Get a SIM Card in the UK

Decided to move to the UK for some time, or are you visiting for a longer time? I ask, so that you can easily communicate without paying  lot of money. I mean roaming is well and good, but for extended stays in any nation, a local carrier is a must. This helps you get much better connectivity, save money and not be hit by whacking mad charges on your, say, Australian SIM.

And this right here’s a guide to how you can get a new SIM card in the UK.

So what type of plan do you want?

Are you looking at post paid or pre paid facilities?

And you need to get yourself armed with this blog, so you don’t have to be confused

And which operator do you want to work with? These are the first questions you must answer, because the rest is as easy as buying some bread (well it is for me) (and white sandwich bread in case you’re wondering)!

Once you decide what you need, head over the a service provider. And in the UK, Orange, Vodafone and O2 are three of the most widely used networks.

Get advice on Orange Sim

Orange: If you want to pay a monthly bill with Orange, you have 2 package options, called Panther and Dolphin, each of them with different connectivity options.

However, for a Smartphone the Panther one is more appropriate, as it has Wi-Fi and Email included. Orange needs you to have proof of your address for the 3 years past and will need you to select payment options and offer proof of ability to pay.

Vodafone SMS

Vodafone: Here you can buy either a SIM card only, a SIM card with a phone, and you can choose a micro SIM or a regular size one. There are many monthly plans available and you must choose the one that best fits your needs. Your personal details will be needed for the payment.

Get an O2 SIM

O2: The requirements for a post paid card at O2 mirror that of their competitors, so it’s pretty much standard practices for telecomm firms.

OK, so you’re going to be in the UK only for a short period of time, like only for the summer? Then, this whole post and all my awesomeness goes to waste. And you can bet your behind I cannot let you get away with that. I’m not done yet!

If your visit is a short term one, let’s say about 3-4 weeks, then you really should get what they call ‘pay as you go’ phone lines, which is essentially pre-paid services. With this SIM card you only pay for the initial value registered on it, and then you can talk. When the credit is all gone, you can simply recharge with the amount of money you desire! How convenient is this?

Keep in mind though that the minimum credit recharge is £2, and most likely there is a high limit as well, but I don’t think you need to worry about that right now. And with a lot of our readers expressing their wish to show up for the Olympics this London Summer, these guidelines will help make sure you’re connected and getting the most out of the Mobile.

And those of you who do? Do share some pictures with us.

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