SIM Cards from other countries - Treo Forum

irishgoaltender22 · 08-17-2008, 04:17 AM

I live just outside of Chicago, but do like to travel. I have been to Canada twice in the past three years and my wife and I are already looking at making annual visits to our neighbor to the north. One of the problems obvious is that we get hit with roaming rates from Tmobile when we are there since we are now on the Rogers network.

My question is, how do SIM cards work?

Can I buy any SIM card from another carrier, in this case Rogers, put it in my phone, and avoid roaming charges? If so, what is my phone number since it is associated with the SIM?

Example

Or, do I have to buy a pre-paid SIM card from Rogers, that will provide me with a Canadian phone number?

Example

Pete Lorenz · 08-17-2008, 10:55 AM

You could do either one. I'd call Rogers, first.
As far as a different phone number; your T-Mobile / 680 has a call forwarding feature.
Get the new SIM and before you take your "real" one out, set all calls to be forwarded to the new SIM's phone number, ay?

irishgoaltender22 · 08-17-2008, 12:11 PM

The SIM card has your phone number stored on it, so that is what the network recognized when a number is entered... I would think if I bought a SIM off eBay, like that second example, that it would be one with no number attached to it.. or are you saying that the 680 has a feature that would forward all calls to my Tmobile SIM to this new SIM so in a way it serves as its own network?

I thought SIMs need to be activated, which includes assigning a number to them. That is why I am unsure of the second one.

Pete Lorenz · 08-17-2008, 12:35 PM

If I understand things (no guarantee of that), if I walk into a Wal-Mart and buy a prepaid SIM, there is a phone # assigned to it (otherwise, no one could call me).
Once I know that #, I can then forward my calls to it.

....unless...... we can only forward calls to another T-Mobile #..........
I'll get back to you.

irishgoaltender22 · 08-17-2008, 09:34 PM

Your understanding and mine appear to be the same.

The eBay SIM I was looking at was a SIM someone got with a phone they bought, but to my knowledge it had no number attached to it.

TazUk · 08-18-2008, 03:15 PM

If it's an unregistered SIM, which is sounds like it is, then you're right it will not have a number associated with it. A SIM needs to be registered before it can be used. Prepaid SIM's come pre-registered, contract SIM's get registered as part of the contract setup process.

irishgoaltender22 · 08-18-2008, 05:41 PM

The seller for the eBay SIM responded by saying I would have to take the SIM to a Rogers store and have them activate it and register it, thus giving it a number... once I figure in the fees for this, plus minutes and the time it would take, option 1 for $59 pre-registered seems like a better choice.

Thanks for the responses.

08-17-2008, 04:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
irishgoaltender22 Senior Treonaut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago My Treo: Treo 680 My Carrier: T-Mobile My OS: XP Posts: 397 Thanks: 65 Thanked 95 Times in 51 Posts	SIM Cards from other countries I live just outside of Chicago, but do like to travel. I have been to Canada twice in the past three years and my wife and I are already looking at making annual visits to our neighbor to the north. One of the problems obvious is that we get hit with roaming rates from Tmobile when we are there since we are now on the Rogers network. My question is, how do SIM cards work? Can I buy any SIM card from another carrier, in this case Rogers, put it in my phone, and avoid roaming charges? If so, what is my phone number since it is associated with the SIM? Example Or, do I have to buy a pre-paid SIM card from Rogers, that will provide me with a Canadian phone number? Example __________________ Lifetime Cubs fan record : 1,916 - 1,996 (.489) (06/23/84 - 09/21/08) Palm lllc > Sony Clie NX60 > Palm Z22 (sold, too small) > Treo 680

08-17-2008, 10:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Pete Lorenz Senior Treonaut Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Body in San Diego; Heart in NYC My Treo: Treo 680 My Carrier: T-Mobile My OS: XP Posts: 471 Thanks: 168 Thanked 80 Times in 61 Posts	You could do either one. I'd call Rogers, first. As far as a different phone number; your T-Mobile / 680 has a call forwarding feature. Get the new SIM and before you take your "real" one out, set all calls to be forwarded to the new SIM's phone number, ay? __________________ Palm V > Treo 650; eventually modded ROM > Treo 680 > World Domination

08-17-2008, 12:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
irishgoaltender22 Senior Treonaut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago My Treo: Treo 680 My Carrier: T-Mobile My OS: XP Posts: 397 Thanks: 65 Thanked 95 Times in 51 Posts	The SIM card has your phone number stored on it, so that is what the network recognized when a number is entered... I would think if I bought a SIM off eBay, like that second example, that it would be one with no number attached to it.. or are you saying that the 680 has a feature that would forward all calls to my Tmobile SIM to this new SIM so in a way it serves as its own network? I thought SIMs need to be activated, which includes assigning a number to them. That is why I am unsure of the second one. __________________ Lifetime Cubs fan record : 1,916 - 1,996 (.489) (06/23/84 - 09/21/08) Palm lllc > Sony Clie NX60 > Palm Z22 (sold, too small) > Treo 680

08-17-2008, 12:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pete Lorenz Senior Treonaut Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Body in San Diego; Heart in NYC My Treo: Treo 680 My Carrier: T-Mobile My OS: XP Posts: 471 Thanks: 168 Thanked 80 Times in 61 Posts	If I understand things (no guarantee of that), if I walk into a Wal-Mart and buy a prepaid SIM, there is a phone # assigned to it (otherwise, no one could call me). Once I know that #, I can then forward my calls to it. ....unless...... we can only forward calls to another T-Mobile #.......... I'll get back to you. __________________ Palm V > Treo 650; eventually modded ROM > Treo 680 > World Domination

08-17-2008, 09:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
irishgoaltender22 Senior Treonaut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago My Treo: Treo 680 My Carrier: T-Mobile My OS: XP Posts: 397 Thanks: 65 Thanked 95 Times in 51 Posts	Your understanding and mine appear to be the same. The eBay SIM I was looking at was a SIM someone got with a phone they bought, but to my knowledge it had no number attached to it. __________________ Lifetime Cubs fan record : 1,916 - 1,996 (.489) (06/23/84 - 09/21/08) Palm lllc > Sony Clie NX60 > Palm Z22 (sold, too small) > Treo 680

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08-18-2008, 03:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
TazUk Mostly harmless Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kent, UK My Treo: Treo 750v My Carrier: Vodaphone My OS: XP Posts: 3,670 Thanks: 154 Thanked 397 Times in 311 Posts	If it's an unregistered SIM, which is sounds like it is, then you're right it will not have a number associated with it. A SIM needs to be registered before it can be used. Prepaid SIM's come pre-registered, contract SIM's get registered as part of the contract setup process. __________________ Treo 180 > Treo 270 > Treo 650 > Treo 750v (Running WM6) + Treo 500v + Centro "Going to church no more makes you a christian than sleeping in your garage makes you a car." *Garrison Keillor*

08-18-2008, 05:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
irishgoaltender22 Senior Treonaut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago My Treo: Treo 680 My Carrier: T-Mobile My OS: XP Posts: 397 Thanks: 65 Thanked 95 Times in 51 Posts	The seller for the eBay SIM responded by saying I would have to take the SIM to a Rogers store and have them activate it and register it, thus giving it a number... once I figure in the fees for this, plus minutes and the time it would take, option 1 for $59 pre-registered seems like a better choice. Thanks for the responses. __________________ Lifetime Cubs fan record : 1,916 - 1,996 (.489) (06/23/84 - 09/21/08) Palm lllc > Sony Clie NX60 > Palm Z22 (sold, too small) > Treo 680

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