Update: As it’s Black Friday, Flexiroam are doubling the data you would normally pay for a starter pack or data recharge. So instead of it being 0.33ZAR per meg, you would litterally be paying 0.17ZAR per meg. Be sure to select the 5GB package and use the promo code XFLASHX, the other ones are not as cost effective — refer to Odd Cost of Starter Packs which is under Words of Caution. Visit https://www.flexiroam.com/shop/ not to miss out on it.
It’s been a while since my last post, and usually when I do post anything I prefer it to be actionable. This time round it’s on one thing I find to be a constant frustration being international roaming.
I haven’t travelled as much as I used to in the past few months but I found myself lucky in attending an international iOS developer conference called try! Swift in Bangalore, India. If anything it was a good excuse to test out Flexiroam X as it’s a product I’m trying to sell in South Africa.
To put it in short Flexiroam X is a microchip that goes onto your existing sim card which provides a easy and affordable data roaming solution.
Just to give you an idea as to the cost you can pay as little as 0.33ZAR (0.03USD) per meg. I compare the rate I’ve stated later on in the Other Alternatives section of this post under Use your home SIM card.
Throughout I’ll be using South Africa as a reference for my place of residence (home SIM) and Kenya (layover for my flight to India) & India (where I spent a week in Mumbai and Bangalore).
Words of Caution
I’m taking a bit of a different approach. If the microchip worked so well whilst I was abroad, there wouldn’t be anything else to say rather than BUY BUY BUY, but there are a few side notes which aren’t deal breakers to me but what I’ve noticed whist using Flexiroam X.
Hopefully this help you out in considering buy a starter pack, and most importantly answer any questions you might have when using the product.
Odd Cost of Starter Packs
One doesn’t have to be a genius to figure out there is something wrong with starter pack prices. What is to follow will feel somewhat like data storage prices in which at a certain rate it just doesn’t make economical sense.
In this instance the 5GB package is the only one that really offers bang for your buck, else you’re wasting cash on higher plans as you can set Flexiroam X to auto recharge.
The prices for the starter packs are the same for the data you buy, so just be sure to watch out before you buy something that might look like more data for less but turn out to be more than you expect, cost wise.
Irritating iMessage/FaceTime activation message (iPhone only)
If you use an iPhone you most likely use iMessage and FaceTime, and most likely you have your phone number linked to their services but because Flexiroam X is a data only roaming SIM card, you will get bugged by iMessage and FaceTime about SMS activation as it can’t send an SMS out.
For what it’s worth it seems FaceTime and iMessage still work, but your caller ID would be your iCloud email when you do try to call/message anyone.
Manual Carrier Selection at times
When I was using Flexiroam X I had a few times where it would not connect to the internet if I got out of flight mode after an extended amount of around more than an hour.
As much as the microchip automatically connects to whatever provider I had to use the manual selection mode provided on my phone in order to connect to a carrier that would get an internet connection.
For the iPhone you can tap the Carrier under the Settings app, and click on the Automatic switch.
The network I had to switch to in Kenya it was Safaircom as it initially connected to Orange Ke, and in India it was either Tata Docomo or Vodafone IN.
Dead SIM Syndrome
Luckily this hadn’t happened to my SIM card but so far I’ve had 2 friends I’ve attached the Flexiroam X chip complain about their SIM card stop working, but this was after trying to switch out their SIM cards. So best advice would be that if you have a dual SIM phone you don’t have to worry that much, but if it’s a single SIM phone like most iPhones you need to be careful how you handle it
If your SIM card does seem dead the Flexiroam X microchip can be removed and let your home SIM (the SIM card you would use in South Africa) start working again, but you won’t be able to reattach the Flexiroam X microchip as it’s a one time application.
Worry not, a replacement can be arrange but just be sure it’s a problem with Flexiroam X and not a setting on your phone.
Internet Required for Data Purchases
Unlike a normal SIM card, you can’t just purchase more data using a short code or a voucher bought from a store. All data has to be bought online, but there is an auto-reload option, just be sure to buy the 5GB in order to save on costs.
Like with most travels, it’s best to prepare in advance for things like your travel visa, vaccinations, foreign currency, and hopefully your Flexiroam data purchases.
Only FIVE African countries/states are supported
Essentially Africa only has 9% (5/54) countries/states coverd compared to:
- 28% (4/14) countries/states covered in Australia/Oceania
- 64% (32/50) countries/states covered in Asia
- 100% (23/23) countries/states coverd in North America
- 100% (12/12) countries/states covered in South America
At the time of writing this article the only African countries supported are Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Out of the five only two provide 4G/LTE, these being Ghana and South Africa.
So if you plan on traveling through the other 91% of Africa, you’re out of luck for now.
Summary to Words of Caution
Most likely one or more of the points might put you off, but most of what has been mentioned is either rare or can be fixed without much of an issue.
During my trip I was able to use 3.5GB out of the 10GB (a double up of the standard 5GB due to a past promotion) and was I able to stay connected most of the time I travelled without worrying about using the other alternatives.
Better yet ordering things like Ubers didn’t have any issues considering I never had to call for one, provided I used a common location using the search function.
As for Africa, there are various reasons why Flexiroam X is not in most parts of the continent but most likely with time even the likes of Zimbabwe will have coverage.
The Other Alternatives
So hopefully you have a good idea as to what Flexiroam doesn’t do so well, but here are the other alternatives (most likely you’re using right now) and how theycompare to Flexiroam X.
The three options would either be:
- Buying a local SIM card
- Using a WiFi connection
- Use your home SIM card
Buying a local SIM card
Usually if you want to save on voice/sms/data costs it makes sense to buy a SIM card in the country you are visiting. This is probably the most cost effective way because it provides you with a local number and probably the data cost would be quite low.
Here are some of the pain points unfortunately so…
Availability of local SIM card at the airport
Imagine you’ve just landed in the country you’re about to visit, and probably the first thing you want to do is check on the location of the hotel you’re staying at and most likely book an Uber (or any ride hauling service). If you’re lucky you can find a shop to buy a local SIM card, but for myself there was nothing so I would have resorted to booking a taxi which would have been 10 times more than what an Uber would have cost me to go to the hostel I was staying at in Mumbai.
If anything, with most countries you’ll be left scratching your head as to the most affordable SIM to use, else you’ll go with the very first option that is given to you.
Also consider this: Flexiroam offers up to 360 days data usage validity. So say goodbye to losing data after just 30 days or less.
Identification documents for Registration
In order to get a local SIM card in India you need to first have your passport (not so hard as you’ll have it on you) and a passport sized photo (this I doubt you’ll carry a copy of on a regular trip). Forget getting a SIM card during a layover, this was the case when I was in Kenya. Fortunately I found myself in the lounge section of the airport, so the wifi saved me, if not it would have been Flexiroam X.
I’ve heard the likes of even Germany have a stringent process in getting a local SIM card. Comparably so in South Africa it’s a matter of having to provide a proof of residence and a photo identification in order to get a SIM card. The only thing required with Flexiroam is either registration/login by Google/Facebook/Email/Phone Number.
Buying Credit/Airtime
If you’re a citizen of the country of the SIM card you’re buying you’ll most likely know all the ways to buy your credit/airtime/data for your SIM card. If not you’re often left scrambling around if you need to top up your SIM card. But from what I’ve seen, local data is relatively so cheap in places such as India that it would less likely be an issue.
Using a WiFi Connection
Most of the time this is quite common for most people to do, in that if there is an available wifi connection they would use this to stay connected. But it does come with it’s pain points.
An Extra Device to Carry
Some people have portable WiFi internet dongles on their travels which helps keep costs low but you’re left carrying one extra device to charge. Not a problem if you have a power bank/battery pack with you, but it could become a bit of a nuisance if you want to travel light, and have one less device to worry about.
You’re only as strong as your WiFi signal
Imagine booking an Uber, now imagine moving out of the area where there is a WiFi connection to locate your Uber. It’s a bit of a hit or a miss, but in essence if you want to stay connected to the internet you have to be sure you’re close enough the the WiFi signal as much as possible.
Beware the Honey Pot
For all the wonders that free WiFi provides, security is usually the least likely one to be provide. Consider that due to the open nature, anybody who might be attached to the WiFi connection you use you could have issues with your personal data being taken, this is even true if you’re using a personal wifi dongle.
Use your home SIM card
Now this is most likely the most insane option one might use as a South Africa, or any citizen of another country. Unless you’re stuck in some part of Africa, as I’ve mentioned before, you’re better off not even using data roaming unless you’re willing to fork over hunderds of Rands just for as little as 100 MB.
Daylight Robbery Pricing
Just for comparison you can save as much as 8000%, the closest is around 300% more expensive than Flexiroam X when considering cost per meg.
If anything it seems that South Africa and Nigeria, which are Africa’s biggest economies are just the unlucky parties to such pricing. ProBono provides just a glimpse of the costs we have to pay, but you can even do some research just to see how badly you’ll suffer if you’re not careful. This is especially true if you’re on a post paid contract that doesn’t have a limit.
The US offers things like Google Fi which offers a flat rate of around 0.13ZAR per meg, but you I guess you’ll have an American number which wouldn’t be useful if you stay in South Africa.
I have also heard of there being other options in Europe as well which would be worth exploring for Europeans, but again it doesn’t help if you’re in South Africa.
Activation of Roaming Services
I’ve had the sad instance of having forgotten to activate roaming (I think with Telkom Mobile), and then finding myself stuck without any sort of roaming (be it data or phone/SMS services). If you’re like me you’re most likely using more data than normal phone/SMS services, so most likely it’s a bit of a miracle that I did forget to get the facility activated.
Lost home SIM if using a foreign country SIM
This point should go under Buying a local SIM card, but just think of the fact that if you lose your home SIM you’re pretty much left having to scrabble for a replacement when you’re back in the country. This is especially true if you’re not a frequent flyer.
What to do NOW?
Well if you’re in South Africa I currently sell the Starter Packs for 99 ZAR, which gets you 100MB to try it out.
Else if you’re from outside of South Africa, or willing to spend a bit more as you’re convinced by the article you can visit this link in order to download the app and order your 1GB, and above, Starter Pack.
If there is anything else I’m quite free to answer any questions that might arise, but till then let’s see what I might write next.
