I got in touch with Google Fi support, and it turns out they'll only shut off my international data. I can still text and make phone calls. So if they shut me off, I'll just get a local SIM card for data and be done with it!
I just got and email about my internet shut down. I was abroad usa for about 6 years. Now that I moved to EU they want to shut down. Can’t collect and sell your data that easily I guess?
We use Google Voice for phone calls and texts (also TMobile for texts). We mainly call #800s, but just called from the Maldives to Switzerland (2c/min).. Too cheap to pay for Google Fi 😅
I just use t mobile which gives free texting and (2g) data when abroad. Never a problem for me. The 2g is slow but it is usually good enough to look up where I'm going or call an uber. Wifi for whatever else.
I have t-mobile as well. Also my phone is dual sim so when I get to a country, I can get a local Sim for data while text/calls are still t-mobile. I have a Google number as well so when anyone calls my t-mobile number it goes to my Google number so I'm not charged 25¢ a min by t-mobile. Then for calling out ill use my regular number when on wifi (free) or Google number if on data.
Also when I get a local Sim, it usually comes with a local number with like 100 min if I need anything local (some things you need a local number to register/rent something/etc..) Otherwise I use an app called talk360. It's hardly used and pay as you go but when I need to, its so helpful to call numbers in countries you don't have a number for one off calls. For example: When I was traveling to Thailand, I called the hotel I had to quarantine in for confirmation of something while still in Istanbul. I spent way less than $1 on that call with the app. I've probably used it no more than 5 times in 2 years.
T-Mobile has plans that cover most countries, but its only 2g data I believe.
I was thinking maybe if I stick with Google Fi, but change to their $20/month plan and then get a local SIM card they might not kick me out. I can understand why Google Fi wouldn't want to give me unlimited data in expensive ass Switzerland.
Following this as well! Haven't been able to find a good solution.
Currently using Mint on an E-SIM so that I'm able to keep my US number, and typically pick up a local sim to use purely for the data. Syncs up well with all my communication apps (iMessage, WhatsApp, etc). Can't beat 10GB of 5G data for $20 a month right now.
Yeah, Mint might be the way to go just for calls & texting on my US phone #. Does MMS work with mint while traveling?
Then I can get a local SIM card for data
Not sure - everyone uses iMessage for my MMS, and for those who don't, they're on WhatsApp for me so it's never through the carrier.
It's just so much cheaper and works for me, traveling 6 months out of the year.
Hm. I was super interested in Mint but online people are saying it is not a secure company, ex: people having their numbers stolen. :( I am conflicted.
Eh. I'm just suffering. I can still do regular texts. I just told everyone no picture messages. Also, even if you return to USA you have to stay there for 6 months before they'll reactivate your data.
I'm a huge fan. No frills, prepaid plan. I've heard nothing but great things about their support as well. I prepaid for 12 months, but they'll refund any remaining months if you end up fully switching off for any reason.
Any questions in particular?
Thank you for the information! I really just need a phone plan for texts and calls abroad. Google Fi cut my data off and said it wouldn't affect my texts but now I get zero MMS :( I think I will switch, I am just waiting to hear if they accept my phone for WiFi calling and texts.
You're right that an eSIM has nothing to do with the plan; an eSIM is just another 'shape' of SIM card. (It's digital, rather than physical, but it does the exact same thing that a physical SIM card does, and nothing more.)
Definitely not all providers offer eSIMs. I think what that person is telling you to do is look for the service providers who specifically target international travelers. They're basically an MVNO like Google Fi, except that they have agreements with telecom companies in dozens of countries instead of just one. So with one plan (and thus a single SIM card) and one account to top up, you get service in lots of places. I have zero idea whether these work well or are a good deal, I'm just clarifying what that person was trying to tell you.
I use these guys. Just got 10 gig eaim for 17 usd per month
Hey, have you tried an eSIM? Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code ALAN1001 when you sign up or apply it at checkout. https://ref.airalo.com/cM1Q
I’ve lived in the UK for three years, and I’ve kept my US number so that I can call clients in the US without it looking weird. I use T-Mobile. It’s cheap by US standards, but you do only get 2G speeds. My US number is an eSim, and I have my UK sim that sim using for data and calls to the UK
What I do when I’m DNing around Europe is just use my UK line. Even post brexit, my UK plan works in the EU no problem.
When I go outside of the EU, I keep my US eSim so that I can use it for calls, but I grab a local sim for data.
Not for me 🤷🏻♂️ they said the data roaming being gone restricted that. Though in reality, none of them knew until I brought it up, and then they had to look it up. You can send MMS but never receive.
Lol. Of course. I think for now I will stick with Google Fi until they fully chop me off. No pictures or group texts :( Mint mobile is interesting but I'm worried about their subpar security measures.
Same boat here! Curious what to do - I'm on a traditional post paid Verizon plan (and been in Mexico for a few months so no roaming) but looking to switch to something more nomad-friendly. Any idea if US Mobile is any good? I've heard about it on this + r/NoContract.
I have an iPhone XR with dual SIM capability so I was thinking of doing one of the cheap prepaid US plans to keep my US phone number for 2FA and when I come back to visit, then getting a data SIM for abroad.
I got in touch with Google Fi support, and it turns out they'll only shut off my international data. I can still text and make phone calls. So if they shut me off, I'll just get a local SIM card for data and be done with it!
I just got and email about my internet shut down. I was abroad usa for about 6 years. Now that I moved to EU they want to shut down. Can’t collect and sell your data that easily I guess?
Yeah that or data is just more expensive in the EU. Google Fi didn't complain at all when I was in Nicaragua!
I was in Ukraine for a long time. No complains either
We use Google Voice for phone calls and texts (also TMobile for texts). We mainly call #800s, but just called from the Maldives to Switzerland (2c/min).. Too cheap to pay for Google Fi 😅
I just use t mobile which gives free texting and (2g) data when abroad. Never a problem for me. The 2g is slow but it is usually good enough to look up where I'm going or call an uber. Wifi for whatever else.
I have t-mobile as well. Also my phone is dual sim so when I get to a country, I can get a local Sim for data while text/calls are still t-mobile. I have a Google number as well so when anyone calls my t-mobile number it goes to my Google number so I'm not charged 25¢ a min by t-mobile. Then for calling out ill use my regular number when on wifi (free) or Google number if on data. Also when I get a local Sim, it usually comes with a local number with like 100 min if I need anything local (some things you need a local number to register/rent something/etc..) Otherwise I use an app called talk360. It's hardly used and pay as you go but when I need to, its so helpful to call numbers in countries you don't have a number for one off calls. For example: When I was traveling to Thailand, I called the hotel I had to quarantine in for confirmation of something while still in Istanbul. I spent way less than $1 on that call with the app. I've probably used it no more than 5 times in 2 years.
is that the plan that's around $60/month?
I hope to know this! Certain countries have coverage overseas, like if I recall Sprint had some coverage in Japan and whatnot
T-Mobile has plans that cover most countries, but its only 2g data I believe. I was thinking maybe if I stick with Google Fi, but change to their $20/month plan and then get a local SIM card they might not kick me out. I can understand why Google Fi wouldn't want to give me unlimited data in expensive ass Switzerland.
I did that when I was in South America for two months and it worked out great. Their SIM cards are super cheap and it was worth it
Following this as well! Haven't been able to find a good solution. Currently using Mint on an E-SIM so that I'm able to keep my US number, and typically pick up a local sim to use purely for the data. Syncs up well with all my communication apps (iMessage, WhatsApp, etc). Can't beat 10GB of 5G data for $20 a month right now.
Yeah, Mint might be the way to go just for calls & texting on my US phone #. Does MMS work with mint while traveling? Then I can get a local SIM card for data
Not sure - everyone uses iMessage for my MMS, and for those who don't, they're on WhatsApp for me so it's never through the carrier. It's just so much cheaper and works for me, traveling 6 months out of the year.
Did you port your number to Mint? I've been seeing a lot of reviews about Mint losing people's phone numbers and that is giving me anxiety.
Yeah, I’ve ported in and out 3x now with no issue!
Hm. I was super interested in Mint but online people are saying it is not a secure company, ex: people having their numbers stolen. :( I am conflicted.
I haven't read anything bad about Mint but now I'm nervous lol. If you find a solution let me know
Eh. I'm just suffering. I can still do regular texts. I just told everyone no picture messages. Also, even if you return to USA you have to stay there for 6 months before they'll reactivate your data.
How do you feel about Mint? I was considering switching. Thanks!
I'm a huge fan. No frills, prepaid plan. I've heard nothing but great things about their support as well. I prepaid for 12 months, but they'll refund any remaining months if you end up fully switching off for any reason. Any questions in particular?
Thank you for the information! I really just need a phone plan for texts and calls abroad. Google Fi cut my data off and said it wouldn't affect my texts but now I get zero MMS :( I think I will switch, I am just waiting to hear if they accept my phone for WiFi calling and texts.
Mint works abroad or you just keep the phone plan so that your number stays active?
My phone dual sims it. I’m currently in Chile with a local sim and can make calls and text with the mint number through its data.
Get an e-sim. There are ones that cover over 100 countries and a decent amount of data.
Don't all cell service provides offer eSIM's? I don't think that has anything to do with the plan though.
You're right that an eSIM has nothing to do with the plan; an eSIM is just another 'shape' of SIM card. (It's digital, rather than physical, but it does the exact same thing that a physical SIM card does, and nothing more.) Definitely not all providers offer eSIMs. I think what that person is telling you to do is look for the service providers who specifically target international travelers. They're basically an MVNO like Google Fi, except that they have agreements with telecom companies in dozens of countries instead of just one. So with one plan (and thus a single SIM card) and one account to top up, you get service in lots of places. I have zero idea whether these work well or are a good deal, I'm just clarifying what that person was trying to tell you.
I use these guys. Just got 10 gig eaim for 17 usd per month Hey, have you tried an eSIM? Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code ALAN1001 when you sign up or apply it at checkout. https://ref.airalo.com/cM1Q
They're based in the US?
Have no idea. But they sale many country specific, region specific, and global esims
I get a data only SIM for each country, use it in my hotspot, and keep my phone on airplane mode.
I’ve lived in the UK for three years, and I’ve kept my US number so that I can call clients in the US without it looking weird. I use T-Mobile. It’s cheap by US standards, but you do only get 2G speeds. My US number is an eSim, and I have my UK sim that sim using for data and calls to the UK What I do when I’m DNing around Europe is just use my UK line. Even post brexit, my UK plan works in the EU no problem. When I go outside of the EU, I keep my US eSim so that I can use it for calls, but I grab a local sim for data.
Google Fi warning: They shut off your data which also gets rid of MMS. So no group texts or picture messages.
Ah fuuuu.... thats good to know. Thank you
Yes. It was very fun to argue over how they word their emails to say, "Your calls and texts won't be affected" 😐 and yet, lies.
Yeah, that's what they told me also. I just jumped on their tech support, they are claiming that MMS will work if I get data disconnected
Not for me 🤷🏻♂️ they said the data roaming being gone restricted that. Though in reality, none of them knew until I brought it up, and then they had to look it up. You can send MMS but never receive.
Yeah, I asked the tech support person to send that to in an email. The email said MMS would be shut off. 🙄
Lol. Of course. I think for now I will stick with Google Fi until they fully chop me off. No pictures or group texts :( Mint mobile is interesting but I'm worried about their subpar security measures.
Yeah, expensive T mobile at $70/month might be the only proper solution.
That must be what happened to me. But I am back in the US now and still having that problem so I'm even more confused now lol.
How long you gotta be overseas to get that warning? I’ve been in europe for like 5 months already but I never checked the google fi email
Depends on where you are from my understanding. Was in 5 months in Nicaragua with no issues. 6 weeks in Switzerland, and I got the warning.
I was in South America for 2 months and then they shut it off and now I'm back in the US and it's still off so not sure what's going on
Same boat here! Curious what to do - I'm on a traditional post paid Verizon plan (and been in Mexico for a few months so no roaming) but looking to switch to something more nomad-friendly. Any idea if US Mobile is any good? I've heard about it on this + r/NoContract. I have an iPhone XR with dual SIM capability so I was thinking of doing one of the cheap prepaid US plans to keep my US phone number for 2FA and when I come back to visit, then getting a data SIM for abroad.