TIM SIM owners can now recharge online using U.S. credit cards.

The page is in Italian, but Google Chrome users can view it in English.

You mean, Google Chrome will translate the Italian page into English. It works pretty well on many pages, but it's not perfect.

Remember, a foreign transaction fee will apply on your credit card (e.g. 3% on some credit cards), though with the small amount of the recharge, it may not really matter.

Question: for how long are TIM SIM cards valid before they will expire? (So how often must one recharge them to keep one's TIM number?)

I imagine most users of Google Chrome know the translation software is not perfect, but it's good to remind people. I edited my post. If you have some knowledge of language, it's possible to work with Google Translate and do quite well. I know many Italians in the hotel business who are rusty with English, but use Google Translate to better communicate with their English-speaking customers. Google Translate really has changed communication with foreigners, especially in the travel business, and it continues to improve.

Many travelers own transaction-free credit cards, especially slow travelers like me. The smallest recharge amount on TIM.it is 6€. 3% of 6€ = 0.18. When you consider that rechargemySIM.de charges a 3.95€ service charge for each recharge, it's easy to see how TIM.it is about to put them out of business.

The TIM SIM that I own from Italy is valid for one year. There may be other SIMs that do not qualify. One recharge of 6€ on the day before it expires will keep the phone number valid for another year. Personally, I get to Italy often, so keeping my SIM active is not an issue for me. The beauty of online recharge for me: I don't need to visit a Tabac as soon as I land. I can now recharge before I leave for Italy. What's not to love about that convenience?

my experience in Italy was a Vodafone sim had better coverage than TIM

Yeah, I have a Dutch Vodafone SIM that is also good for a year, and I have set a Google Calendar reminder to myself to top it up a few days before it expires, so I can use it again on my next trip to Europe. But different mobile companies have different rules for their SIM cards, which is why I asked.

I have no-transaction fee credit cards too, but I've been surprised how many people I talk to about travel don't, which is why I mentioned it. Again - the actual amount of the foreign transaction fee may be minimal anyway, but people may forget and not bother to use a card that has no fee.

I know that some Australians refer to Rick Steves, so I'll add a reply.
If you have a Vodaphone plan in Australia, then you can use your phone in Italy as if it were in Australia. Vodaphone will bill you AUD 5.00 for each day that you use your phone overseas. This provision does not apply everywhere, for instance not in the UAE.

It does make it easy, as one does not have to change SIMs.

As in any country, your location will determine which company gives you better coverage in any given place. But overall, both Vodafone and TIM are nationwide, reliable companies.

that's great news about being able to renew from home. I'm sure lots of people will be glad to benefit from this!

I certainly didn't want this thread to descend into a who's got the best SIM match. Doesn't that constitute "off topic" in the RS TOS?

I'm not loyal to TIM because I love the company. Their SMS spam is a royal pain in the buttocks. I'm loyal because every Italian businessman and woman I work with relies on TIM for their business cell phones. I travel all over the country, and sometimes find myself on a remote mountaintop or in a helicopter. TIM hasn't failed me yet, and I absolutely adore my old-fashioned flip World Phone.

I also want readers to know this news is an exclusive scoop for U.S. travel boards, a gift to the RS forum. I'm sure others will try to imitate me (they always do), but you heard it here first.

This is nice to know! We had TIM for years when we lived in Italy and renewing a monthly plan was automatic, but if I needed to top off the credit while traveling outside of Italy, TIM would not accept the same CC as was used for the monthly autopay. Joining the 21st Century, it seems.