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SIM CARDs...forgot how to use!

Posted by (SFO) on

Hi All,
Traveling for 3 weeks to Spain & France. Need a sim card to work in both countries. Have a dual sim (primary ATT # is e-sim). New SIM will be physical card. I assume I can text the US from my e-sim when in wi-fi (with the SIM card turned off). I follow instructions but confused about what the SIM cards offer when using them in 2 countries.
Questions:

  • I want to call, text, web surf in Spain & France. Have heard that EU requires all SIM cards are required to be used in all EU. But that's not what some of them say (like Vodafone). Can any tell me what's true? -Cannot find a 3 week card, mostly just 14 days. Have used Orange successfully, except when it came to "topping off" really got ripped off & it was a big hassle. So thinking of buying 2-14 day cards or 1-30 day card: but that's pretty expensive. (Has SIM card pricing increased? -Had a wonderful poster who helped me two years ago about inserting the SIM, activating and what to turn on & off, alas I have lost that private message, Can anyone instruct me on what to turn "on" and "off" for both my esim and the new SIM card.

Sorry to be so pathetic here but the more I read online, the more confused I get. I really like avoiding the ATT outrageous pricing, but this SIM thing appears to evade my brain.

Thank you!!!

Posted by
1106 posts

EU rules require that a plan purchased in any EU country be usable in all others. However, if you have a problem in Germany with a Vodafone plan purchased in the Netherlands, Vodafone Germany won't help you. We're having this exact problem right now. Data hasn't been a problem, but calls don't go through. They went through fine in the Netherlands, but no longer.

Pfui. Vodafone won't get my business again.

Posted by
308 posts

I really only use an eSim for travel (usually Orange), and my process is very simple - load the eSIM before boarding the plane, once in flight (and in airplane mode) I turn OFF the normal ATT/Verizon/etc. SIM, and turn ON the travel eSIM. When I arrive in Europe - any country so far - even non EU (the Orange site lists the European countries it support which seems like ALL of them including the non-EU ones), I am fully on the eSIM and off my US carrier.

Orange, when it connects with whatever local carrier is available sends me a flurry of texts with my local (French) phone number and also urges me to register the number (I don't). I also generally turn on "data roaming" for the eSIM although I don't know what that helps with, but it seems like a reasonable thing to do :)

Generally, texting seems pretty straightforward - whether using wifi or cell data. I do usually switch to WhatsApp for communicating with my non-iPhone peeps. Otherwise, the texting doesn't seem to like photo attachments, while WhatsApp doesn't care as it is all data vs SMS or whatever.

Posted by
240 posts

I had that trouble with Orange, regarding a Spanish SIM, and I ended up being in France. The only way around anything was to get another SIM in France. Orange only seems to have 14 day SIMs, for the most part, but I am pretty sure my other half got one on Amazon to last a month, just lately. Unfortunately she is away, and I can't ask her! BTW, it hasn't worked very well since arriving in Europe the other day.

Posted by
2702 posts

I'm unclear from on your question, but do you want to text the US from Europe using your US phone number? If so, I think the only option is to use the AT&T international pass of some sort. If you have an iPhone you might be able to use the iMessage function with a data SIM but someone with that type of phone would need to explain further (I am Android user).

Also, even if you get a physical SIM card, your AT&T phone has to be unlocked by the carrier in or any SIM (or eSIM) will not work in your phone at all. So check that out with AT&T before you go much farther with your option evaluation.

And if you do get a SIM that works for you, it is good back up plan to have the daily AT&T pass set up on your phone. You're only charged if you turn on your AT&T SIM and access data, call, or text.

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