data only 3 sim

Gekko

I was onto 3 here asking if I could buy just a sim card for data only and they said I'd have to buy one of the Mobile Broadband PAYG sims with a USB modem.

They also said the sim card would only work in the modem and not a phone for browsing the internet and sending emails.

Anyone know if this is true?

If so, it seems Carphone Warehouse in the UK will sell you a data only sim card for 3 UK.

I meant to check whether it was cheaper to use PAYG broadband by paying for it there rather than here as well. Anyone know the answer to that one?

Sam Vimes

OMG stop the presses!!!!! three customer care gave someone an incorrect answer!!!!11111111eleven

just buy a normal 3pay sim card for €9.99. you can get an add on for €25 a month for 10 gb and it'll work for calls too. and it'll work fine in a phone. (only a 3g phone)

the smaller add ons are:
€10 for 1gb for a month
€5 for 500mb for 1 day
€10 for 2gb for a week

on contract you can get the offer of 10gb for €20 but with that you have to get the modem

thank you for calling 3 customer care....and then coming here for the right answer

Jonathan

Sam Vimes wrote: »

and it'll work fine in a phone. (only a 3g phone)

Will it not roam on voda when in a 2g phone or have they sanctioned roaming only in specific areas where they have no coverage?

Sam Vimes

jmccrohan wrote: »

Will it not roam on voda when in a 2g phone or have they sanctioned roaming only in specific areas where they have no coverage?

in some areas 2g coverage seems to allow data access but in some it doesn't. i think they got a deal to allow data access in urban areas or something like this.

but what i was saying wasn't about coverage. usually 2g phones can't even read a three sim and with the rare 2g phones that will turn on with a 3 sim in it, it won't get regular coverage in most places, never mind data coverage

Gekko

thanks guys - so it'd be cheaper to get a sim here. Will have to get one.

Will it work ok in a sim-free Nokia E71?

Jonathan

Gekko wrote: »

thanks guys - so it'd be cheaper to get a sim here. Will have to get one.

Will it work ok in a sim-free Nokia E71?

Yup.

Spipov

Sam Vimes wrote: »

OMG stop the presses!!!!! three customer care gave someone an incorrect answer!!!!11111111eleven

just buy a normal 3pay sim card for €9.99. you can get an add on for €25 a month for 10 gb and it'll work for calls too. and it'll work fine in a phone. (only a 3g phone)

the smaller add ons are:
€10 for 1gb for a month
€5 for 500mb for 1 day
€10 for 2gb for a week

on contract you can get the offer of 10gb for €20 but with that you have to get the modem

thank you for calling 3 customer care....and then coming here for the right answer

by the way, how long does the 1 day deal last?24 hours from the time you buy it on the phone?

i need to use it tomorrow, and have it in a skypephone. can i just go to my 3 and buy the 500mb 1 day thing, and use it for exactly 24 hours by popping it into my 3 usb modem and connecting to pc? thanks for replying, need to know before the morning to know whether its worth it

whisht

Yes, once you have credit, you go to my3 and purchase it there and the 24 hours starts from then

Gekko

jmccrohan wrote: »

Yup.

great - will see if I can pick one up in the morning en route to the airport as I want to use it in the UK.

Gekko

Got one of these today on Grafton St. - didn't manage to get one at the weekend.

Even got €5 credit as I had an old Meteor no. that I ported over.

But, does anyone know what the data rates are for other countries that aren't included in the 3 Like Home rates?

I want to see if it's cheaper to roam on 3 than it is on O2 in Denmark

whisht

Denmark is included in the 3 Like Home rates for prepay
http://www.three.ie/international/3pay.htm

Sam Vimes

and it won't work in countries that don.t have 3 networks. There are no rates

Gekko

whisht wrote: »

Denmark is included in the 3 Like Home rates for prepay
http://www.three.ie/international/3pay.htm

Just saw that - my bad. Thanks

Sam Vimes wrote: »

and it won't work in countries that don.t have 3 networks. There are no rates

Oh right so there's no data roaming in the other EU countries where you can roam for calls?

It seems 3 have no roaming in the US either...

Sam Vimes

Gekko wrote: »

Oh right so there's no data roaming in the other EU countries where you can roam for calls?

correct

Gekko wrote: »

It seems 3 have no roaming in the US either...

they have call roaming in the US but it's a bit shakey. no data roaming

Gekko

sorry just wanted to clarify again before I shell out some cash. If I buy one of the mobile broadband add-ons, it will work ok for internet and email in my phone, right, as opposed to being in a USB modem?

Sam Vimes

yes

Gekko

cool thanks.

Gekko

Opted for the 1GB mobile internet add-on in the end, as the 2GB mobile broadband option at the same price only lasts for a week, whereas this one lasts for a month.

Walkman

Are you using the sim in a modem or phone. If its a modem does it work cause I was told you could not use the 3pay sims in a modem even if you bought an internet add on.

Sam Vimes

who told you that? I've done it

Ah-Watch

I recently canceled a 3 contract BB, is it possible for them to switch it to PAYG broadband or are you stuck with a useless modem?

Gekko

Walkman wrote: »

Are you using the sim in a modem or phone. If its a modem does it work cause I was told you could not use the 3pay sims in a modem even if you bought an internet add on.

I'm using it in my shiny new Nokia E71

Walkman

Sam Vimes wrote: »

who told you that? I've done it

Guy in the 3store in Grafton Street.

culabula

Walkman wrote: »

Guy in the 3store in Grafton Street.

It's nonsense, I do it all the time.

Patrickof

And if you're looking for roaming and not interested in what phone number you're using, then when abroad pop into a local phone store and buy a similar PAYG €10 a month SIM. I did it with Orange in France. Didn't quite work out as cheap as I though but far cheaper than using a vodafone or o2 roaming SIM.

davemie

I bought a USB modem while in Spain over the summer and successfully got it unlocked and working with two different operators while I was in Spain. Movistar and Yoigo. Yoigo is PAYG and charge 1.20 (plus 7% VAT) a day for unlimited browsing! Anyway, I was planning to use the modem in Ireland when I returned! Sounds straight forward!

So I called into the 3 mobile shop on Patricks St Cork and tried to purchase a 3Pay mobile Internet sim. Silly me, I thought it would be as simple as that!

I was told that I would have to purchase a 3Pay Broadband Package (Inc modem) and that they don't sell the sim cards that support broadband on there own cos they needed to pair the sim with the IMEI number of the modem. Now I know this is a load of crap, but the guy ranted on that he himself was trying to do the same thing and was unsuccessful at getting a normal 3Pay sim card working with his modem.

He also appeared very suprised when I told him that laptops come with build in 3G modems now a day!

Anyway, from what you guys are saying above, it should be possible to get a normal 3Pay phone sim card and use it in my USB modem, I would just need to purchase the 3Pay Add On for Internet browsing, is this correct?

Will the Internet connection work like a normal ISP or is it HTTP only?

I only plan to use the sim in my USB modem, nothing else.

culabula

Get a 3Pay, add internet, stick in modem, configure APN in settings. No problem.

Remove revolver from pocket, point at 3-man in 3-shop and shoot at point-blank range for talking drivel.

Now please tell us (who are off to Spain) more about Yoigo,

davemie

culabula wrote: »

Now please tell us (who are off to Spain) more about Yoigo,

Yoigo is the new mobile phone operator. They mostly use the Movistar network, so coverage isn't a problem. I bought a sim card for ten euro and it came with ten euro of credit. You need a passport when buying a sim card, even PAYG! I was told ETA used PAYG phones when planting the bomb in Madrid airport Dec 2006. I think its also possible to buy a sim card online.

Anyway, one problem with Yoigo is that you can't send or receive International text messages, but that's not a problem if you are using it in a USB modem.

I believe you are charged something like 2 cent per Kb, but a maximum charge of 1.20 euro (ex 7% VAT) per day. Check out the box labeled Navegar here

I was using a Huawei E220 with the Huawei software and the below settings.

Spain - Movistar
* APN : movistar.es (Static)
* Number : *99#
* Username : MOVISTAR
* Password : MOVISTAR

Spain - Yoigo
* APN : internet (Static)
* Number : *99#
* Username : (blank)
* Password : (blank)

culabula

Thanks a mill: up until now, I've been using my Vodafone Espana SIM which is 60€ for 3 months access and includes something ludicrously small like 1GB (though beats a bill from O2 IRL of 88€ for 45 minutes).

I believe you can get the Yoigo in the 'Phone House' (aka The Crapphone Whorehouse).

I know all about the passport mallarkey -what's even worse is trying to top the blessed things up. Spanish ATMs let you go through the whole motion of topping up -which can be very long-winded -before informing you at the end, nope, sorry, can't be done, no foreign credit cards luv. Same goes for online top-ups. Irish ATMs just either grey out the option or don't even show it.

Tremendous info, I look forward to getting my hands on one.

culabula

davemie wrote: »

I was using a Huawei E220 with the Huawei software and the below settings.

Spain - Movistar
* APN : movistar.es (Static)
* Number : *99#
* Username : MOVISTAR
* Password : MOVISTAR

Spain - Yoigo
* APN : internet (Static)
* Number : *99#
* Username : (blank)
* Password : (blank)

Why both?

culabula

I believe you are charged something like 2 cent per Kb, but a maximum charge of 1.20 euro (ex 7% VAT) per day. Check out the box labeled Navegar here

Yeah, it's 1,39€ al dia with VAT. Sounds as though it's only meant to be for mobile browsing (strictly speaking) but I'll rip the árse out of it :-)

davemie

culabula wrote: »

Why both?

It was a copy n paste from my notes. I used both providers while I was in Spain. You only need the one for whichever provider you are using!

culabula

davemie wrote: »

It was a copy n paste from my notes. I used both providers while I was in Spain. You only need the one for whichever provider you are using!

OK, but does Movistar offer anything attractive data-wise?

davemie

I picked up a 3Pay sim card today in town. The girl working in the store was incredibly helpful (first time that happened). She explained everything to me and say that the 3Pay sim would probably work in my own E220 modem.

Anyway, the sim card cost 9 euro and came with 5 euro credit. I had to top the sim up with 10 euro to purchase the one week internet add on (the free 5 euro credit can only be used for calls). She set my account up with E220 selected as my phone and also switched internet access on.

I got home, put the sim into my modem and connected, started up my browser and it worked, I was looking at google.ie

But that was it, not one other website would work! Almost all of the google web sites worked, images, web search, notebook, reader. my3.three.ie also worked. Gmail and google maps didn't work.

I phoned customer service and they said, if you get a 3 modem everything will work, he also said that my3.three.ie and google websites always work for free!

I explained that the modem was built into my laptop (its not) and that I didn't want to buy a second modem. He just repeated himself over and over. If you get a 3 modem everything will work!

Feck sake!

Am I missing something? I can't understand why most of the google web sites work and nothing else does!

Sam Vimes

i'll tell you what i tell everyone who calls 3: ignore him

it sounds to me like your account hasn't been age verified yet. Back when i did it, you could access a few sites, eg google without doing it. you had to go to a store and have them photocopy your passport but i think they set up a system where you could do it over the phone by giving credit card details and having them take a small amount and credit it to your account

you say she's already set you up and it can take a while to activate. But they often lose your details and make you do it over and over again. If you think you should be verified, give it a day or two and then call them, otherwise call them now. Make sure you have a spare half hour to help them understand what you're talking about

mickger

I'm an X 3 BB customer and still have the modem. If i put my 3Pay sim in the modem would i be able to use that to get their internet service on my Laptop?

Sam Vimes

yes

mickger

Sam Vimes wrote: »

yes

Cheers

davemie

Sam Vimes wrote: »

it sounds to me like your account hasn't been age verified yet.

Cheers, I was about to head into the 3 store last Sunday to confirm my age, but I checked the connection one more time and everything worked! Not sure why it took 24 hours, but I'm happy now.

So for anyone else out there. If you have a 3 or an unlocked modem.

1. Don't believe a word any member of 3 staff tell you, especially the tech support over the phone.
2. Buy a 3Pay sim along with some additional credit for the Internet add on. (5/day, 10/week, 25/month)
3. Ask them to set the sim card up for Internet, tell them you'll be using your own phone.
4. Confirm your age so that you can browse the Internet - a credit card or ID card is required to do this.
5. Put the sim card into your modem and off you go. You may need to wait 24 hours, I did.

I'm using an unlocked Huawei E220 and everything works, it can be very very slow at times, but it works!

mickger

davemie wrote: »

Cheers, I was about to head into the 3 store last Sunday to confirm my age, but I checked the connection one more time and everything worked! Not sure why it took 24 hours, but I'm happy now.

So for anyone else out there. If you have a 3 or an unlocked modem.

1. Don't believe a word any member of 3 staff tell you, especially the tech support over the phone.
2. Buy a 3Pay sim along with some additional credit for the Internet add on. (5/day, 10/week, 25/month)
3. Ask them to set the sim card up for Internet, tell them you'll be using your own phone.
4. Confirm your age so that you can browse the Internet - a credit card or ID card is required to do this.
5. Put the sim card into your modem and off you go. You may need to wait 24 hours, I did.

I'm using an unlocked Huawei E220 and everything works, it can be very very slow at times, but it works!

Did you find that they are still blocking certain sites eg Easynews. Tried to log into that today and it wouldn't work? Doesn't seem like all the internet is open to me when surfing with the 3pay sim.

davemie

mickger wrote: »

Did you find that they are still blocking certain sites eg Easynews. Tried to log into that today and it wouldn't work? Doesn't seem like all the internet is open to me when surfing with the 3pay sim.

Yet, www.easynews.com works, I only viewed the pages before logging in as I haven't got an account.

culabula

A big thumbs UP for the Spanish YOIGO SIM, I wish all operators were as enlightened.

Buy it, stick it in phone and call Maria (as they recommend).

Then, put it in an e220 and surf. Put it in a 6120 afterwards -handset is immediately identified and they send you an SMS to advise that WAP/MMS/Internet and streaming is permitted. Then they send you the settings.

Take it out and try it in your unlocked iPhone. Everything is available to you -SMS, Internet, PalRingo, Internet Tuner, Eirtext and so on. Fabulous at 1,39€ a day.

Then call Rachida in Morocco. A 5 minute call in the middle of the day cost 67 cent. On Tuesday night before procuring the SIM an emergency call to same destination at night on roaming O2 UK SIM and equally for 5 minutes cost *eight* of your sterling pounds. Eff you sea kay.

Brilliant bargain -and best of all it is free since costs 10€ and you get 10€ credit. So I bought two. One for the iPhone and one for the E220.

¿Porqué no?

drunkmonkey

Guys just with those 3 pay sims...

Even to use the internet on your phone you have to go into planet 3 and enable internet access in my3 before you can buy a data add on, if you call CC and get them to activate internet access the sims should work after a few minutes....

The age verfication is a disaster, don't know why 3 make you do it as half the teenagers in the country are using free Bebo on there 02 phones with out any verification....I think it was tied into there licence to operate in Ireland...

I think Sam is right about giving them a penny or 2 on your credit card, it can take ages if you get age verified in store...

culabula

davemie wrote: »

Yoigo is the new mobile phone operator. They mostly use the Movistar network, so coverage isn't a problem. I bought a sim card for ten euro and it came with ten euro of credit. You need a passport when buying a sim card, even PAYG! I was told ETA used PAYG phones when planting the bomb in Madrid airport Dec 2006. I think its also possible to buy a sim card online.

Anyway, one problem with Yoigo is that you can't send or receive International text messages, but that's not a problem if you are using it in a USB modem.

I believe you are charged something like 2 cent per Kb, but a maximum charge of 1.20 euro (ex 7% VAT) per day. Check out the box labeled Navegar here

I was using a Huawei E220 with the Huawei software and the below settings.

Incidentally, you can send/receive international texts and the great thing is that they ALL cost 10c (MO).

davemie

culabula wrote: »

Incidentally, you can send/receive international texts and the great thing is that they ALL cost 10c (MO).

It didn't work for me last August, but I was charged 10c for each attempt I made. Good to know it works now!

An Ri rua

davemie wrote: »

I picked up a 3Pay sim card today in town. The girl working in the store was incredibly helpful (first time that happened). She explained everything to me and say that the 3Pay sim would probably work in my own E220 modem.

Anyway, the sim card cost 9 euro and came with 5 euro credit. I had to top the sim up with 10 euro to purchase the one week internet add on (the free 5 euro credit can only be used for calls). She set my account up with E220 selected as my phone and also switched internet access on.

I just rang 3's shop in Tullamore and was told by a young lady who answered that if I buy the sim only for 3Pay, it will only allow me the 1GB montly allowance. She said I can't buy the 10GB as its a different sim and its paired with modem sales only. Are you guys saying that the 10GB package can be bought on a 3G sim only purchase? I too believe its just a pricing mechanism, that there's no difference in the sims, but all of that is highly academic if they won't now sell the 10GB allowance to anyone using a 3G phone on 3Pay?

Any help appreciated. For God's sake, it's like the early days of mobis all over again! I own a number of unlocked phones and a Huawei modem that I paid for fully, over contract. What's their problem?

An Ri rua

Sam Vimes wrote: »

who told you that? I've done it

I've been told this yesterday on Boldchat with Cust Service on 3's website. Also today in a phonecall to 3's store in Tullamore.

I understand that the sims must be the same but can you actually top up with the 10gb allowance on a 3 pay sim (sim purchased only) as of today?

Any help appreciated Sam.

davemie

An Ri rua wrote: »

She said I can't buy the 10GB as its a different sim and its paired with modem sales only.

That's what I was told, but it does work. Buy a 3Pay sim card, add ten euro credit. Ask them to enable the sim card for Internet over your phone and prove you are over 18 so the internet is not locked down.

Log onto my3.three.ie and setup your phone as a USB modem (not sure if this is needed, but it doesn't hurt). They click buy add-on and select Daily, Weekly or Monthly Broadband. You can only buy the add on if you have enought credit in your account. You may have to wait 24 hours for this to work, I did. But you should be able to access google.com in the mean time for free without any add on, however, gmail doesn't work!

Sam Vimes

these are the options that i'm presented with when i go to buy add-ons on my 3pay handset. you can see that it's 3pay by the fact that it shows my balance on the top of the screen

not shown there is the 1gb for €10 for a month which is on a different menu (internet instead of broadband)

An Ri rua

davemie wrote: »

That's what I was told, but it does work. Buy a 3Pay sim card, add ten euro credit. Ask them to enable the sim card for Internet over your phone and prove you are over 18 so the internet is not locked down.

Log onto my3.three.ie and setup your phone as a USB modem (not sure if this is needed, but it doesn't hurt). They click buy add-on and select Daily, Weekly or Monthly Broadband. You can only buy the add on if you have enought credit in your account. You may have to wait 24 hours for this to work, I did. But you should be able to access google.com in the mean time for free without any add on, however, gmail doesn't work!

Thanks very much, man. Very decent to get back so promptly . I was so angry this afternoon after speaking to a Three store today. Annoying too, as I was passing through that town and put it off. Will get back to sorting this asap so thanks v much for your good advice. And Sam too

grey squirrel

I have an ordinary 3pay sim

I can buy any of the add-ons shown in picture (choice of 4)