Goodbye sim card!

[Ian]

And I'm not referring to esim (the latest phones are now starting to offer esim functionality, which means you don't need to install a physical sim card).

I am actually moving over to a 'virtual' phone number service. Such operators don't provide the network connectivity, as such, just the phone number and associated services, like voicemail, sms text messaging, etc.

I have been on BT Mobile, which uses the EE Network (owned by BT) for many years, but being resident in France there has been the possibility that BT would stop our roaming service. In any case, its value for money hasn't kept up with the times (the new service is £4/month cheaper), which is another reason why I'm moving to 'Xpatfone'

As they don't provide the network, the service relies on my phone's WiFi or mobile data connection, hence no sim card. We do have French mobile numbers, with mobile data (and European roaming, which includes the UK), so when no WiFi is available, Xpatfone calls will be carried by WiFi or my French mobile data connection - even when I'm in the UK.

SMS texting and everything else works just like a mobile service and it's compatible with WhatsApp (which requires a real mobile number) and for two-factor authentication text messages. I'm retaining my mobile number and porting it to the new service. Instead of the standard phone dialler, ou do have to use a dedicated app that functions as phone dialler, text messenger, and for voice mail, which is a minor inconvenience.

On the other hand, I can now make and receive calls inside the house, which has been next to impossible because of poor signal (and thick stone walls) where we are.

Interestingly, as it's a virtual number, my physical location is immaterial. My phone connects over the Internet to the UK service provider's kit and calls are routed from there. I can call any UK number from anywhere in the world I can get an Internet connection, without extra charge.

I've been asked why I still need a UK number? The answer is that it's still a much-used number for me.

Ian

[Nutmeg47]

Interesting. I've forwarded this to La Directrice to investigate since we keep a French sim card which allows us access to the security camera alerts. We still get down to our cottage in the Var quite regularly, brexit rules notwithstanding grrr.
So expect to see photos of hawkmoths and swallowtails soon.
Peter

[Melaka]

Sounds complicated. It will be interesting to see how it works.

[Ian]

Sounds complicated. It will be interesting to see how it works.

It's not really. The replacement virtual service works much like a UK mobile service regarding your number, but no mobile network connection is in the package, so it piggybacks on your WiFi or mobile data from a separate conventional mobile sim - in our case, our French mobile service (which will work in the UK via roaming).

I have already trialled it and am using it now, in parallel with my out-going BT UK sim card, until my UK number gets transferred to the virtual service next Tuesday or Wednesday.

It's not a replacement for a conventional sim card in your country of residence, but it could work for you if you want a second number on your phone, for example. The company that runs the Xpatfone service, is called Devyce, and their main business is providing virtual numbers for businesses.

As calls are routed over the Internet (Voice over IP, or VOIP), your physical location doesn't matter - all calls to UK non-premium numbers are included in the plan. And for the same reason, there is no need to provide a roaming service - your phone is, for all intents and purposes, in the UK all the time

Call quality is good. I have a mesh WiFi network at home and it does glitch a little when moving from one room (and one node) to another, but that's a minor issue when, up to now, I have to be outside to make a call, or upstairs by a window. I've also tested it in the car. As long as you have mobile data, it's good.

It's a bit like using WhatsApp, or Skype, etc. for voice calling, but with a real phone number.

Ian

[Melaka]

I used an Airalo esim in South Africa last year as an alternative to roaming on my UK one. I'm wondering what to do for our trip later next month to the Turks and Caicos and Bahamas. I doubt I'll need the phone much as I'm assuming the yacht has WiFi broadband. It's our first delivery in that part of the world for six years. The 12-100 will go and I'm wondering whether to take a longer lens too.

[Gate Keeper]

Last year plus net discontinued our static phone number in the UK and carried on providing internet which is used to monitor the property in Bristol with CCTV. Before the phone was disconnected we rarely used it, preferring to use our mobile phones with the eSIM numbers for Kenya, South Africa and the UK. I am on pay as you go, no contract and buy only data and airtime, as and when I need it. Yesterday I bought data in Nairobi which has no expiry date. It is used for streaming TV, monitoring WiFi CCTV. Payment is made via mpesa.

M-Pesa is a mobile banking service that allows users to store and transfer money through their mobile phones. M-Pesa was introduced in Kenya as an alternative way for the population of the country to have access to financial services. M-PESA is active in 7 African countries.

I use a VPN which allows me to access the UK internet without sustaining high charges. For example, I am in Nairobi, the browser says I am in London.

We don’t miss not having a static phone line, it is one less bill.

Ian, thank you for your post, please do keep us posted on how it works out for you.

[OM USer]

The old style "Pay as you Go" contracts do not seem to be available in the UK any more - you can not buy a set number of minutes and/or data and when it is used up in a few (or many) months pay to get another top-up. The current "Pay as you Go" sims are all monthly based, unused minutes/data at the end of the month are lost. I was thinking of buying an 8" tablet with sim slot to use as a SatNav running an android based SatNav app. The "minutes" usage would be zero, and the data useage would be fairly small, probably under 1GB per month. I could piggy back off my mobile with a wi-fi hot spot but as the driver (and hence phone) could vary from day to day I thought that a stand alone system would be better.

For those with an old style TomTom SatNav, they will soon cease to get traffic info as the 2G signal is slowly being turned off across the country. The latest ones do not not have a 2G/3G sim and require connecting via your phone (an option I don't want as above). 4G/5G sim hardware is much more expenive than 2G/3G hardware which is probably why they are not using it - plus which they would have to negotiate a one off fee for using essentially unlimited data with a network provider.

[Phill D]

Ah so that is probably why the satnav in my car has stopped getting traffic updates 🤔.

[OM USer]

If this is a TomTom then you need to run it up. Once the map has fully come up click on "... Menu" to see the menu. On the top right of the screen do you see a white cloud outline, two white iconised stacked cars, and the abtter symbol. All this implies it is working. Now scroll through the menu items and click on TomTom Services. This will give you a breakdown of whjat is and what is not working (activated). If it has network status as not connected then you are stuffed (but note that in poor connectivity areas this can sometimes not connect so try in the nearest city/town centre). No signal then no connectivity. If you are connected but not getting traffic then you need to logon to your TomTom account in a browser and check that you are currently subscribed. We lost traffic even though we are on a lifetime traffic plan. You can try getting through to a real person from customer services to reset the plan but this is a tricky process as the interface bot tries not to let you speak to anyone. I took a gamble and purchased a 1 month world speed for £2.99 as we needed traffic for a long trip. This worked and I immediately got the traffic activated in the settings. I then cancelled the plan before the month was out and month was out (it is a recurring auto subscribed plan) and it remembered that we had a lifetime traffic plan. Googling the issue it does seem that on older devices or perhaps ones that have not been used for a while (we sometimes don't use ours on a frequent basis) they shut down the access on the grounds that the device is too old to run any updates. This was fine many years ago when you could just call up and get it fixed but now its not that easy. This workaround worked for us but it did cost us £2.99. I can not guarantee it will work for you.

[griffljg]

The 2G signal was switched off in Australia a few years ago. The 3G system will be switched off soon (30 June 2024). I use TomTom GPS devices and so, to get traffic updates, I bought a Netgear 5G mobile hotspot which shares data with my mobile phone, which is on a month-to-month plan. It "lives" in my car and it works well. But it isn't free!

[oregon]

I'd love to hear updates on how it performs over time. I'm interested in trying it.
I'm currently relying on temporary phone numbers for SMS verifications, but exploring alternatives is always on my radar. I use the service anonymsms.com, which has the option of renting a number for up to 30 days for $30. It's reliable and works fine.

[Ian]

I'd love to hear updates on how it performs over time. I'm interested in trying it.

It's not perfect but it solves the main problem for us, being abroad and living in a house where poor mobile signal just can't get inside, and WiFi calling is unavailable on our old UK sim because it's not supported while roaming.

There are a couple of things to be aware of:

1. You need to use the ExpatFone (Devyce) app rather than the default calling app on your phone. It's fairly good, and can access your contacts, but it's not as slick as the standard phone app on my phone and of course you need to be aware of using both.
2. We have a three node mesh WiFi network in our house. I suspect that if you are on the signal border between two nodes, the data throughput can destabilise to garble the audio. The solution is to start and finish your call without moving around, if possible. If the call starts off well and you stay put, it should remain good.

While out of WiFi range, it uses the mobile data of the sim card in your phone, which is our French sim card. This generally works well, both receiving and making calls. Mobile data is not as robust as bog standard voice connections, so losing the line ca be an issue in areas of poor reception, compared to using a conventional sim card.

SMS texts work absolutely fine, including for WhatsApp ID, and bank purchase validation, as does voicemail and, of course, no matter where you are in the world, as long as your phone has Internet connection, you can make and receive unlimited calls and texts to UK numbers at no additional cost. There is also free calling to numbers in other countries, including the US, Canada, and Ireland.

I think that's it!

Ian

[wanderer]

Far less SIM cards on phones. Last week, at the opening of the new WEX store in Edinburgh, I was admiring a Hasselblad X2D 100C. After having choked on the price (£7369 and my lens of choice would add another £4500) and not even having a fully articulated screen, I was still impressed with the 1Tb SSD built in. There was a slot for a CF Express card (£300+ for 1Tb). But it does seem to indicate that perhaps cards are in the process of moving to obsolesence. Would be a pity as I am happy to carry spare or used SD cards as they take up little space or weight and you may not lose everything at once.

[Gate Keeper]

The old style "Pay as you Go" contracts do not seem to be available in the UK any more - you can not buy a set number of minutes and/or data and when it is used up in a few (or many) months pay to get another top-up. The current "Pay as you Go" sims are all monthly based, unused minutes/data at the end of the month are lost. I was thinking of buying an 8" tablet with sim slot to use as a SatNav running an android based SatNav app. The "minutes" usage would be zero, and the data useage would be fairly small, probably under 1GB per month. I could piggy back off my mobile with a wi-fi hot spot but as the driver (and hence phone) could vary from day to day I thought that a stand alone system would be better.

For those with an old style TomTom SatNav, they will soon cease to get traffic info as the 2G signal is slowly being turned off across the country. The latest ones do not not have a 2G/3G sim and require connecting via your phone (an option I don't want as above). 4G/5G sim hardware is much more expenive than 2G/3G hardware which is probably why they are not using it - plus which they would have to negotiate a one off fee for using essentially unlimited data with a network provider.

Thank you for this information, most helpful.

I have never signed a contract with Vodafone and simply top it up on direct debit, keeping the UK number going involves sending a text now and again. The top up pays for a bundle. I am thinking of changing from Vodafone but don’t know if I am allowed to keep the number or not?

I gave my Tom Tom and Garmin away as I use an app on my iPhone called Waze for Live GPS Sat Nav, it works in the UK, South and S.Africa. It shows where the police are along the route, useful for rerouting to avoid having to pay a bribe.. My wife prefers the old ways, a road map.

Thank you
Phil

[Phill D]

Ah yes maps..... remember them 😁.

[Ian]

The top-up pay as you go seems to have been replaced by rolling monthly details, called sans-engagement here in France, or without contract, in the English. It's actually a 1 month contract so you can end it without penalty at the end of the month.

[Gate Keeper]

I used an Airalo esim in South Africa last year as an alternative to roaming on my UK one. I'm wondering what to do for our trip later next month to the Turks and Caicos and Bahamas. I doubt I'll need the phone much as I'm assuming the yacht has WiFi broadband. It's our first delivery in that part of the world for six years. The 12-100 will go and I'm wondering whether to take a longer lens too.

How did your trip go?

[Phill D]

Well asked Phil, sounded exciting.

[Melaka]

In South Africa the Airalo sim worked pretty well but reception varies between camps in the Kruger.

Rather as expected the yacht does have WiFi, provided by Elon Musk's Starlink system. Starlink seems to have spread across the maritime environment like a rash. It certainly did us well.

The Turks and Caicos and the Exuma Cays are, as always, wonderful places to visit. I had to keep a few watches but that's a small price to pay for a very enjoyable fortnight. FWIW the 12-100 met all my needs including photographs of iguanas which I posted here at the time. I thought I had had my last outing under sail nearly three years ago but the yacht carries a New England Cat boat so I had a sail in her with my daughter. I must admit that at 82 it's not as easy as it used to be!

[Gate Keeper]

Thank you Phil

A yacht and cruising in the Caribbean certainly is appealing and we are interested to hear all about it. Years ago, I did a work trip to Nassau and spent a whole week there on behalf of HM Government all expenses paid, that was in the days of plenty