Is it ok for an international sim card?
Many articles have been written about what an international SIM card can do for you – What are the fees? What country phone numbers do you have? How is it marked? – but what about you? Are you the right kind of person to handle an international SIM card?
Having been in the international cell phone business for seven years, I have spoken to thousands of travelers on the phone, both before and after their trips, and I can tell you that personality and expectations are definitely factors when it comes to successful cell phone use. cell phone. Foreign.
Six Steps to Cell Phone Success
In this article we help prepare you for what to expect when it comes to using a cell phone abroad by listing the six factors, procedures and zen mind tricks that help you get through your international cell phone experience. And this doesn’t just apply to an international SIM card, these tips are also useful for international roaming and rental phones with T-Mobile and AT&T.
While technology may require some understanding with the right mindset and knowledge of what to expect, using a cell phone abroad can be a useful and inexpensive part of travel that exceeds your expectations.
Your mindset – Traveling is stressful
This basic travel tip also applies to international cell phones: You’re no longer in the US At Good Old USA, things work as expected. If we are frustrated by small imperfections at home, it is because most of the time we are used to things going well.
With travel, things come up that can frustrate and irritate us. Not because other countries are careless (although they may have a different pace and process), but because we are outside of our environment and with jet lag and the barrage of new information overloading our senses it can throw even the best of us out of the game. . During these times, and especially for some people more than others, this can be a difficult time to play games on a cell phone.
International SIM Cards vs. Country-Specific SIM Cards
Before we get to how much tampering will be required, what kind of tampering, and the best way to tamper, let’s look at the international roaming challenge from an international SIM card point of view.
An overseas local carrier SIM card (for example, an Orange UK SIM used in the UK) has an easier job because it’s made by the carrier for use on their own home network.
In contrast, an international SIM card is designed to work on various carrier networks in more than 100 countries. The international SIM is expected to work on Orange in the UK and Vodafone and O2… and then our one or five networks in each of the other several dozen countries it offers service.
Considering what it is expected to do most of the time, these international SIMs do a great job.
What to expect when using an international SIM card abroad
May not work on the first try
Most of the time, your international phone and SIM will work right out of the box. However, other times it may take a minute or three to find a local network. If you (or your boss) are the type of person who explodes because your plane just landed and 5 seconds later you’re not yelling at your VP, you may not be the right person for an international SIM card.
Rarely is it a complete malfunction
Sometimes people assume the worst or give up too easily when the phone doesn’t work right away and they get frustrated, angry, sad, or upset. That’s a shame because most of the time the problem is something simple. Defective phones and SIMs are very (very) rare.
And if you just put the phone away and decide to request a refund when you get a house, be careful. Many contracts state your obligation to notify the company to give them an opportunity to help you. We’ve seen Amex refuse chargebacks if this provision is written into the contract, so consider giving the SIM card and your service provider a chance to get your phone working.
You may need to change networks in the menu
Sometimes the first network the SIM finds is not the best one for roaming. Symptoms may be that one party cannot hear the other or calls simply fail. It’s easy to go to the Settings area in the phone’s menu and look for the Search Networks option to select a different local provider.
You may have to read the instructions
It’s always the last resort, we know that. But there is probably a troubleshooting list that can help you quickly. And if you absolutely have to, read the brochure. You may find information there about the phone and the SIM card that will allow you to use it much more during your trip.
You may need to open the back of the phone
Take out the battery and make sure the SIM card is inserted correctly (or is there). Actually, you may want to do that step before proceeding. Make sure the phone contacts are in contact with the SIM card circuit. Phone reps can’t do this for you, but it can be a quick and easy fix for a broken phone. The symptom of SIM connection problems is when the phone says “Insert SIM”.
You may need to call customer service
And you may have to wait until they open in your time zone. And they may not speak perfect English. Try to relax if there is a delay, put the phone away and enjoy your trip until the office opens. Why don’t they have 24 hour customer service for travelers? Some do. If yours is not, it is because you chose the cheapest option. That is the compensation.
When it’s time to call, be nice to the person on the other end of the phone who is trying to do a good job of helping people. Trust me, I was them. We are friendly folks who enjoy helping willing travelers get their phones working.
Relax, it’s all in your mind
Traveling is travelling, people are people and technology is technology. These things happen. Deep philosophical stuff, right? The point is that with the right mindset anything can be solved. As they say in India, “Everything will be alright in the end. If it’s not alright, it’s not the end!”