Poland, Austria and/or Hungary Microsim Question.

[poloponies]

Will be traveling in that area shortly and while I know that Orange has microsims available, I don't know if they're available for travelers as prepaid items. I've bought sims elsewhere in Europe in the past but haven't been to these countries yet. Anyone know?

 

[tamasvarga67]

I am from Hungary and you can buy prepaid data card here but it will be regular sim. You just need a sharp knife and cut it to micro size in a few minutes. That's what I did and it works perfectly...

 

[poloponies]

I am from Hungary and you can buy prepaid data card here but it will be regular sim. You just need a sharp knife and cut it to micro size in a few minutes. That's what I did and it works perfectly...

Are the SIMs widely available? Phone stores? Post office?

 

[tamasvarga67]

Are the SIMs widely available? Phone stores? Post office?

Yes they are. There are three operators and you can find their branches in almost any shopping mall. I would recommend T-Mobile their coverage/speed/price is the best in my opinion. I've been using their service for years and I am quiet happy with them.

T-Mobile

Vodafone

Telenor

 

[tamasvarga67]

T-Mobile "Domino Net M" 3GB prepaid package is 3990HUF which is ~$18.

 

[g-7]

In Poland, MicroSIMs are available from Orange and Plus, but not as pre-paid. So you would have to cut the regular SIM card.

 

[poloponies]

Very helpful. Thanks.

 

[mst0192]

for austria:

The discount chain Hofer (Austrian version of German Aldi chain) does offer a SIM card including 512MB for 9,99 Euro. The name of the product is "yesss! Starter-Set Mobiles Internet". For 20Euros you can add 1GB valid for one year or 2 GB valid for one month. yesss uses the Orange infrastructure.

http://www.hofer.at/at/html/product_range/2744_4609.htm
https://www.yesss.at/diskont-shoppen/mobiles-internet/3/6d00ed337d64d0db1b3a8757e3b6c08a

 

[poloponies]

for austria:

The discount chain Hofer (Austrian version of German Aldi chain) does offer a SIM card including 512MB for 9,99 Euro. The name of the product is "yesss! Starter-Set Mobiles Internet". For 20Euros you can add 1GB valid for one year or 2 GB valid for one month. yesss uses the Orange infrastructure.

http://www.hofer.at/at/html/product_range/2744_4609.htm
https://www.yesss.at/diskont-shoppen/mobiles-internet/3/6d00ed337d64d0db1b3a8757e3b6c08a

Sweet!

 

[g-7]

I don't know if you know Polish or not, but in case you didn't, here's a list of pre-paid Internet starters available in Poland, taken from the carriers' websites, with prices in Polish currency and APN/Username/Password settings you will have to enter in your iPad settings:

Orange:
Orange Free: 20 zł
1 gr / 100 KB
APN: internet
Username: internet
Password: internet

Era:
Blueconnect starter: 25 zł
3 gr / 100 KB
APN: erainternet
Username: erainternet
Password: erainternet

Plus:
iPlus SIMData: 20 zł
3 gr / 100 KB
APN: internet

Heyah:
Starter Heyah Internet: 20 zł
2 gr / 100 KB
APN: heyah.pl
Username: heyah
Password: heyah

Play:
Starter: 19 zł
1 GB to use. You may then purchase additional 2 GB for 30 zł or 4 GB for 50 zł.
APN: internet
Note that they have a really poor coverage, check http://internet.playmobile.pl/maps/ (click Play Online on the map).

Unfortunately, in all cases you get a standard SIM card and you have to cut it, so that it fits into your iPad. Cutting the SIM card is quite easy. That's what I did, and it works. Here's a tutorial: http://www.johnbenson.net/How_to_Co..._a_SIM_to_a_MicroSIM_with_a_Meat_Cleaver.html

 

[poloponies]

Unfortunately, in all cases you get a standard SIM card and you have to cut it, so that it fits into your iPad. Cutting the SIM card is quite easy. That's what I did, and it works. Here's a tutorial: http://www.johnbenson.net/How_to_Co..._a_SIM_to_a_MicroSIM_with_a_Meat_Cleaver.html

Helpful, thanks. My only Polish word is "piwo." All this cutting talk makes me think I want one of these:

http://www.cutmysim.com/

 

[VVitalievich]

Hi,

Did the situation with microSIMs available for prepaid contract change since last post?

Going for eurotrip early Jan2011 by car, passing by Poland, Hungary, Austria.
Last year I remember it was very easy to buy prepaid at every gas station, but that was for phone, now for iPad.

Should I bring a knife and scissors? ))

 

[swi7zer]

MicroSIM

I am from Hungary and you can buy prepaid data card here but it will be regular sim. You just need a sharp knife and cut it to micro size in a few minutes. That's what I did and it works perfectly...

Hi tamasvarga67,

I just found a page at vodafone (http://www.vodafone.hu/lakossagi/internet/szamitogepen/internet-az-ipadhez) stating that MicroSIM should be available. Also I found a press release on one of the main telekom provider in hungary, stating that since roughly June/July MicroSIMs should be available.
However, I could not found any reference whether prepaid microSIM cards are available and what the cost are. I will be in Budapest for only 4 nights over new year and would like to use my iPad without the expensive roaming.

Any suggestion ? Or is John Benson guide "How To Convert a SIM to a MicroSIM with a Meat Cleaver" still the best option ?

Any feedback is welcome, kind regards and happy new year
Laszlo

 

[Zcott]

The other option is a maxroam sim for all over Europe from http://www.maxroam.ie.

 

[colmaclean]

The other option is a maxroam sim for all over Europe from http://www.maxroam.ie.

Should be http://www.maxroam.com

Or should that be .con? €75 for 50Mb of data.