Prepaid
SIM cards
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1
What is GSM?
Q.2
What advantages does GSM offer over other digital
technologies?
Q.3
How does GSM compare with analogue cellular service?
Q.4
What are pre paid telephone services?
Q.5
How do I add more talk time to my pre paid plan?
Q.6
Will the GSM mobile phone I buy from Orate work
in North America?
Q.7
Why won't my North American cell phone operate
with pre paid service?
Q.8
Why can't I buy/use a GSM 900/1800 phone in the
USA or Canada?
Q.9
I already have a GSM 900 (or GSM1800) mobile phone:
can I use Orate's pre paid service?
Q.10
Why do I need to make sure that my mobile phone
is SIM unlocked?
Q.11
Can I roam internationally with pre paid service?
Q.12
Do I keep the same phone number when I switch
pre paid service for the next destination?
Q.13
Can I call internationally?
Q.14
Why does Orate offer only one service provider
in each country?
Q.1
What is GSM?
A1.GSM
(Global System for Mobile Communications) is the leading wireless
digital technology in the world. As a member of this global system,
GSM network operators around the world are dedicated to offering
their subscribers the best wireless roaming system in the world.
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Q.2
What advantages does GSM offer over other
digital technologies?
A2.With
GSM, wireless - or mobile - customers get the richest, proven,
advanced digital technology available in the marketplace today.
GSM offers a wider range of features and functionality than other
emerging technologies. GSM simplifies data transmission to allow
laptop and palmtop computers to be connected to GSM phones. GSM
provides integrated voice mail, high-speed data, fax, paging and
short message services ("SMS" or "texting") capabilities.
With
GSM, customers get the advantage of the most secure communications.
GSM offers unparalleled call privacy and fraud prevention. There
is also the considerable advantage of national and international
roaming. In addition, GSM offers the best voice quality of any
digital wireless standard. Independent laboratory & field test
reports validate near parity to fixed line telephony.
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Q.3
How does GSM compare with analogue cellular
service?
A3.GSM
is far more advanced than traditional analogue cellular technology
still being used today by many companies. A GSM user has access
to services such as integrated voice, high speed data, paging,
fax and short message service, all from one network. Only GSM
handsets incorporate a "smart" or "SIM card" which contains the
subscriber's personal identification and service profile information
such as billing, predefined speed dial numbers and calling services.
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Q.4
What are pre paid telephone services?
A4.
Pre paid GSM services allow subscribers to pay for a specified
range of services in advance or at the time of use. This technology
is taking off in a big way in many markets.
Ease
of use and account control of pre paid GSM services are attracting
new subscribers to mobile telecommunications, and appealing to
established groups, such as business users. New subscribers include
students, families and retired people, who do not want to be tied
to long-term contracts, and temporary subscribers who need mobile
communications for a limited period. Pre paid plans allow phone
users to pay for service before they use it, similar to the way
pre paid long distance phone cards work.
Pre
paid plans let users budget their phone expenses, avoiding the
surprise at the end of the month of a larger-than-expected phone
bill. Most plans can be obtained without credit approval. Additionally,
pre paid plans don't usually require long-term contracts. With
some plans, unused time may expire within a specified time frame
such as one month, three months or one year.
Mobile
pre paid service is provided by a local carrier and resold by
Orate.
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Q.5
How do I add more talk time to my pre paid
plan?
A5.
Talk time may be added by purchasing 'Top
Up' or recharge cards that are available in varying amounts of
the local currency, depending on how much time you wish to add.
You may 'Top up' for as little or as much as you want; however,
with some pre paid plans, the higher the value of the voucher,
the cheaper your calls become. Many shops and supermarkets, in
metropolitan areas throughout Europe and Asia, sell Top Up cards.
To
activate your talk time simply dial the number found on your recharge
card, scratch the surface to reveal the voucher code and follow
the automated instructions, entering the voucher code when prompted.
Your talk time will then be automatically updated
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Q.6
Will the GSM mobile phone I buy from Orate
work in North America?
A6.
The GSM mobile phones currently offered
on our website are strictly GSM compatible - operating on the
900 and 1800 bands - or 900 and 1900 - and even "tri-band"
with900, 1800 and 1900; giving you access to GSM mobile service
in over 130 countries. However, most North American mobile phone
networks use a totally different standard, so a 900 band standard
GSM phone will not work in North America but there are increasing
areas of service where a 1900 band phone will work.
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Q.7
Why won't my North American cell phone operate
with pre paid service?
A7.
Although there are some North American carriers
that offer mobile phones capable of functioning overseas, they
are not currently capable of accepting the SIM or 'smart card'
critical to the operation of GSM pre paid services.
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Q.8
Why can't I buy/use a GSM 900/1800 phone
in the USA or Canada?
A8.
Every phone is tied to a specific mobile
phone standard. GSM 900/1800 is a European standard that is also
widely deployed in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. North American
standards are analogue AMPS, digital TDMA, GSM 1900 and CDMA.
GSM 1900 operates on a frequency incompatible with GSM 900/1800.
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A9.
Q.9
I already have a GSM 900
(or GSM1800) mobile phone: can I use Orate's pre paid service?
A9.
Yes, but not with all of our carrier partners.
Some of the carriers operate at 900 MHz, while others operate
on the 1800 frequency and still other carriers operate on both.
That's why it is recommended that you travel with a dual - or
even tri-band mobile phone. If an Orate partner operates its network
on your phone's frequency, then there is no problem. Just be sure
to check the pre paid service pages to confirm that the provider
operates on the same frequency as your existing mobile phone.
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Q.10
Why do I need to make sure that my mobile
phone is SIM unlocked?
A10.Most
mobile phones are subsidised by a carrier and to prevent a customer
from buying a subsidised phone and using it with another carriers'
service, it is "SIM locked". Consequently the phone will only
accept service from that local area provider. Often the phone
can be SIM unlocked by the carrier after one year of use. Visit
your local mobile phone retailer to inquire about unlocking your
SIM.
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Q.11
Can I roam internationally with pre paid
service?
A11.
In some cases, yes, but be sure to read
the literature in the pre paid service pack to confirm this. This
is not a common feature in Asia and Africa, but several European
carriers are now offering this service. Be aware that when you
roam, your talk time minutes may only have 20% of the value that
they have in the originating country. It is almost always better
to buy another pre paid SIM pack for your next destination if
you think you will make/receive a significant number of calls.
This is not a pitch for another sale; it's a fact. So if your
pre paid service does let you roam internationally, use it sparingly.
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Q.12
Do I keep the same phone number when I switch
pre paid service for the next destination?
A12.
No You get a new phone number
with every SIM, included in your pre paid service pack. Your phone
number and voicemail will continue to function until your SIM
is disconnected.
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Q.13
Can I call internationally?
A13.
Yes. As long as you have talk time available
you can call anywhere in the world. You may use a local access
number or dial directly from your cell phone.
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Q.14
Why does Orate offer only one service provider
in each country?
A14.
Orate selected partners that provide the
best combination of coverage area, quality of service, ease of
use, and price. Because most of our customers are from 'out of
town', we selected carriers offering pre paid service that combined
minimal maintenance with the greatest economy.
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