www.simcard.me.uk (REMOVETHESPAM) wrote:
> <nair.chandrasekhar@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1165814224.485095.50960@l12g2000cwl.googlegro ups.com...
> >I need to purchase a prepay sim at heathrow airport. Can some one tell
> > me whether this is possible? Also, can I get a number before I travel?
> >
> > I will primarily be using this to call India, with a few local calls
> > (for about a week). who would be the cheapest provider for this?
> >
>
> UK O2 Sim card would be your best bet.
I think a few months ago I would have agreed, when O2 had inclusive
packages included callthrough numbers that could be used to reach
India. Now these 0844 numbers cost 15 pence a minute, so it opens up
looking at others.
You can look at what shops are at the airport on here - bear in mind
that some shops are in the actual terminal, but most of the airside
shops are on the departure side
http://www.heathrowairport.com/porta...5e186c02865a0/
After a quick glance, I don't see a lot of scope; there are newsagents
etc that would sell top-up credit, but not necessarily SIM cards. If
you can say which terminal you'll arrive at, I'll take another look
though.
If you want to have your number before arrival though, I think you
should get a friend or relative here to get one of the cheap or free
SIM cards and post it to you.
As for which network, call charges to UK numbers vary on different
networks, but there are some interesting optional tariffs.
Mobile World is a virtual brand from the retailer Carphone Warehouse,
mainly aimed at use for international calls. India landlines are 12
pence a minute, and UK calls are 15 p/min.
http://www.talktalkmobile.co.uk/comm...ILE.HOME.MBWLD
Orange has a SIM version Call Abroad. This has calls to India at
12p/min, but UK calls are more expensive.
http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/sim/ca...sim?WT.svl=209
T-mobile has most UK calls at 12p/min, with an interesting add-on
option detailed about halfway down this page
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher...a_payg&pt=payg
You can see £7.50 buys 50 minutes, i.e. 15p/min, bought by sending an
sms - take care not to exceed those minutes. It says you can buy up to
6 of these packages.
There are a couple of other possibilities - on O2 the 0844 callthrough
numbers mentioned cost 15 pence a minute, or on Virgin UK landline
calls cost 15p for the first 5 minutes a day, then 5p a minute; this
might be used with a calling card or callthrough arrangement costing
another 4 or 6 pence a minute to India, and UK mobiles could be reached
by 0871 callthrough numbers ...
Overall, to avoid complications of using extra things like calling
cards or other callthrough arrangements, I think I'd suggest either
Mobile World or T-mobile with that add-on, so all calls can be
direct-dialled for either 12 or 15 pence a minute.
require prepay sim at heathrow airport to call India 
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