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Top tip if you do a lot of 'roaming' (and are UK based), join the Three network: http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home http://www.three.co.uk/Disc

by JonCox 11y ago

Top tip if you do a lot of 'roaming' (and are UK based), join the Three network: http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home I've not quite figured out why more networks don't have deals like this in place, as a customer it can take like 1 holiday to wipe out price differences between network base prices.

kalleboo 11y ago
I never understood why Vodafone didn't do it. They have a massive presence globally (wikipedia says networks in 21 countries and partners in 40), and they could overnight capture 100% of the traveling businessman market if they'd get all their networks under one tariff.
- tormeh 11y ago
  Roaming is a big source of income for many carriers, probably including Vodafone. Since customers rarely evaluate carriers on roaming charges it's a free-for-all.
- DrJokepu 11y ago
  My understanding is that certain other European Vodafone subsidiaries (e.g. Vodafone Hungary[0]) do it, but not Vodafone UK for some reason. [0] http://www.vodafone.hu/eng/phones-plans/pay-monthly-plans/red/services#roaming http://www.vodafone.hu/eng/phones-plans/pay-monthly-plans/re...
flurdy 11y ago
Does the Three "Feel at home" have any small print? Is the data capped, or throttled? Is the coverage where the free roaming is included limited? It is tempting as it does seem to include the 3 countries I split my year between (UK, Norway & Spain), but it is £2 to £4 more per month than my current Giffgaff sim.
- guava 11y ago
  This is the small print for "Feel at Home": http://www.three.co.uk/Privacy_Cookies/Terms_Conditions?content_aid=1220482374514 http://www.three.co.uk/Privacy_Cookies/Terms_Conditions?cont... Points of interest: * Unlimited data in the UK translates to 25GB * "Three reserves the right to suspend the international roaming when in a selected destination if the customer’s use exceeds any of the above limits for two (2) months within a twelve (12) month period. The service will be reinstated once the customer returns to the UK." * "This offer is intended to be used by UK residents travelling abroad, and Three reserves the right to suspend the service in the event the UK allowance is used exclusively abroad for three (3) months within a twelve (12) month period."
- mintone 11y ago
  > If you have all-you-can-eat data you can use up to 25GB. If you have all-you-can-eat texts you can send up to 5,000 texts. If you have 3,000 or more minutes included in your allowance you can use up to 3,000 minutes. It's not small print in as much as it's very clearly stated on their website. I split my time between the UK and Italy, with some work in Hong Kong & the US - therefore it's perfect for me. I don't run over and pay approx £30 a month regardless of travel on a sim only, month by month plan. I do have one of their old sims though which has unlimited everything. The only point of note I guess is that the internet is a little slow in Italy but then I'm also comparing that to my Italian 4G phone on Wind. Long story short, it's an excellent deal which has played a major part in keeping me retained as a customer.
  - cultureulterior 11y ago
    Do you tether/does your contract allow tethering?
    - loopbit 11y ago
      I have Three in Ireland with the same deal and yes, tethering is allowed.
      - 11y ago
blawson 11y ago
You could probably run a cheeky business selling Three data-only sims to US customers, as Feel at home applies to using the data in the US!
- ifmw 11y ago
  Unless the SIM becomes active on the UK network every 28 days, service will be deactivated within 3 months and won't work again until 10 further months of activity in the UK.
  - mavhc 11y ago
    With some kind of post your sim back to the uk system, have n customers and n+1 sims, rotate them as needed
m5rcc 11y ago
o2 Travel seems to have the best roaming tether option out there: "Unlimited" European data for £1.99/day

by JonCox 11y ago

kalleboo 11y ago

I never understood why Vodafone didn't do it. They have a massive presence globally (wikipedia says networks in 21 countries and partners in 40), and they could overnight capture 100% of the traveling businessman market if they'd get all their networks under one tariff.

tormeh 11y ago
Roaming is a big source of income for many carriers, probably including Vodafone. Since customers rarely evaluate carriers on roaming charges it's a free-for-all.
DrJokepu 11y ago
My understanding is that certain other European Vodafone subsidiaries (e.g. Vodafone Hungary[0]) do it, but not Vodafone UK for some reason. [0] http://www.vodafone.hu/eng/phones-plans/pay-monthly-plans/red/services#roaming http://www.vodafone.hu/eng/phones-plans/pay-monthly-plans/re...

flurdy 11y ago

Does the Three "Feel at home" have any small print? Is the data capped, or throttled? Is the coverage where the free roaming is included limited? It is tempting as it does seem to include the 3 countries I split my year between (UK, Norway & Spain), but it is £2 to £4 more per month than my current Giffgaff sim.

guava 11y ago
This is the small print for "Feel at Home": http://www.three.co.uk/Privacy_Cookies/Terms_Conditions?content_aid=1220482374514 http://www.three.co.uk/Privacy_Cookies/Terms_Conditions?cont... Points of interest: * Unlimited data in the UK translates to 25GB * "Three reserves the right to suspend the international roaming when in a selected destination if the customer’s use exceeds any of the above limits for two (2) months within a twelve (12) month period. The service will be reinstated once the customer returns to the UK." * "This offer is intended to be used by UK residents travelling abroad, and Three reserves the right to suspend the service in the event the UK allowance is used exclusively abroad for three (3) months within a twelve (12) month period."
mintone 11y ago
> If you have all-you-can-eat data you can use up to 25GB. If you have all-you-can-eat texts you can send up to 5,000 texts. If you have 3,000 or more minutes included in your allowance you can use up to 3,000 minutes. It's not small print in as much as it's very clearly stated on their website. I split my time between the UK and Italy, with some work in Hong Kong & the US - therefore it's perfect for me. I don't run over and pay approx £30 a month regardless of travel on a sim only, month by month plan. I do have one of their old sims though which has unlimited everything. The only point of note I guess is that the internet is a little slow in Italy but then I'm also comparing that to my Italian 4G phone on Wind. Long story short, it's an excellent deal which has played a major part in keeping me retained as a customer.
- cultureulterior 11y ago
  Do you tether/does your contract allow tethering?
  - loopbit 11y ago
    I have Three in Ireland with the same deal and yes, tethering is allowed.
    - 11y ago

blawson 11y ago

You could probably run a cheeky business selling Three data-only sims to US customers, as Feel at home applies to using the data in the US!

ifmw 11y ago
Unless the SIM becomes active on the UK network every 28 days, service will be deactivated within 3 months and won't work again until 10 further months of activity in the UK.
- mavhc 11y ago
  With some kind of post your sim back to the uk system, have n customers and n+1 sims, rotate them as needed

m5rcc 11y ago

o2 Travel seems to have the best roaming tether option out there: "Unlimited" European data for £1.99/day