Roaming

[dahamsta]

Billsthoughts post reminded me to ask, any tips for reducing roaming exposure apart from switching off data unless actually using it? Can you buy "packs" of roaming data, for example? (I'm with O2.)

[dcfc_1928]

O2 Ireland might be different, but O2 UK definitely don't have any roaming data bundles - I checked back in March, before I headed abroad for a few days.

[Dodge]

You can with o2. Not sure with prices but think you have option of either 50mb or 500mb and its still expensive enough.

EDIT; its €60 for 50mb and €90 for 500mb

Thats per billing period too, so a 7 day holiday could cover 2 bill periods.

[dahamsta]

The rates are crazy. They charge €4 per meg as standard for the 1st 4 megs. Sure a webpage carries that weight these days when you factor in the images and includes. You'd go through 50 megs in about 10 minutes of browsing.

Dodge, where'd you find those rates? I'd nearly go for the 500 meg pack.

[Dodge]

On their support forum. Its a pretty decent little tool in fairness.

I think the 'standard' data roaming ratse are €5 per meg but eveything betwwen 5 and 50 mbs is 'free' (So as 4mb is €20, 49 mb costs the same)

[dahamsta]

Hate the O2 forum, it's a terrible mish-mash of proper support and community support, the search engine is garbage, and you can't even right-click on a link to open it in a new window. Was it a community thread or a proper help page? What search terms did you use?

[thischarmingman]

This is no help to you at the moment I know, but may offer some hope. Vodaphone UK have started charging a fixed price for data roaming:


Opt in and pay just £2 a day (midnight to midnight, UK time) for 25MB in selected European countries, and 5MB elsewhere in Europe. And if you’re a frequent traveller, you can get Vodafone Data Traveller for just £10 a month.

Price plans costing £40 a month or more (with at least 900 UK minutes) give you Vodafone Data Traveller at no extra cost.

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/personal/price-plans/managing-my-costs/travelling-abroad/using-the-internet-abroad/index.htm

Eventually this is surely the way everyone will go as it's utterly ridiculously priced at the moment, but fingers crossed it becomes the norm sooner rather than later.

[dahamsta]

Nice spot. The whole per meg business is just nonsense these days, I trade in gigs now and the same applies to a fair whack of smartphone users.

What are Vodafone like these days? I moved from them because I found their CS rubbish, but O2's isn't much better and I fancy me a Google Nexus S.

EDIT: I asked on the forum (http://community.o2online.ie/t5/Coverage-Roaming/Data-roaming-charges/m-p/254382) and they responded that the bundles are specifically for roaming, and can be ordered via CS. I'll hold off until I'm away, not sure there'll be any data connectivity where I'm going. Nice of them to advertise it so widely on their site to prevent problems like what happened to poor old Billsthoughts (http://foot.ie/threads/150838-Vodafone-Bill)! (Although to be fair, I think O2 have some kind of auto-cap in place. The prices are still ridiculous though.)

[Dodge]

Sorry adam, missed the earlier post.

Thread was in the iphone section of their suport forums.

I piggybacked on a thread to ask a question. Didn't go through with it in the end because my time away covered 2 billing periods (ie I'd have had to pay €180 for 7 days access)

[dahamsta]

Another nonsense! Thanks Dodge.

[Schumi]

I heard on the radio earlier that Meteor are dropping their data roaming rates to 99c/MB which still sounds pretty expensive. It used to be €10/MB :shock:

[Dodge]

I heard something tpp, but thought it said free roaming in the EU

[dcfc_1928]

I think that only applies to voice/text?


I heard something tpp, but thought it said free roaming in the EU

[Red Army]

Best tip: Just don't use it or go to a internet cafe if your badly stuck. Seems crazy expensive and a waste of money to me.

[Dodge]

But then you probably don't need access to your e-mail when working abroad...

[Red Army]

If you have a half decent phone it will be able to pick up a wifi signal, most hotels it will have wi fi

[dahamsta]

Not everyone stays in a hotel! :)

[the 12 th man]

I heard something tpp, but thought it said free roaming in the EU

It's free roaming with Meteor alright,you've got to opt in though by texting to them (not sure what number) as you won't get it automatically.