Re: PAYG eSim
 

I dont know about wifi calling I know there is a setting on my phone that mentions that. To be honest to make calls to UK numbers i use Moremins. I have a Spanish Sim that comes as part of my internet broadband package. With the Spanish Sim i get unlimited free calls to Spanish mobile or landline number, texts to same and 5gb of data. The moremins app allows me somehow to call any uk landline or mobile using my spanish free minutes with an addition of 2 cents per minute taken off credit on the moremins app. It works very well its not via internet simply goes through as a standard call from my spanish number. It is only any good obviously of you have a sim that has free calls included but if you have its a cheap and simple way to make international calls. I used to pay 40 euros here in Spain for my internet plus about 8 euros a month for spanish Sim. I got a new mains broadband deal faster more reliable mains broadband including spanish sim for 30 euros all in, it even allows free roaming in the uk so i can use my spanish sim in uk to call uk numbers for free. Ive been using this now for 3 1/2 years never increased and with moremins for odd uk call from Spain to uk its a very cost effective set up .

Re: PAYG eSim
 

There's no guarantee that the operator allows WiFi calling from WiFi access points abroad, in fact most don't as that would be a way around those juicy roaming charges. E.g. Orange Spain and Simyo don't, and neither does Three UK.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

If you have a setup that works then there's no need to tweak something that's doing its job just fine.

Another solution is to just have your Spanish mobile with Digi as their 'Digi Combo' tariff can be used to call landlines and mobiles pretty much anywhere in the world as part of your included minutes. Took me a while to find this solution (was with three other networks before this).

Yeah, that's precisely the problem: some networks want you to be hit with those hefty roaming charges so they'll either disable wifi-calling when abroad or even completely. Nasty, greedy, bas.....

Re: PAYG eSim
 

Lobster. You can 'park' your number more or less at will.

https://www.lobster.es/help/how-can-i-park-my-number/

Re: PAYG eSim
 

Yes Digi can include international minutes in the package as can Mas Movil. My wife pays around 6 euros per month for MasMovil for that she gets 100 spanish minutes 100 international minutes and enough data to easily fit her needs. Generally if either of us need to call UK we use her free minutes. The only reason we both keep a Three Sim is it allows people in uk to call us on a uk number without excessive cost, if we just used Digi or Masmovil Sim then that would be UK calling a Spanish number. 2 Sims is not an issue with dual Sim phones. As you say its what works for the individual.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

We do that a lot too with my Digi number (using my phone for int'l calls). The good thing about Digi is that it piggybacks off of the Movistar network, so you're always well-connected everywhere. Come to think of it Movistar is also a good choice as they too include international calls as part of your minutes (UK landlines and mobiles also qualify)... AND... they include roaming in the UK. I'm just too lazy to switch though... so I just top up my Lyca SIM when travelling via the UK.

I know your Three SIM works like a charm with no costs or validity deadlines looming all the time, but if something ever changes then Skype might be a good solution with their local number feature. You can get a UK landline number within minutes and then all calls will be forwarded to the app on your phone. Knowing Skype they probably charge for this though, so not a better solution than what you've already got right now.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

Seems useful but it all depends on whether you need to have access to incoming SMS (which are always free, even when roaming). Lobster switches off your number completely so that nothing works, whereas if you just keep a number valid the normal way then you can still receive free SMS anywhere in the world, for instance if you need any banking codes (2FA) or stuff like.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

Skype local number is around £4 per month (depending on which country your Skype account is registered)

Re: PAYG eSim
 

I find the App and Company Airalo a good service and economical. Their esim selection is not limited to Spain and when an esim is bought and activated you can top up as required anytime. The whole esim concept takes some getting use to. However, once an esim is purchased, Airalo has a good step by step instruction guide in the App. Most importantly, your phone must be configured to use esims otherwsie it defeats the purpose.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

That might be a good company for the one-off SIM somewhere far away when traveling, but most of us have normal cards in a handful of countries (Spain+UK+more) that we can usually convert to eSIM to keep them easily stored on our phone.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

Airalo are great if you just need data for any relatively short trips. I have used them a lot.

The main problem in the context of this thread is that for most countries you don’t get a phone number and cannot make normal calls with an Airalo eSIM they are typically data only eSIMs.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

About that, on Simyo prepaid is there an easy way to change tariffs where the change happens at the end of the current period instead of instantly?

With Digi I can just set a new tariff that will apply from the next renewal date, but with Simyo I have been taking no chances and doing it the hard way: setting the tariff to not renew... waiting until midnight on the renewal date, activating a new tariff.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

Ill have to have another look but I always thought you can make changes to take effect on the next billing cycle.

Re: PAYG eSim
 

It might be different if you're on a plan which is what I have with Digi, but with Simyo prepaid I believe you can only change the monthly tariff by selecting a new one and activating it instantly.

Since it was the last day of the current tariff I decided to do it anyway and that's exactly what happened: your old and new plan overlap on that very day so basically you just lose a day compared to a regular renewal of the same plan.

Of course there is a workaround by switching off the auto-renewal and waiting until after midnight to purchase a new tariff, but today I just couldn't be bothered... :)

Re: PAYG eSim
 

Ah interesting - I’d prefer to keep the end of current period but it has crept forward from 1st of the month as I’ve changed tariff. I’ll try this trick.

Edit: Looks like you’d lose any accumulated data though