Need to Call AU Landlines While Travelling - Roaming?

zfind on 11/11/2024 - 19:19
Last edited 11/11/2024 - 19:34 by 1 other user

Hi all, I’m a guardian for an elderly family member who’s going into care soon and once that happens I’ll get back to travelling.

I tend to receive a lot of calls from agencies / health specialists / etc in relation to their care and I do need them to be able to call me when I’m out of the country on my existing number. I know roaming will work (if I change provider, currently on Woolworths $25 plan) but it’s expensive and poor value.

Are there any other alternative methods that would work? Currently I just buy a Travelkon or local eSIM and rely on data for communications (works perfectly when I don’t care about calls)

Mobile

Comments

  • mrkorrupt on 11/11/2024 - 19:54
    -1

    get a local sim

  • Mugsy on 11/11/2024 - 19:57
    +3

    If your phone supports data switching, you can change your mobile provider to a Telstra MNVO (e.g. Boost).

    This way, you can use Wifi calling and VoLTE to make calls like you're in Australia when on wifi or using the TravelKon esim.

    In your phone's sim settings, keep calls and SMS on the Telstra MNVO and change data to the TravelKon esim. Turn on data switching and you're set.

    • Gdsamp on 11/11/2024 - 20:11

      I can see this working for inbound calls, does it work for outbound calls?

      • jv on 11/11/2024 - 22:25

        It does if you are with Telstra or Telstra MVNOs (usually)….

        • Gdsamp on 11/11/2024 - 22:29

          Anyone getem experience doing so on Optus itself ?

          • jv on 11/11/2024 - 22:38

            @Gdsamp: No, Optus does not allow it…

            It 'might' work if you use an Australian VPN though on your phone…

            • Gdsamp on 11/11/2024 - 22:38
              +1

              @jv: Thanks for the insight. Wishing you good health.

              • jv on 11/11/2024 - 22:40

                @Gdsamp: Optus:

                Can I make WiFi calls when I'm overseas?
                No, WiFi Calling is not available when roaming overseas.
                Your device will automatically fall back to 3G calls when overseas and standard international roaming rates apply.

                https://www.optus.com.au/support/answer?id=20033

    • bargaino on 11/11/2024 - 20:46
      +6

      No need to change. Woolworths mobile, aka "Everyday", uses Telstra, and so-called VoWifi overseas works.

      OP, no need to pay for roaming. Just make sure your handset supports VoWifi using 2nd SIM.
      So you have a local data SIM in your phone (or wifi) and your Telstra SIM. Telstra calls are routed over the internet, no "mobile roaming" fees.

      https://www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/telstra-w….
      https://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/telstravowifi

      • Mugsy on 11/11/2024 - 21:01

        Thanks for pointing that out… for some stupid reason I keep thinking Woolies is on the Optus network.

      • zfind on 11/11/2024 - 23:01
        +1

        This is amazing. Will save me so much hassle. I have an iPhone 14 and it runs dual e-sims nicely so far. I'll just have to test it when I head O/S in a few weeks.

        Thanks to all respondents!

        edit: maybe I had it on already as I recall receiving auth SMS' from Australian banks while overseas…

        • Mugsy on 12/11/2024 - 01:07
          +1

          This discussion has been beneficial to me too…

          I'm on Kogan Mobile's S plan that has recently bumped up in price. Was thinking of switching to the Telstra network for a) better network coverage as the Mrs and I plan to do more regional travel with our pug, and b) so I could leverage off the VoWifi and VoLTE calling from overseas.

          Now that I'm aware that Woolies mobile is on Telstra network and also comes with the 10% off monthly shop, to help offset costs, I might go with them. $25/mth ain't that bad.

  • exolocity on 11/11/2024 - 21:05
    +2

    if you have a microsoft 365 personal plan or get the family one using turkish lira (~$1/month for 6 people), you get 60mins free skype credit a month (guide: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/868528 )

    Heres where you can call: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/skype/how-do-i-activate-…

    Also i've used mobimatter.com a lot

    • Gdsamp on 11/11/2024 - 23:03

      Activating the free skype mins works best on Desktop chrome. could not get it to work on ios safari or desktop firefox

  • bazingaa on 12/11/2024 - 01:32

    you can use Boost sim with VoWIFI as you use it here, using data from a local sim, if your phone is dual sim

  • Randxyz123 on 12/11/2024 - 02:13

    Don’t quote me on this but I always understood you could receive calls and texts for free while overseas. It is just making them that costs. I would keep your Aussie number sim in your phone while overseas and have a second sim (i.e a eSIM) for data for travelling.

    Or make your Aussie sim the eSIM and buy local sims where ever you go. I live in the UK and my Aussie sim lives in an old iPhone with data roaming off but I still get calls through (usually spam) but the occasional call that is important.

    Edit: If you need to make calls as well, the Skype credit option above is excellent.

    • JimB on 12/11/2024 - 09:48

      Inbound Text yes, inbound Calls, only if your Aust plan has WiFi calling.

      So really depends on your Aust carrier. Do you only get roaming calls if not connected to Wifi?

  • AustriaBargain on 12/11/2024 - 04:02

    Could you delegate your guardianship of your elderly parent, so you don't need to worry about the small details when you're not even in the country? Any other siblings, or a service you can pay for?

  • Bon Marche on 12/11/2024 - 06:50

    I just returned from an 8 week holiday in Spain and Italy. I had an Aldi physical sim (Telstra). Sometimes WiFi calling and VOLTE worked for an Australian number and sometimes it didn't. I can only assume it depended on the network I was connecting to in the place I was in at the time.

    • kiitos on 12/11/2024 - 08:08

      So did you only have the Aldi SIM in the phone? Do you just call the normal Australian number (presumably with +61 prefix)?

  • 6079 Smith on 12/11/2024 - 09:02

    I use Skype, you add $8 of credit through the App Store and then it’s like 3-9 cents / minute to call Aus landlines, mobiles, 13 numbers, etc
    Not great for receiving calls tho

  • 2esc on 12/11/2024 - 09:24

    Woolworths $25 plan but it’s expensive and poor value.

    I dont know about that with the 10% shop once a month easily covers the cost. My shop on the weekend was a big one came to $380 before the 10% off of $38.

  • freefall101 on 12/11/2024 - 09:47
    +2

    While the solution above is the best one, Felix has a pretty good roaming plan where you just buy a $20 pack that lasts 365 days and has 100 minutes + 4GB data. You can also pause your Australian plan while overseas. 100 minutes doesn't last long though if you get a couple of long calls.

    Downsides are they're Vodafone based in Australia and you can't use vowifi, so I'd stick with what you have.

    • zfind on 12/11/2024 - 11:38

      Thanks for the info mate, not a bad backup plan. We need affordable roaming

      • Mugsy on 12/11/2024 - 12:56

        Another good value roaming option is Amaysim (Optus network).

        365 day expiry that can be extended when you top up, and a variety of roaming packs from $20 through to $70. And you can stack roaming packs too.

        https://www.amaysim.com.au/international/roaming

        You can't pause your local Aussie plan though but you could just go on the As You Go plan, put $10 credit on the account and then purchase roaming credit and just use it that way.

        If being contactable is important, I would consider the VoWifi/VoLTE Woolies + Travel eSim solution on your iPhone, and purchase a cheap esim enabled android phone like the Motorola G54 or G55 (sub $300… I got my G54 for $150-ish during sales) for use with Felix or Amaysim as a second number.

        It seems you will make more calls/texts than require data. If so, and based on value, I would look at Felix first to see if your destination countries are covered. If not, look at Amaysim. You can often find Amaysim starter kits discounted at Woolies or Coles… the $40 kit is often $15 (i.e. $25 credit free).

        I'm personally considering getting one of those discounted Amaysim starter kits from Woolies/Coles when I do my next overseas trip to use as a back up in my Moto G54… will just get a $25 roaming pack so I have a means to call back home and also have a little data to get me started if my main phone ever gets stolen or lost.

        • surfingedge on 12/11/2024 - 16:30

          I believe you can't use a starter kit to pay for an international roaming plan, but I might be wrong.

          I had some PAYG credit and I couldn't use it to buy roaming plans, only domestic plans worked

          • Mugsy on 12/11/2024 - 16:40

            @surfingedge: We've successfully purchased roaming packs using AYG credit on my parents' three Amaysim services.

            And there's been a few others over at WP who have had success doing what I recommended above.

            • surfingedge on 12/11/2024 - 16:45

              @Mugsy: OK thanks, will try again next time I need one

              • Mugsy on 12/11/2024 - 16:53

                @surfingedge: No probs. Hopefully it isn't something they've changed since my parents bought their roaming credit (was over a year ago).

    • Yaren24 on 12/11/2024 - 12:37

      What's the best company that provides international phone calls? is flex the best?

      • Mugsy on 12/11/2024 - 12:59

        Best is quiet an opened question… you need to look at a lot of factors like your destination country for starters. Is that country even supported? And which networks at the destination country will be relied upon for roaming? Also, your own handset, is it out of date for use at on the destination country's networks?

        There's a lot of questions that needs to be answered before you can determine what's "best".

  • VW-Kombi on 12/11/2024 - 16:45

    You could buy a Skype number and some Skype credit for inbound calls.

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