GlobalGig (www.globalgig.com.au) is offering a SIM card and mobile hotspot for low-cost data roaming in 36 countries. The SIM card can be bought online at $2.00 and the mobile hotspot for $49.00. Monthly plans start at $5.00 for the pay-as-you-go Flexi Plan. Data rates on this plan are $0.05/MB for use in Australia and 10 other countries (Group 1 countries):
- Austria
- Denmark
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
- UK
- USA
In a further 25 countries (Group 2 countries, which are Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey) the rate is $0.20/MB.
The Home and Abroad plan for $9.00 a month includes 1GB ($19.00 for 3GB and $29.00 for 5GB) of data for use in Australia, while overseas data use is charged at the same rates as on the Flexi plan.
The Jetsetter plan gives you 1GB of data for use in Australia and in the Group 1 countries for $19.00/month ($35.00 for 3GB and $49.00 for 5GB). Within Group 2 countries the charge is $0.20/MB extra.
Outside the Group 1 and Group 2 countries the GlobalGig service does not work, although new countries may be included in the future.
Also, the service is strictly data-only (no voice calls or SMS supported) and only presently works with tablets and the GlobalGig hotspot. Smartphones or other WiFi devices are not supported. Further details can be found on the GlobalGig website.
Carl Moser