Pre-paid 3G service and Micro SIM

Palolem

Hello,

is there a provider that offers a pre-paid data service with a Micro SIM card in the Goa, Kanataka and Mumbai region?

I would like to use an Apple iPad when I am traveling in India.
Ideally I want a 30 days pre-paid service that offers UMTS/HSDPA in cities.

If that service is available where do I usually get the card?
Is there an application process for a foreigner?

Thank you very much.

Cheers
Palolem

varungsk

Best you can do is to take your own country sim /micro sim card and activate international roaming .no service provider will provide micro sim card all you have to do is to carry sim cutter which is available in your country to cut normal sim card to micro sim .

shashank.aggarwal

I guess there are converters available quite commonly now. (Atleast in major cities). Secondly, don't expect wonders from Data services. 3G might be there only for namesake. If you are serious about your browsing needs, its better to carry a laptop and get a Tata Photon Plus data card.

__________________
Spineless

Travelogue - Around India

Palolem

@varungsk
Many thanks.
International roaming would cost me a fortune even if I would only check email, surf my favorites sites and upload a few pictures ro Facebook once a day.
Therefore using my home provider is no option as cost would be easily +100€. Your suggestion with the SIM card cutter might be the solution.

@shashank.aggarwal
Thank you
My laptop is a heavy brick and too heavy for my journey.
But if I could get a "Tata Photon Plus data card" can cut it to Mico SIM size, that might be the solution. How much would this pre-paid card be? GPRS/EDGE speed would be also fine and better then nothing.

Cheers

shashank.aggarwal

Tata Photon is a USB modem kind of thing. Google for it. If you are ok with GPRS/Edge, then go for a Airtel pre-paid connection. In Delhi I pay Rs.98 for 1 month / 2gb usage.

Palolem

Hi,

Thank you very much for your reply.
The knowledge in this forum is amazing!

What is the process to get an Airtel pre-paid card?
Where do I get a contract with SIM card? Are there Airtel shops?
Do you maybe know what the minimum contract duration is?

Cheers

shashank.aggarwal

There is not contract. The process is mentioned in some other thread several times. You can pick one for Rs.50 I guess and then add calling value to it. Same would be used for activating the GPRS plan as well.

But the SIM from the city where you pkan to spend the maximum time.

varungsk

If you are buying a sim card in india as per law even indians have to furnish all detail along with proof of address and identity .i am still not aware what are the process mobile companies adopt to provide sim card to foreigner .i request you to please visit web sites of indian mobile companies like AIRTEL, IDEA ETC and send query to them or contact on customer care phone number .

Palolem

@shashank.aggarwal

OK, it seems that "Airtel Mobile Office - Unlimited Internet Rs 98 Recharge (30 day validity)" is exactly what I want. Which of the 10 Prepaid Tariffs would you chose if I am not interested in Voice and SMS services and only need it for 30 days max? The table is a bit confusing.

@varungsk
Proof of identity is no poblem but as a tourist I dont have a permananet address in India. Do you think that will be a problem? Maybe a friend could buy me a card.

Have a nice weekend.

shashank.aggarwal

Tourists can easily procure the card. As said before read the forums. Do not worry Voice and SMS tariff then, just let it run on whatever default it is set up to.

Palolem

Thank you

Are Micro-SIM cards available in India in case you use a iPhone/iPad?
Or is SIM cutting always required?

Cheers

varungsk

Micro sim is not available .you have to use sim cutter .

nycank

You seem quite knowledgable about iPad and MicroSIMs, you should do a small experiment by buying a Micro SIM from another carrier in Europe, swap out your existing SIM, and see what the drain cash-value on the new SIM is, and then check against all the apps on your iPAD.

You dont want to have a shock on arriving to India, that things are not so smooth.

__________________
bade bhaisaheb is outsourced

Palolem

Hi,

I am sorry but I do not understand what you would like to tell me.

Cheers

nycank

Outside of AT&T in US, I have not seen microSIM deployed by other carriers; neither did I see microSIM in India for two of the carriers. Apple is trying to discourage SIM swapping.