Frequently Asked Questions

Through our contact form or via email to support@2abroad.com - just like the contact form, this will get you straight to our helpdesk

Please include as much information as possible so that we can deal with your query as quickly and effectively as possible.

A Global SIM that works almost everywhere and is great for travellers and business users alike.

When you take your mobile phone abroad, your phone ‘roams’ onto a local mobile network in that country. This allows you to continue using your mobile almost as you would in the UK, but your network operator charges you extortionate rates to receive calls, send texts and pick up voicemails.

All in all, without UK2Abroad your call charges abroad could be as much as 10 times more than in the UK, which is where UK2Abroad comes in to save you money.

Click here for a full explanation of how UK2Abroad works.

In summary:

Our unique Global SIM card will work almost anywhere in the world including the USA.
If you travel to the US and need data, also see our special US-only service below):

And for travellers to the USA who need a large data bundle:

* Your phone connection needs to support call diverting in order to use the Keep Your Number™ feature.
Both SIMs are provided with an alternative UK number also. And with the Global SIM number, your incoming calls will be even cheaper - even free incoming calls in many destinations.

You just need an unlocked phone and if you want calls to be forwarded from your regular UK number through us using our unique Keep Your Number™* feature, then you will need a phone package that supports call diverting (all UK pay-monthly contracts do).

To see if your phone is unlocked, try putting a SIM from another network into your phone. If it works, then you're good to go. If not, then you just need to unlock your phone - this is very easy and can often be done instantly online.

Your phone connection needs to support call diverting in order to use the Keep Your Number™ feature. Most UK conrtacts support this. But you don't have to use this. The Global SIM card is also provided with an alternative UK mobile number (using which your incoming calls will be even cheaper - even free incoming calls in many destinations) and the US SIM is provided with a unique UK landline number also.

To see if your phone supports call diverting, try this test, which will temporarily divert your mobile onto your landline:

• On your mobile, enter **21*your home phone number# into your phone and press "send" or green button
• You should see "please wait" then "divert successful" on your screen
• Now try calling your mobile number (from your mobile phone or any other number).  Your home phone should ring
• To cancel press ##21# then "send" or green button

See the map of destinations or roaming destination browser to select your country and package

Our packages are sent by Royal Mail first class Recorded Delivery as standard. Typically you will receive your package about 1 week before departure (or 3-4 working days after purchase, if leaving soon after purchase). If you require a SIM faster, then select Express Delivery at checkout - we will then post the next working day after purchase (and should be received next working day thereafter). If you are ordering from abroad, select International Airmail at checkout.

You have to take your UK SIM card out of your phone and replace it with one of our Global or US SIMs to benefit from the tremendous cost-savings we are able to offer. Without UK2Abroad you’ll be stuck paying expensive roaming charges for all your calls and texts abroad.

No, UK2Abroad Global SIMs expire 12-months from the date of purchase, but you can easily extend the life at any time and we’ll remind you one month before your Global SIM is due to expire to make sure you don’t forget. A 12-month extension costs just £12.00 (the equivalent of just £1 per month).

US SIM cards expire 90 days after purchase. The expiry is extended by a further 90 days each time you top up the local SIM. You can top up your local SIM via the UK2Abroad My Account section of our web site (so you can renew when back in the UK). Or if you visit the US regularly you can top up the SIM with $100 of local credit. This extends the expiry of the SIM by a full year and you get the best local call rates.

UK2Abroad credit can be purchased at any time online at www.uk2abroad.com.

For travellers using our US SIM, the local US credit can be purchased at any time online via the UK2Abroad My Account section of our web site, or at local stores across the USA

UK2Abroad credit lasts indefinitely provided you top up at least once every 12 months. It can be used both with the Global SIM and US SIM; or refunded if no longer needed (subject to a £10 administration charge).

Top-up online via the My Account section anytime (you can access this once you have made your purchase). If you will not be able to get internet access during your trip, we suggest ordering some additional credit to cover all eventualities. We offer a refund policy for unused credit (£10 administration charge applies).

 All you need is an unlocked tri-band phone (most handsets purchased in the last 5 years are tri-band) and if you want to use the Keep Your Number™ feature, a tariff that supports call diverting.

Then use the UK2Abroad Global SIM card. It works almost everywhere including the USA. See the roaming destination browser for all destinations and rates. For travel to the USA and requiring a large daata bundle we recommend purchasing a USA SIM card.

Yes we can cut our SIMs to Micro SIM size for you, such as for use in an iPhone 4 or iPad. Just let us know by reply email when you receive your automated order confirmation. Note, Micro-SIMs are not returnable or refundable.

You need to have an unlocked phone to use our service. Unlocking allows you to use your mobile phone on any network (for the purposes of our service, this allows you to use a Global SIM card or any other SIM card in your handset). It's perfectly legal and under European regulation, mobile networks are mandated to unlock your phone on request (although they may charge and could be cheaper at your local mobile store).

Some mobile operators lock their phones so you can only use them on their network. This is to prevent people moving between networks and has been frowned upon by the European Commission as ‘anti-competitive’.

Put in a SIM card from another mobile network. If it registers on that network, your phone is unlocked. If it doesn’t, then you phone is locked. If you have an iPhone your home carrier (eg. O2, Vodafone, Orange) will need to have supplied you the unlock code which you activated via iTunes. Even if you bought the phone from Apple directly it would have locked the first time you put a SIM in it, so you still need to complete the above and test your phone with a SIM from another network.

Many online services offer unlocking for a small charge, or you can take your phone to your local mobile phone shop. Your network provider will also be able to provide an unlock code for a fee.

Absolutely - unlocking your mobile phone is perfectly legal. In fact, your mobile network is obliged to do it for you, although some do charge. Many online services offer unlocking for a small charge, or you can take your phone to your local mobile phone shop. Please email us with any queries.

1. Select and purchase a UK2Abroad package consisting of a SIM card and credit
2. Receive your package and instructions by e-mail or post
3. Set up your account online
4. Enter your activation code into your phone before you leave the UK if using the Keep Your Number™ feature. If you are not using this feature, hand out your new UK mobile number to your colleages/friends/family.
5. Swap your UK SIM card with your UK2Abroad SIM when you arrive at your destination

People still call you on your regular UK number, and they won't pay any more than usual.

You can even divert all your phones (home, office, mobile) through to your UK2Abroad SIM, so you never miss an important call. The cost of the divert is often free (as you are diverting to a standard UK landline, so included in bundled minutes).

If you are not using the Keep Your Number™* feature see alternative options below.

If you are using the  Keep Your Number™* feature then people calling you on your regular UK mobile number will be diverted to your Global SIM. They will pay the same rate they always pay to call you - no difference for them.

People can also call you on the telephone number we provide with the Global SIM. This is a regular UK mobile number but is not included in mobile network free-minutes.

Receiving calls using Keep Your Number™*

• The caller pays the regular rate for calling your UK mobile number
• See the rates page for details of how much you will pay to receive the call

Receiving calls using the Global SIM mobile number

• Calling the Global SIM number from a BT landline costs 18p per minute at peak times 12p per minute at off-peak times 8p per minutes all weekend
• Calling the Global SIM number from a mobile should cost between 20-30p per minute at all times. The number is not included in free-minutes. Check with your mobile network for full information
• Calls received using the Global SIM mobile number are free in many destinations

If you can't (or don't want to) use the Keep Your Number™* feature but you want people calling you to pay as little as possible then they should call you on the divert number we provide with the SIM. This is a standard UK landline number starting 020, so included in bundled minutes.

If you are using the  Keep Your Number™* feature then people calling you on your regular UK mobile number will be diverted to your Global SIM. They will pay the same rate they always pay to call you - no difference for them.

People can also call you on the telephone number we provide with the Global SIM. This is a regular UK mobile number but is not included in mobile network free-minutes.

Receiving calls using Keep Your Number™*

• The caller pays the regular rate for calling your UK mobile number
• See the rates page for details of how much you will pay to receive the call

Receiving calls directly on the US mobile number

• Callers from the UK can call you on your US mobile number. This will be an international call but can be called for only 2p/min using 0844 831 5755 from a BT landline. See the Call2Abroad web site for full details
• Callers from within the USA should call you on your US mobile number directly

If you can't (or don't want to) use the Keep Your Number™* feature but you want people calling you from the UK to pay as little as possible then they should call you on the divert number we provide with the SIM. This is a standard UK landline number, so included in bundled minutes.

Global SIM

Send texts globally from your Global SIM for low rates

Receive text messages sent to your Global SIM phone number for free globally

If you are using the Keep Your Number™* service, note that texts are not forwarded. Your contacts can either text you on your Global SIM number; or you can just swap the SIMs over periodically to check your UK SIM for texts.

US SIM

Send texts globally from your US SIM for low rates

Receive text messages sent to your US SIM phone number for 5 cents (or no charge if paying by the day)

If you are using the Keep Your Number™* service, note that texts are not forwarded. Your contacts can either text you on your US SIM number; or you can just swap the SIMs over periodically to check your UK SIM for texts.

Data with the US SIM - great for iPhone or Android users - 3G speeds across the USA

The SIM is shipped with 25$ credit and you need to buy sterling credit also. By default the US SIM is on the $2/day plan which does not support data.

You still pay the UK2Abroad per minute fee for the international part of inbound and outbound calls.

We also provide MicroSIMs for use with unlocked iPhone 4 etc and iPads etc. on request

Data is also supported on our Global SIMs in the USA at 89p/MB.

We intend to add support for data as soon as possible for other countries. Please email us to register your interest.