Click below to
find interesting
information on
from our latest
newsletter
relating to:
Mobile Phones
Travel
Roaming
Previous
newsletters
include:
February 2010
Mobile
Phones
Micro SIMs
Apple
recently
launched their
new iPad tablet
device, running
a version of the
iPhone software.
In common with
the iPhone, the
iPad includes a
SIM card for
connectivity
over the
wireless
networks (in the
case of the iPad,
we suspect more
for data
services than
voice).
However the
iPad SIM is
actually a
format that has
not ben seen on
these shores
previously.
Called a
"Micro-SIM", it
is smaller than
the standard
"Mini-SIM"
(which therefore
won't fit into
an iPad).
The
electrical
contacts are the
same dimensions,
and the
electrical
properties are
also identical -
the external
dimensions are
the only
difference.
Theoretically, a
normal Mini-SIM
could be cut
down to the size
of a Micro-SIM
and would work
(the chip inside
a SIM is under
the gold-plated
contacts, so
cutting the
plastic
surrounds will
not disable the
SIM). You would
need some tools,
patience and a
good eye; most
users will not
cut into their
SIMs, we'd
guess.
Australian
carriers
(Telstra, Optus,
Vodafone) have
said they will
fast-track
Micro-SIMs,
presumably to
have stock when
the iPad
launches into
Australia. If
you plan on
purchasing an
iPad, just be
aware that you
will need a new
Micro-SIM as
well.
Traveling
Overseas
South
Africa
World
Cup
It is less
than 100 days
until the start
of the next
World Cup (June
11th is the
first kick-off,
although
Australia's
first Group D
match against
Germany is on
June13th in
Durban).
There have
been reports
that crowd
numbers are
likely to be
less than
capacity as
advance ticket
sales have been
slow. This has
been attributed
to high prices
for internal
airfares (the
venues are in
cities that
require some
travel) and
hotel rooms.
Not mentioned
so far is the
cost of
telecommunications,
however at vRoam
we know
travellers to
sporting events
rely on their
mobiles
extensively and
would (if
roaming) face
bills of many
hundreds of
dollars on their
return. At
vRoam, not
content with
saving our
customers large
amounts on their
calls (our vSIM
rates are just
$1.10 per minute
to call back to
Australia,
instead of
Optus' $5.50),
but for
travellers to
the World Cup in
June/July vRoam
will offer free
rentals. To
obtain this
special offer,
simply add the
promotion code
"World Cup" to
your vSIM
order.
Roaming
EU
roaming
caps
Starting this
month (and fully
implemented by
July), EU
residents
roaming
throughout
Europe will have
their mobile
service cut off
once they have
incurred 50
Euros (or a
customer-set
limit) of
roaming
expenses.
The new EU
regulation is
designed to
avoid
increasingly-common
"bill shocks"
caused by
unintended usage
of high-priced
roaming calls
and data.
Travellers have
to contact their
carrier once cut
off, acknowledge
that they
understand the
roaming prices
being charged
and are then
re-connected.
Although this
highlights the
often-unexpctedly
high cost of
roaming, it will
have no effect
on Australian
travellers as it
is an internal
EU regulation
only. Australian
travellers to
Europe (and
elsewhere) will
still be paying
high roaming
costs and facing
exceptional
bills when they
return.
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