Hi gooner, chilli - thank for your reply but OMG £0.48p is a lot - any idea if there is a cost for receiving a text or phonecall whilst over there when using the UK sim? At that rate I'll definitely be visiting the elephant shop...!

any idea if there is a cost for receiving a text or phonecall whilst over there when using the UK sim?

For me (on Orange Premier) I've not been charged for incoming texts on a UK SIM, but I have been charged, dearly, for incoming calls.

As a general rule, when on International Roaming with a UK SIM, the additional cost of the international part of the call is charged to you. The caller is charged the just normal call rate from where-ever they are to a UK mobile just as they would were you in the UK, you get charged the rest.

Pretty sure thats the rule for all UK networks geoff texts no charge for recieving

Yes, and it aint cheap! I was charged for texts - wouldn't have minded but my friend kept sending me flippin jokes. My bill was double my normal amount

Had a cracking idea - thought I would ring Vodafone to ask them how much to use my sim card whilst in india.

To make a call - £1.69
To receive a call - £1.25
To send a text - £0.35
To receive a text - £0.00

If you enter *#06# into your phone to get your imei number and ring them back with it they will give you the code to unlock your phone to accept any sim - very nice chap... Not sure if this works with all phones but worked a treat with mine!