Phone/Data Package

[Duncan Jackso]

Just registered with this forum and currently waiting on delivery of our Wildax Europa. Could anyone offer an guidance on what they think is the best phone/data package to use in Europe and anything we should be wary of. We won't be streaming movies so will use data for facetime/WhatsApp, family comms and general internet searches.

Thanks

 

[Wombles]

Hi & welcome! Can't help with this but hopefully someone will post soon that might have some suggestions.

 

[autorouter]

Since the UK is now free of the EU roaming regulations, providers are gradually increasing prices and/or restricting data packages, and I think it will get worse rather than better. My answer is to use a mifi device with a local pay-as-you-go SIM. Then set your phones to wifi calling, and only use the phones when within range of the mifi. WhatsApp will go via wifi, and so will your facetime and internet searches. There is the advantage that your phones still keep their UK SIM and number, so you can always be contacted in emergency.

A local SIM in any EU country will also work in any other EU country, so it doesn't matter where you buy it.

 

[Stealaway]

I am currently with Three and a 12Gb data package for £8 with free roaming in Europe.
Unfortunetly Three and others are going to charge £2 per 24hours from May for very time you use it.
I will be moving to O2 who say there will be no roaming charge's. They do a 12Gb for £12 at the moment

 

[autorouter]

I will be moving to O2 who say there will be no roaming charge's.

That may be fine for some, but I think they have a no-tethering rule so you can't use the phone as a hotspot for an iPad or laptop.

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[Minxy]

That may be fine for some, but I think they have a no-tethering rule so you can't use the phone as a hotspot for an iPad or laptop.

There isn't a no-tethering rule, ie setting up a hotspot from your phone, it's also not banned from doing so from a mifi but they don't like you putting it in a mifi from what they say, however there's not a lot they can do about it unless they say it's definitely NOT permitted which they don't.

How to set up a personal hotspot – Help and Support | O2

Discover how quick and easy it is to use your O2 data allowance on other devices – such as laptops and tablets – by setting up your phone as a personal hotspot.

www.o2.co.uk

 

[Bolti]

There isn't a no-tethering rule, ie setting up a hotspot from your phone, it's also not banned from doing so from a mifi but they don't like you putting it in a mifi from what they say, however there's not a lot they can do about it unless they say it's definitely NOT permitted which they don't.

How to set up a personal hotspot – Help and Support | O2

Discover how quick and easy it is to use your O2 data allowance on other devices – such as laptops and tablets – by setting up your phone as a personal hotspot.

www.o2.co.uk

They definitely do say you are not allowed to put it in a router or a device that is not mobile ie without a battery.

 

[Minxy]

They definitely do say you are not allowed to put it in a router or a device that is not mobile ie without a battery.

Where?

 

[Bolti]

I am currently with Three and a 12Gb data package for £8 with free roaming in Europe.
Unfortunetly Three and others are going to charge £2 per 24hours from May for very time you use it.
I will be moving to O2 who say there will be no roaming charge's. They do a 12Gb for £12 at the moment

Tesco mobile runs on the o2 networks and seems to have the same t&cs.
The best deal at the moment seems to be 60gb for £13 they also have 100gb for £17.50 these are both on 24 month contracts.

 

[ivorantony]

Just brought a Tesco’s O2 data sim with unlimited data and it works well In my HUAWEI MiFi,
Had to put it in a phone first and make a call, then quick swap to the MiFi and away you go,
Before I brought it I checked if it was likely to be throttled down or restricted to fair usage and was assured that it wouldn’t be,( for the foreseeable)
Will be in Spain on Wednesday so we will see,

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[Bolti]

Where?

You must only use equipment or SIM Cards for the purposes advertised, described in any user guides, or as instructed by us. You can’t use an O2 SIM card in or connected to any device or hardware other than the device or hardware it is supplied with.
What to avoid: Using equipment or SIM cards other than as intended. For example, using your O2 SIM card in a modem instead of a mobile phone or tablet or using a mobile phone or tablet as a baby monitor would fall outside this Fair Usage Policy.

Also spotted whilst losing half an hour of life that you are restricted to 25gb of data whilst roaming. Tesco mobile seem to allow full usage of data, but please check.

 

[Minxy]

You must only use equipment or SIM Cards for the purposes advertised, described in any user guides, or as instructed by us. You can’t use an O2 SIM card in or connected to any device or hardware other than the device or hardware it is supplied with.
What to avoid: Using equipment or SIM cards other than as intended. For example, using your O2 SIM card in a modem instead of a mobile phone or tablet or using a mobile phone or tablet as a baby monitor would fall outside this Fair Usage Policy.

Also spotted whilst losing half an hour of life that you are restricted to 25gb of data whilst roaming. Tesco mobile seem to allow full usage of data, but please check.

A MIFI is a router not a modem.

 

[xsparks]

Smarty is roaming free with a 12gb limit.

 

[daveclare]

We use Free in France and Vodafone in Spain. Just picked up the sim cards in local stores. Went in Huawei mifi.

 

[Bolti]

A MIFI is a router not a modem.

I never said it was. I was agreeing with you but added using it in a router or device without a battery is not allowed.

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[Reallyretired]

I never said it was. I was agreeing with you but added using it in a router or device without a battery is not allowed.

I have two mifis and they both have batteries.