Recharging an Old Lebara SIM?
#1
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Recharging an Old Lebara SIM?
Can't seem to find it on the Lebara website, but I got a couple of freebie Lebara SIM cards sent to me in the States last May. Worked just fine. I understand that the minutes I loaded on the SIMS expire after a while, but can I reactivate/recharge the same SIMs online a year later, or do I need to order new SIMs?
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
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There is a time limit whereby the Lebara SIM turns into a piece of rubbish if you do not use it within a certain time. I recently tossed some old Lebara SIMS I found in a file drawer, for that reason.
from http://help.lebara.co.uk/#tab:homeTa...b:7:artId:2451
"For a Lebara SIM card to remain active, you will need to make a chargeable call or send a chargeable SMS within 84 days of your last chargeable call or chargeable SMS. If no chargeable call is made or chargeable SMS sent; your SIM card will expire and the Service will be disconnected."
from http://help.lebara.co.uk/#tab:homeTa...b:7:artId:2451
"For a Lebara SIM card to remain active, you will need to make a chargeable call or send a chargeable SMS within 84 days of your last chargeable call or chargeable SMS. If no chargeable call is made or chargeable SMS sent; your SIM card will expire and the Service will be disconnected."
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#7
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How is the coverage on T-Mobile in France?
In the past, we take a Lebara SIM and our AT&T US SIM on trips. Lebara has great coverage, AT&T does not.
Any "downsides" to T-Mobile (vs Lebara). We only use our phones in Europe for making calls. If a Gite or hotel has WiFi - we'll use that for other stuff. We don't text.
Stu Dudley
In the past, we take a Lebara SIM and our AT&T US SIM on trips. Lebara has great coverage, AT&T does not.
Any "downsides" to T-Mobile (vs Lebara). We only use our phones in Europe for making calls. If a Gite or hotel has WiFi - we'll use that for other stuff. We don't text.
Stu Dudley
#12
Not only that but T-mobile also provides unlimited data and texting on some plans and we used that extensively for navigation and texting during our two most-recent trips to Europe and it was worth its weight in gold.
T-Mobile is apparently trying to build a customer base which is why they are offering all these "advantages" like paying off people's contracts, etc. Now's the time to take advantage of it IMO.
As to coverage: if they have an agreement with the local companies/commo systems you should expect to get excellent coverage and we certainly did.
T-Mobile is apparently trying to build a customer base which is why they are offering all these "advantages" like paying off people's contracts, etc. Now's the time to take advantage of it IMO.
As to coverage: if they have an agreement with the local companies/commo systems you should expect to get excellent coverage and we certainly did.
#13
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We've had no problems using the iPhone/T-Mobile throughout the south of France, from Provence to the Pays Basque. And we've never had a problem anywhere in Spain, excellent coverage. And I do like the free Wi-Fi calling feature, only offered by T-Moble.
Since going back to T-Mobile (from AT&T), we've dropped out Spanish phone numbers and can call our friends and hotels at no charge when in a Wi-Fi zone (iPhone 6) and use WhatsApp for everything else.
I just can't see buying or using a sim card like Lebara when you can use T-Mobile as a service provider.
Since going back to T-Mobile (from AT&T), we've dropped out Spanish phone numbers and can call our friends and hotels at no charge when in a Wi-Fi zone (iPhone 6) and use WhatsApp for everything else.
I just can't see buying or using a sim card like Lebara when you can use T-Mobile as a service provider.
#14
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T Mobile has little to do with what Lebara offers. The T Mobile plan is unlimited text but otherwise it´s VoIP only to/from North America only meaning you must have a rather good internet connection to get it to work.
Lebara offers a French sim which includes calls within France and to North America at nominal rates. The plans include data which the T Mobile offer does not (other than SMS or text).
If all you need is to communicate with someone in North America and you have a reliable internet connection, T Mobile will serve your needs. Otherwise use a French plan such as Lebara, Lycamombile or one of the pricier plans from Orange, SFR, or Bouygues.
Lebara offers a French sim which includes calls within France and to North America at nominal rates. The plans include data which the T Mobile offer does not (other than SMS or text).
If all you need is to communicate with someone in North America and you have a reliable internet connection, T Mobile will serve your needs. Otherwise use a French plan such as Lebara, Lycamombile or one of the pricier plans from Orange, SFR, or Bouygues.
#15
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Actually, you can make regular phone calls on T Mobile, not just VoIP. The cost is $.20 a minute. Quite reasonable for the times you can't use internet.
" The plans include data which the T Mobile offer does not (other than SMS or text)." Wrong. T Mobile is also free unlimited data. That doesn't come free with Lebara.
" The plans include data which the T Mobile offer does not (other than SMS or text)." Wrong. T Mobile is also free unlimited data. That doesn't come free with Lebara.
#16
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Lebara charges 0.09/minute to North America which is about half the T Mobile charge. T Mobiles free European data uses EDGE technology with top speeds up to 384Kbps or about dial-up speeds. Faster connections are available at higher cost.
And has been stated, anyone trying to reach you must call the US. The T Mobile plan is a good plan but it does not replace having a French SIM which allows higher data speeds and the ability for others (who are in France) to easily call you.
I have a T Mobile account but I don´t bother with it when I am in France (which is where I spend most of my time).
And has been stated, anyone trying to reach you must call the US. The T Mobile plan is a good plan but it does not replace having a French SIM which allows higher data speeds and the ability for others (who are in France) to easily call you.
I have a T Mobile account but I don´t bother with it when I am in France (which is where I spend most of my time).
#17
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I beg to differ, we had 3G data almost all the time [a few times we had 2G, never had anything less] we traveled and that included : Santorini, Mykynos, Athens, Prague, Bratislava, Vienna, Budapest, Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Provence, Paris.
IF you have a Lebara SIM, anyone calling you from the US has to be pay international fees. I really prefer to have my family etc be able to call me for free than worry about someone in France having to pay for a call to US. I, of course, don't spend as much time in France as you do, but for us who spend 3 -4 months all over Europe, T Mobile works very well.
And again, the Lebara free sim card [that I used a few years back when I had a different US carrier] was good for calls but data cost extra, and quite a bit extra as I recall. Don't know about now.
For the casual US traveler, who wants the ability to text, use data and make the occasional local call, T Mobile is a great way to go.
As always, YMMV and apparently it does here.
IF you have a Lebara SIM, anyone calling you from the US has to be pay international fees. I really prefer to have my family etc be able to call me for free than worry about someone in France having to pay for a call to US. I, of course, don't spend as much time in France as you do, but for us who spend 3 -4 months all over Europe, T Mobile works very well.
And again, the Lebara free sim card [that I used a few years back when I had a different US carrier] was good for calls but data cost extra, and quite a bit extra as I recall. Don't know about now.
For the casual US traveler, who wants the ability to text, use data and make the occasional local call, T Mobile is a great way to go.
As always, YMMV and apparently it does here.
#18
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makes sense to me, I would hope most tourists don't really need to use the phone much at all. Maybe a call here and there to tell a hotel when they'll arrive or something. I've never had a hotel call me when on vacation, actually, and if they do and it's a US number, too bad, they're a business and should have a reasonable phone plan for international calls, anyway. I like a phone just for emergencies, like calling a hotel when late (or apt owner), maybe if you think you need to check your airline, but that's pretty much all by internet now. So I am going to look into this plan.
#19
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Sarastro: <i>T Mobile has little to do with what Lebara offers. The T Mobile plan is unlimited text but otherwise it´s VoIP only to/from North America only meaning you must have a rather good internet connection to get it to work.</i>
Not true. You can use your T-Mobile phone in Europe (in the countries covered in their international roaming as part of the Simple Choice plan) for 20 cents a minute using cellular radio. If you use WiFi calling with an internet connection, it's FREE.
<i>And has been stated, anyone trying to reach you must call the US.</i>
But they can call the US for as cheap as 9 cents a minute with the right SIM card, right? So why is that a big deal for them?
T-Mobile is a huge win for most US tourists visiting Europe. They don't have to mess with a SIM card, unlock their phone, or worry about people at home trying to reach them on a strange number. Most of us visiting Europe as tourists aren't going to expect frequent or extended calls from locals.
Some T-Mobile users may get only 2G data in Europe (that's all I got in Germany most of the time), but it is really good enough for basic things.
The situation may be different for someone who lives in France, but I don't think that is the case with the OP.
Not true. You can use your T-Mobile phone in Europe (in the countries covered in their international roaming as part of the Simple Choice plan) for 20 cents a minute using cellular radio. If you use WiFi calling with an internet connection, it's FREE.
<i>And has been stated, anyone trying to reach you must call the US.</i>
But they can call the US for as cheap as 9 cents a minute with the right SIM card, right? So why is that a big deal for them?
T-Mobile is a huge win for most US tourists visiting Europe. They don't have to mess with a SIM card, unlock their phone, or worry about people at home trying to reach them on a strange number. Most of us visiting Europe as tourists aren't going to expect frequent or extended calls from locals.
Some T-Mobile users may get only 2G data in Europe (that's all I got in Germany most of the time), but it is really good enough for basic things.
The situation may be different for someone who lives in France, but I don't think that is the case with the OP.
#20
T-Mobile worked for me in Europe pretty good, but not always. Here in the USA, not so well and there is a T-Mobile tower less than two miles from my house.
Nukesafe, does this inquiry mean that a sequel to the 'last gasp' is in the works?
Nukesafe, does this inquiry mean that a sequel to the 'last gasp' is in the works?