Recommendations please - Overseas sim cards prepaid

[fiestas*girl]

I am off to UK in a few weeks and need a prepaid sim card. I figure that a sim card providor in UK would give me good data rates.

I need majority data and less voice...

any brand suggestions please

[cherry*135]

If an Australian mobile is locked (under contract) on the Austrailan network, I think you will find it is not locked internationally.

The Australian telecom, with a locked phone under contract is still going to gets its monthly payments whether the account holder is in Australia or not, so it is no loss to them if the person goes overseas for a holiday and uses a foreign sim card.

If a locked phone is not under contract (contract period ended)  then it can be unlocked at no cost usually.

[poddster]

Not really am*3. If the phone/modem is locked to a local provider than only a sim card from that provider can be used.

To use another carrier the phone/modem needs to be unlocked. 

[cherry*135]

Not it doesn't, it is only locked on the Australian network.

[poddster]

Feista, may I suggest that you contact your provider and ask them if the phome is unlocked for overseas use before you travel 🙂

[cherry*135]

OK, my mobile a/c was POSTPAID under contract for 24 months but not locked. I used it overseas during that time with foreign sim cards.

If phone is on a postpaid contract they don't need to lock it, because you are already locked into paying a  24 month contract. (as opposed to getting a mobile on a prepaid plan)

I think fiesta is probably smart enough to already know whether she has a locked phone or not.

[poddster]

Regardless of the phone being pre or post paid the majority of phones sold are locked to the particular carrier who sold the device. Even if the device was sold as unlocked it would pay to check with your provider.

But don't take my word for it check with your provider 🙂

  Locked Phone

(Unlocked Phone)

Although there are several types of "locks" that can apply to a phone, the most talked-about type is a carrier lock, also known as a SIM lock or subsidy lock.
Many phones sold by carriers come "locked" to that carrier. A "locked" phone can only be used with that carrier; it cannot be used with another carrier's service. (Not counting roaming.)
This lock can usually be removed by entering a special code or numeric password. In some situations, some carriers will supply this code upon request by the customer; not all carriers will do this.

[cherry*135]

My mobile wasn't locked on a 24 mth post paid contract with one of the major mobile service providers.  Before I went overseas I phoned the provider to ask about using it overseas and they said it wasn't locked. I had no problem using foreign sim cards in it. When the contract expired, I was able to switch to a new provider the day after the contract expired. 

It makes sense if you are on a post paid 1 or 2 yr contract (paying off handset and monthly mobile plan?, the customer isn't aren' going to ditch it and go with another provider in, for example, 3 mths  just because it is unlocked. The customer would have to pay out their  contract & a penalty first with the first provider, to be able to change to a new provider within the contract term.

[cherry*135]

Telstra representative:

The majority of our Postpaid Mobile Handsets are not locked to the Telstra Network at all, and if for example, you have one of the Iphone range, they are locked to Telstra, but are there is no charge applied to unlock them. 

[ambercat16]

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@am*3 wrote:

Telstra representative:

The majority of our Postpaid Mobile Handsets are not locked to the Telstra Network at all, and if for example, you have one of the Iphone range, they are locked to Telstra, but are there is no charge applied to unlock them. 

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That may be true - but when we were in NZ a couple of years ago, my supposedly unlocked phone (as advised by Telstra before I left Oz) actually WAS locked and I was not able to use a locally bought sim card in it until OH, who luckily was still in Australia, made several phone calls to Telstra and in the end was able to get them to properly unlock the phone. There was a charge but after a lot of argy bargy they agreed to waive the fee.  Lots of unnecessary angst that I really could have done without LOL - but it was a few years ago so by now they MIGHT actually know what they are doing  

[punch*drunk]

but it was a few years ago so by now they MIGHT actually know what they are doing  

Not so sure about that. I bought a mobile internet thingy last week and after 45 minutes on the phone to them (my mobile so it probably cost me a squillion dollars) they still hadnt activated it and promised me a call back which never came.

Finally got it activated today with minimal fuss, wish they couldve done it right the first time though.