I have just returned from a trip to Denmark where I was unable to use
my Vodafone (pay as you talk) to make calls. Texts worked fine. I
contacted Vodafone customer services and they told me (1) they have no
agreement with any Danish network, (2) that I would need to do a
manual network discovery to make sure I was connected to the correct
network (thus contradicting 1) then (3) they have no agreement with
Canada (thus suggesting they had not read my e-mail). I will be
making my views known.

My question to the experts here is that if I change to another network
and keep my number, will I be in the same position? Or is the network
identified by a method other than looking at the phone number?

Thanks
Scott

"Scott" wrote in message
...
I have just returned from a trip to Denmark where I was unable
to use
my Vodafone (pay as you talk) to make calls. Texts worked
fine. I
contacted Vodafone customer services and they told me (1) they
have no
agreement with any Danish network, (2) that I would need to do
a
manual network discovery to make sure I was connected to the
correct
network (thus contradicting 1) then (3) they have no agreement
with
Canada (thus suggesting they had not read my e-mail). I will
be
making my views known.

My question to the experts here is that if I change to another
network
and keep my number, will I be in the same position? Or is the
network
identified by a method other than looking at the phone number?

Thanks
Scott



Two things:
Some overseas operators will not permit PAYG phones to log on if
they don't run a PAYG service themselves.
Look at the Vodafone roaming data. If they don't have an
agreement you can dial a prefix code to gain access.



--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

On Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:35:12 -0000, "Woody"
wrote:

"Scott" wrote in message
.. .
I have just returned from a trip to Denmark where I was unable
to use
my Vodafone (pay as you talk) to make calls. Texts worked
fine. I
contacted Vodafone customer services and they told me (1) they
have no
agreement with any Danish network, (2) that I would need to do
a
manual network discovery to make sure I was connected to the
correct
network (thus contradicting 1) then (3) they have no agreement
with
Canada (thus suggesting they had not read my e-mail). I will
be
making my views known.

My question to the experts here is that if I change to another
network
and keep my number, will I be in the same position? Or is the
network
identified by a method other than looking at the phone number?

Thanks
Scott



Two things:
Some overseas operators will not permit PAYG phones to log on if
they don't run a PAYG service themselves.

I was logged on. As I stated, I was able to send and receive texts. I
even received a welcome message when I arrived in Denmark.

Look at the Vodafone roaming data. If they don't have an
agreement you can dial a prefix code to gain access.

Not sure what you mean by 'data' but the PAYG section of the website
states:

"With Vodafone Passport you can take your UK rates abroad to over 35
countries, including Australia and New Zealand. So you can call home
without worrying about the cost."

Denmark is listed as one of these countries.

And before you ask Vodafone also confirmed there was no international
roaming bar.

On 26 Jan, 19:35, "Woody" wrote:
"Scott" wrote in message

...



I have just returned from a trip to Denmark where I was unable
to use
my Vodafone (pay as you talk) to make calls. *Texts worked
fine. *I
contacted Vodafone customer services and they told me (1) they
have no
agreement with any Danish network, (2) that I would need to do
a
manual network discovery to make sure I was connected to the
correct
network (thus contradicting 1) then (3) they have no agreement
with
Canada (thus suggesting they had not read my e-mail). *I will
be
making my views known.

My question to the experts here is that if I change to another
network
and keep my number, will I be in the same position? *Or is the
network
identified by a method other than looking at the phone number?

Thanks
Scott

Two things:
Some overseas operators will not permit PAYG phones to log on if
they don't run a PAYG service themselves.
Look at the Vodafone roaming data. If they don't have an
agreement you can dial a prefix code to gain access.

--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

With Vodafone you'll need to use the full telephone number e.g.
+44207.......

If your connected to a network but that method fails then you'll need
to type *#123*0044207......# Your phone will say 'requesting' or
something similar and return to the standby screen. Vodafone's system
will then call you back and when you answer the call they will connect
you to the number. This method is required on some foreign networks
that can't handle the real-time billing requirements of pay as you go.

As for porting a number: Your phone number doesn't have anything to
do with which networks you can use - it's determined by your network
operator. When you switch on your phone the SIM card number is sent
to the network to identify the subscription etc. Therefore, if you
changed say to an O2 contract, you'd have the same network access as a
number that had always been on O2 contract - if that makes sense!

On Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:00:25 -0800 (PST), JL
wrote:

On 26 Jan, 19:35, "Woody" wrote:
"Scott" wrote in message

...



I have just returned from a trip to Denmark where I was unable
to use
my Vodafone (pay as you talk) to make calls. *Texts worked
fine. *I
contacted Vodafone customer services and they told me (1) they
have no
agreement with any Danish network, (2) that I would need to do
a
manual network discovery to make sure I was connected to the
correct
network (thus contradicting 1) then (3) they have no agreement
with
Canada (thus suggesting they had not read my e-mail). *I will
be
making my views known.

My question to the experts here is that if I change to another
network
and keep my number, will I be in the same position? *Or is the
network
identified by a method other than looking at the phone number?

Thanks
Scott

Two things:
Some overseas operators will not permit PAYG phones to log on if
they don't run a PAYG service themselves.
Look at the Vodafone roaming data. If they don't have an
agreement you can dial a prefix code to gain access.

--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

With Vodafone you'll need to use the full telephone number e.g.
+44207.......

Thanks. I should have mentioned I did that too.

If your connected to a network but that method fails then you'll need
to type *#123*0044207......# Your phone will say 'requesting' or
something similar and return to the standby screen. Vodafone's system
will then call you back and when you answer the call they will connect
you to the number. This method is required on some foreign networks
that can't handle the real-time billing requirements of pay as you go.

Vodafone certainly don't mention this in the description of Vodafone
passport when they say:

Opting in to Vodafone Passport means you'll pay your standard home
rate to call the UK from over 35 European countries - and from
Australia and New Zealand.

Whenever you make a call back to the UK, or within the country you're
visiting, there's a 75p connection charge. Then you'll pay your home
rate for the time you spend on the call. You can even use your Freedom
Pack or inclusive minutes.

When you receive a call, you'll pay the 75p connection charge - and
then you can talk for up to 60 minutes free of charge. After that
you'll pay 20p a minute.

Sending a text to the UK costs just 11p - but you can't use your
inclusive texts abroad.

As for porting a number: Your phone number doesn't have anything to
do with which networks you can use - it's determined by your network
operator. When you switch on your phone the SIM card number is sent
to the network to identify the subscription etc. Therefore, if you
changed say to an O2 contract, you'd have the same network access as a
number that had always been on O2 contract - if that makes sense!

This makes perfect sense and is exactly what I wanted to hear. As it
happens I am thinking of changing to O2 but keeping my number.

"Scott" wrote in message
...
I have just returned from a trip to Denmark where I was unable to use
my Vodafone (pay as you talk) to make calls. Texts worked fine. I
contacted Vodafone customer services and they told me (1) they have no
agreement with any Danish network, (2) that I would need to do a
manual network discovery to make sure I was connected to the correct
network (thus contradicting 1) then (3) they have no agreement with
Canada (thus suggesting they had not read my e-mail). I will be
making my views known.

My question to the experts here is that if I change to another network
and keep my number, will I be in the same position? Or is the network
identified by a method other than looking at the phone number?
Thanks
Scott


Don't even dream of using a PAYG for roaming, go for a zero per month
contract sim like Virgin with Direct Debit added, or if you can find one
an Orange OVP Virgin or even a 3 zero sim.

Contract sims will have proper roaming agreements, and you'll have
manual control of them

I keep an old Orange OVP Virgin for roaming

Steve Terry
--
Get a free Three 3pay Sim with £2 bonus after £10 top up
http://freeagent.three.co.uk/stand/view/id/5276

"Steve Terry" wrote in message
...

Don't even dream of using a PAYG for roaming, go for a zero per month
contract sim like Virgin with Direct Debit added, or if you can find one
an Orange OVP Virgin or even a 3 zero sim.

Is this true for all PAYG services Steve? I recently moved to giffgaff and
they seem to have pretty good roaming rates (for the EU at least). This is my
first foray into the world of PAYG for a good many years though so I'm not
sure what issues there may be for roaming? I'll be roaming in France, Belgium
and Germany over the coming months so I would be interested to know what
issues I might face.

"SimonC" wrote in message
...
"Steve Terry" wrote in message
...

Don't even dream of using a PAYG for roaming, go for a zero per month
contract sim like Virgin with Direct Debit added, or if you can find one
an Orange OVP Virgin or even a 3 zero sim.

Is this true for all PAYG services Steve? I recently moved to giffgaff
and they seem to have pretty good roaming rates (for the EU at least).
This is my first foray into the world of PAYG for a good many years though
so I'm not sure what issues there may be for roaming? I'll be roaming in
France, Belgium and Germany over the coming months so I would be
interested to know what issues I might face.

Not sure about giff gaff roaming rates

Cheapest of all would be a local Sim, and let people back home know your
new foreign number for them to call.
Usually much cheaper than roaming to call back to the UK, and often cheap
to call from the UK, especially using a cheap calling card or VOIP.

But if you want manual control of selecting roaming networks, you'll need a
contract sim like Virgin with DD.

Steve Terry
--
Get a free Three 3pay Sim with £2 bonus after £10 top up
http://freeagent.three.co.uk/stand/view/id/5276

On Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:54:30 -0000, "Steve Terry"
wrote:

"Scott" wrote in message
.. .
I have just returned from a trip to Denmark where I was unable to use
my Vodafone (pay as you talk) to make calls. Texts worked fine. I
contacted Vodafone customer services and they told me (1) they have no
agreement with any Danish network, (2) that I would need to do a
manual network discovery to make sure I was connected to the correct
network (thus contradicting 1) then (3) they have no agreement with
Canada (thus suggesting they had not read my e-mail). I will be
making my views known.

My question to the experts here is that if I change to another network
and keep my number, will I be in the same position? Or is the network
identified by a method other than looking at the phone number?
Thanks
Scott


Don't even dream of using a PAYG for roaming, go for a zero per month
contract sim like Virgin with Direct Debit added, or if you can find one
an Orange OVP Virgin or even a 3 zero sim.

Contract sims will have proper roaming agreements, and you'll have
manual control of them

I keep an old Orange OVP Virgin for roaming

This is a very interesting suggestion. Could you provide a bit more
information about how these work and who offers them.

I assume they are like Oyster with an automatic top-up of a specified
amount when the credit falls to a certain level. I cannot imagine
they would make a direct debit of a few pence each time a call is
made.

Also, do you know if O2 offers this and what it would be called. I
cannot find any obvious mention on their website.

Scott

As already mentioned, you probably needed to dial by prefixing with the
sequence posted above. I am in the US, and every time I turn on my voda
UK sim, I get a welcome message that tells me the calls cost, and also
mentions that I should dial using the *#123*0111223333 format.

'Steve Terry[_2_ Wrote:
;816345']"SimonC" wrote in
message
...-
"Steve Terry" wrote in message
...
-
Don't even dream of using a PAYG for roaming, go for a zero per month
contract sim like Virgin with Direct Debit added, or if you can find
one
an Orange OVP Virgin or even a 3 zero sim.-

Is this true for all PAYG services Steve? I recently moved to
giffgaff
and they seem to have pretty good roaming rates (for the EU at least).

This is my first foray into the world of PAYG for a good many years
though
so I'm not sure what issues there may be for roaming? I'll be roaming
in
France, Belgium and Germany over the coming months so I would be
interested to know what issues I might face.
-
Not sure about giff gaff roaming rates

Cheapest of all would be a local Sim, and let people back home know
your
new foreign number for them to call.
Usually much cheaper than roaming to call back to the UK, and often
cheap
to call from the UK, especially using a cheap calling card or VOIP.

But if you want manual control of selecting roaming networks, you'll
need a
contract sim like Virgin with DD.

Steve Terry
--
Get a free Three 3pay Sim with £2 bonus after £10 top up
http://freeagent.three.co.uk/stand/view/id/5276




--
mrcamp