10p for sms.

Looks very cheap to me.

Let me know how you get on.
Another John

I saw that one too John but I read it as those rates were for lycamobile to lycamobile calls/texts

It's not totally beyond the realms of possibility that I got it wrong though

[John_Lane]

Sorry Janeypoos you are indeed "beyond the realms of possibility".

I've just checked with their call centre and those rates are for calling from a Lyca Mobile in UK to either a Turkish landline or Turkish mobile number which dosn't have to be Lyca. I'm guessing that the OP's family in Turkey could also get a Lyca SIM and benefit from these rates when calling England?

I think the 1p to landlines is an introductory offer and may well expire or change soon. Perhaps thats the catch.

Lyca to Lyca looks like it can be free subject to a top up. (eg £10 top up gets 250 free mins and txts Lyca to Lyca included).

[John_Lane]

Hmmmmm. Curiouser and curiouser (is that spelt right?)

I've just checked Vectones web site and their rates are advertised as being the same as Lyca again with the 1p landline rate being a special offer expiring at end of July.

Perhaps thats why the OP's rates seem to have changed? Initial offer to get you in then bang up it goes?

[janeypoos]

Sorry Janeypoos you are indeed "beyond the realms of possibility".

There's always a first time for everything

Yep, lyca to lyca looks the way to go doesn't it for Rebecca doesn't it?
I'm almost tempted myself but my phone company (Orange) want about £30 just to unblock my handset and as I'll only be in Icmeler for 12 days I think I can make do with a few texts and a Postane fone card

[janeypoos]

Hmmmmm. Curiouser and curiouser (is that spelt right?)

I've just checked Vectones web site and their rates are advertised as being the same as Lyca again with the 1p landline rate being a special offer expiring at end of July.

Perhaps thats why the OP's rates seem to have changed? Initial offer to get you in then bang up it goes?

I've just had a look and can't find anywhere that tells you the price of calls/texts AFTER 31st July on either lyca or vectones sites

I should imagine whatever month you sign up you get the cheap rates until the end when it reverts to the normal tariff, whatever that may be.....crafty buggers!

[John_Lane]

I withdraw my previous Lyca Mobile recomendation.

Search Google with words like Lyca and scam and you will find a lot of unhappy customers.

Is Skype or similar not a valid option for you?

If you've got an unlocked or O2 mobile then this PAYG site offers unlimited data via its GoodyBags.

http://giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/leggie

[fifegirl]

Hi Rebecca. I use a Lebara phone card from here to Turkey and it is a good rate.I bought a cheap phone from Carphone W and use that so it saves me swapping simsback and forth. Have a great holiday Jacky aka fifegirl

[janeypoos]

I withdraw my previous Lyca Mobile recomendation.

Search Google with words like Lyca and scam and you will find a lot of unhappy customers.

Is Skype or similar not a valid option for you?

If you've got an unlocked or O2 mobile then this PAYG site offers unlimited data via its GoodyBags.

http://giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/leggie

Blimey John, you're right. I've just read some alarming accounts of Lyca rip-off scams, disgusting!

I hope Rebecca goes for something more reputable, maybe paying a bit extra per min/text is worth it in the long run just to have peace of mind that you're not being done over.

[teac532s]

Hi Rebecca

Is Skype not an option you could look into.They offer cheap rates or if family have a pc and internet then skype to skype over the pc is free. Giffgaff seems expensive £1.00 per min

[teac532s]

Forgot to put this in my last post. You can check the skype rates here

http://blogs.skype.com/en/2009/07/cheap ... urkey.html

[John_Lane]

Hi Rebecca

Is Skype not an option you could look into.They offer cheap rates or if family have a pc and internet then skype to skype over the pc is free. Giffgaff seems expensive £1.00 per min

I agree Skype might be best option and my referal to GiffGaff was regarding their unlimited data packages called Goody Bags. Then if Rebecca has a suitable phone she could use Skype from her mobile without an extra data charge.

GiffGaffs USA and EU call rates are O'K but outside EU like Turkey is way too expensive at £1 per min.

Another John

[teac532s]

Hi John. I agree as I am on Giffgaff myself. Problem is it states that "your goodybag is not valid outside UK" but I get where you are coming from. With unlimited data (in the Uk) Rebecca could use skype through the data package as long as the phone supported skype. i remember these skype phones being quite cheap not so long ago , so could be an option. Of course if Rebecca,s family had a pc and internet then it would be problem solved , but not sure of the extent of internet in Turkey.

[RebeccaAx]

Thanks guys!

You're all so helpfull! Oh and Jacky I do have a Lebara Sim card too, although haven't used it yet, so maybe a possibility, rates seem good on their website! The only problem with Skype is I'm a complete technical fool! Haha, I'm absolutely hopeless! But some great suggestions and I will try them all!
PS. Janeypoos I didn't have a clie T Mobile or O2 did international deal! Well worth looking in to! Thanks so much for all your help!

Let me know if I can return the favour!
Rebecca x

[stevew]

Hi,
Skype works two ways, If you phone from your Skype mobile to another number, this will be charged and use up credits that you have purchased, but if you open a Skype user account similar to an Email and call another account member who is in your address book and they are 'online' you will be using your Data allowance. Due to Turkey being outside the E.U. this can be costly unless you use the available free WiFi that quite a few Hotels and Bars have.
By checking your Skype contacts you can see who is 'online' and call them.
I have spoken to friends in Goa, both on my Android phone and Laptop using Skype............... Sounds awkward but easy once set up.
Steve

[RebeccaAx]

Skype works two ways, If you phone from your Skype mobile to another number, this will be charged and use up credits that you have purchased, but if you open a Skype user account similar to an Email and call another account member who is in your address book and they are 'online' you will be using your Data allowance. Due to Turkey being outside the E.U. this can be costly unless you use the available free WiFi that quite a few Hotels and Bars have.
By checking your Skype contacts you can see who is 'online' and call them.
I have spoken to friends in Goa, both on my Android phone and Laptop using Skype............... Sounds awkward but easy once set up.

Oh that actually sounds quite simple Steve, can I ask, is it just like a video call? It's just so tricky trying to find something that actually works for once!

[janeypoos]

Thanks guys!

PS. Janeypoos I didn't have a clie T Mobile or O2 did international deal! Well worth looking in to! Thanks so much for all your help!

Let me know if I can return the favour!
Rebecca x

No problem Rebecca, I hope you get a card and tariff sorted that's not going to cost you the earth

[stevew]

Hi RebeccaAx,
It's exactly like a video call, the only difference is, when I use my phone I don't have a front facing camera, so can use a slower connection. If I use my laptop, then I can switch on the webcam, they switch on theirs, and Bob's your auntie................
You could call at a pre-arranged time every evening, remember to take into account time difference.
Steve