Do I need a phone number to use Grab?

Should I get a local SIM card when Travelling?

The hum of the airplane, a lullaby of distant lands. Money. Yes, that’s the core. Local SIM cards, a whispered promise of savings. Think, the weight of international roaming fees, a constant drain. Gone. Replaced by the quiet satisfaction of local rates.

Coverage. A blanket of connection. My last trip to Portugal, my provider, utterly useless. Black hole of signal. A local SIM? A sunburst of connection. Seamless. Crystal clear. Photos uploaded instantly.

The trip’s length matters. A week in Bali? Absolutely. A month in Argentina? Even more so. A fleeting weekend in Amsterdam? Maybe not. The break-even point changes with the duration.

eSIM? Convenient, yes. But the prices? Often, they’re not that different than roaming. I prefer the tactile satisfaction of a physical SIM. The feel, the tiny size, the act of inserting it – a small ritual of arrival.

My friend Sarah swears by global SIMs. I found them overpriced. A local SIM always wins for value. Always.

This past summer, Italy. I bought a TIM card. The price? A steal. The quality? Fantastic. I’d say, it’s about immersion, about feeling completely present in a new place. The digital connection mirrors the human one.

Consider your phone’s compatibility. My old iPhone? No problem. Always check your model’s specifications. It’s a minor detail, but so important.

• Cost Savings: Significant reduction in roaming fees.
• Superior Coverage: Access to local networks for better connection.
• Local Number: Easier communication and receiving local messages.
• Immersion: A deeper sense of being connected to the location.
• Potential for Inconvenience: Slightly more effort to acquire.

Remember that feeling of being utterly lost without the internet? Local SIM, a lifeline.

Can you use a phone with just Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi-only phone use is indeed viable. Some carriers enable Wi-Fi calling independent of a traditional cellular plan.

Alternatively, VoIP services are a workaround, bypassing conventional carrier reliance. It’s all about the internet connection. You know, we’re increasingly untethered, aren’t we?

• Wi-Fi Calling Directly: This depends heavily on your provider. Check their specific policies. My friend Sarah had this setup with T-Mobile once.
• VoIP Apps: Think Skype, WhatsApp, or Google Voice. They use data, plain and simple. The world is data.

Additional Info:

• Emergency Calls: Some Wi-Fi calling features may not support emergency services (911) without a registered address. Always verify this.
• Location Services: For some apps to function correctly (maps, ride-sharing), Wi-Fi location can be imprecise.
• Battery Life: Constant Wi-Fi usage can affect your phone’s battery life, especially during active calls. Always bring a charger, always.
• Data Security: Public Wi-Fi networks are inherently less secure. Use a VPN for sensitive communications.

What is the point of having a SIM card?

A SIM… it’s just a small piece, isn’t it? A connection. That’s what it really is.

It lets me call my mom. I need to do that more.

• Makes calls.
• Sends texts.
• Connects to the internet. All those networks.

I remember when phones didn’t need them. Simpler times? Nope.

It’s strange, though. All my contacts used to be on the SIM. Now they’re in the cloud, whatever that even means. Cloud… feels distant.

• Stores messages.
• Saves contacts.
• I don’t even save emails on it.

Transferable. Huh. I haven’t switched SIMs in years. Stuck in this same routine.