What is a SIM Card? 

A SIM card, whether it is for use in the UK or for any other destination, is a small chip that fits into an unlocked GSM cell phone giving you a number and service. SIM stands for “Subscriber Identity Module” which basically means that all of the services from the provider are imbedded directly on the card. As long as your phone is unlocked and has the 900/1800 GSM bands you can use a UK SIM card. 

Mobile World, the carrier whose SIM cards Cellular Abroad distributes, are specifically designed for the foreigner traveling to the UK. Typically speaking, tourists going to the UK will make a larger percentage of international cell phone calls than the local. The UK Mobile World SIM card addresses this specific need by offering extremely low international rates. For example, calls to the US or Canada are a low 5 pence (about 10 cents) per minute. 

Why buy a UK SIM Card? 

There are a variety of reasons why a traveler going to the UK would want to purchase a UK SIM card but briefly, it is the most cost effective and reliable way to stay in touch. Using a UK SIM card while in the UK means that there is absolutely no roaming involved. Being on the “home” network is more reliable and less expensive than roaming. While roaming has vastly improved during the course of the last several years, it is still hasn’t  been perfected. Equally as important, it is extremely expensive to roam. Rates from US carriers are about $1 a minute in and out compared to free incoming and only 10 cents a minute to call back home. This calculates to about 1/20 of the cost! Another reason to purchase a UK SIM card is to have a UK number. Business travelers, students and tourists all benefit from having a local number. Business travelers who are trying to establish a presence or credibility in the UK often prefer to have a local number to give to their clients and business partners. Students, who usually stay for several months at a time, will inevitably meet other students and budget minded cell phone users. To give a US or other foreign phone number to another person in the UK means that they will have to pay 2 or 3 times more to make the call. Even travelers who are only going to the UK for a week or two can benefit from having a local phone number – and not just because of the low rates. In fact, many airlines, restaurants and hotels and particularly bed and breakfasts’, restrict calls to international phone numbers. If they need to reach you and you have anything other than a local number, you may be out of luck. Another reason that many tourists can appreciate is that while on vacation, they want to be left alone except for real emergencies. When and if someone’s US or Canadian phone actually does work overseas, besides the cost, anyone and everyone that has your number can call you, oftentimes for non essential calls that you would rather not take while on vacation.  What Cellular Abroad recommends is to leave your new phone number on your regular cell’s voice mail. That way, people will still be able to reach you if necessary and there is no cost to you.  

 

Can I buy just a SIM card? (requirements and compatibility)

You may be able to use your current phone and simply swap out the N. American SIM and put a UK one in. If your current carrier uses the GSM standard (like AT&T and Tmobile) and if your phone has international capabilities (900/1800 networks), you may be able to use your phone abroad with a different SIM card. However, chances are that your current phone, even if it does fit the above description, is “locked”. A cell phone that has been locked means that the carrier has configured the phone to accept only their own SIM card. The reason they do this is clear – if you swap out the SIM card, you will not be using their service and they don’t make any money. Still, carriers can and will unlock your phone in most cases (the exception is if you are a new customer). Ask them for the subsidy code for you phone and they will usually get it to you in a day or two. 

There is no way to know if your phone has been locked by just looking at it. However, chances are that it has been. The only reason that it won’t be locked is that you purchased it through a vendor who happens also carry non “official” phones. Most carriers only offer a handful of phones yet there are hundreds of models out there. Therefore, resellers often sell models that the carriers recommend as well as other models. Still, if you put a different SIM card in the phone than what it usually uses, from a different carrier, and it accepts it, that means that the phone is unlocked. If it is unlocked it will work for any and all carriers – as long as it has the proper networks. Our recommendation is that, even if you are sure your phone is locked but have never tested it overseas, insert a SIM card from another provider in the phone before you actually depart to verify that it accepts it. If it says, “contact provider” or “enter subsidy code”, you know that your phone is locked.  

Adding call credit 

Cellular Abroad has made it extremely easy for you to add call credit to your UK based SIM card. The easiest way is to call Cellular Abroad 7 days/week from the UK. You will get a live representative and he or she can give you a recharge code directly over the phone which you can add immediately to your account. We can use the credit card information that we have on file, or, if you prefer, a different credit card. If you need additional talk time and have yet to order the SIM card, you can purchase more talk time with your order. We will send you a physical voucher together with your SIM card. Please note that we cannot refund our customers for call credit so order no more than what you think you will use.

Roaming

 

You can not use your UK based Mobile World SIM card outside of the area for which it was designed, which is the UK.  

Tips

We have compiled a short list of tips associated with cellular service and travel. Many of these tips are courteous of our customers. If you have other tips or recommendations that you would like to share, Cellular Abroad would be happy to hear them. 

Leave your new phone number on your current cell phone

Before you depart, you may want to leave your new cell phone number on your current cell phone’s voicemail. Remember to mention the proper dialing procedure to call to the UK, including the country code (011-44-phone number). Another option is to forward your home number to your UK one. However, Cellular Abroad does not recommend this approach as the costs to forward calls from cell phones are high.

Enter phone number into speed dial 
You may safely enter phone numbers onto your phone from the US or Canada. Please remember that from the UK to call North America, the dialing sequence is 001, followed by the area code, then the phone number (ex. 001-212-555-1212).

Get non 800 numbers 
You may need to call back home to 800 numbers (ex. Credit card companies to pay your bill or report losses, etc.). There is nothing more aggravating than calling a toll free number from abroad to resolve an issue and not having that number work from overseas. In fact, the majority of 800 numbers do not work internationally. The ones that do by the way are not toll free from overseas so you might as well get a non toll free number.

This is quite a common issue and we highly recommend that this step becomes part of your trip planning procedure. 

Call credit card company and let them know you are traveling

Another aggravation, and a common one at that, is for your US or Canada based credit card to stop working while overseas. Imagine attempting to pay for a meal at a restaurant only to find out that your credit card use has been temporarily restricted due to your own “suspicious” use pattern. It very much makes sense to let your credit card company’s customer service know that you will be using the card overseas so they do not think that it is being used fraudulently. Also, it is useful to give them your new UK cell phone number just in case they need to reach you.

Give your number to airline carriers and hotels 
One tip that we have received is based upon a travel nightmare. A well known airline (without mentioning any names), lost but then found a traveler’s luggage. The traveler had given them a US cell phone number that worked in abroad. However, due to restrictions, this particular airline carrier could not contact the customer until well into his trip. The moral of the story is, make sure that all parties that you will be doing business with in the UK that may need to contact you have your new phone number.

Don’t pack your phone in your suitcase 
Speaking of lost luggage, we do not recommend that you pack your phone in your suitcase. If it gets lost or stolen, that means that you will be without cellular communication for the length of the trip.

Don’t forget your charger in your hotel 
This may seem obvious but it happens more than you know. One trick is to wrap the cord around something that you know you will not forget, like a book or a shoe. This may sound like strange advice but it is effective.

UK SIM card FAQs

Can I keep my US phone number 
You cannot retain your current US phone number. Every SIM card has a unique phone number associated with it. 

What area code does my SIM have?

Unlike North America, most countries do not associate cities to phone numbers. Phone numbers have their own unique area codes that differentiate them from land lines.

Is the SIM card in English? 
All menu prompts are in English. 

How do I add call time? 
The easiest and quickest way to add talk time is to call Cellular Abroad 7 days/week . We will give you a pin code or codes for you to enter onto the handset. This will give you immediate talk time. You may also purchase talk time locally as per our instructions.

Is there voicemail?

Yes, there is. 

Can I send emails? 
At this time, you cannot send emails. You can, however, send and receive text messages. 

Is there GPRS? 
There is no GPRS available as of this time.

Can I roam outside of the UK?

You can not roam outside of the UK with a Mobile World SIM card.

How much are phone calls? 
Phone calls are free to receive and are 5 pence to call the US or Canada and 15 pence to call within the country.

Can I use my US/Canada phone? 
If your phone is unlocked and a GSM phone with the 900 and 1800 bands, you will be able to use your phone. Simply purchase a UK SIM card and insert it in your phone. Chances are, your handset also has a multi voltage power supply. You will, however, need a plug adapter for the outlet.

How good is the coverage? 
Coverage in Europe in general, including the UK, is, overall, superb. However, there may be instances, particularly in very remote areas or indoors where coverage is low or not available. Mobile World uses the T-Mobile network for service.