O2 customer's take note, free SMS messages available abroad!

Purrrrfect_2002

2007-06-20 16:44:54

On another forum I noticed a comment about someone saying how they managed to get free SMS messages when abroad.
At first I thought it was a load of tosh but it actually does work!!!

I believe it only works on O2 sims, the ones they always offer for free online, where you pay £10 a month and for that you get 500 free text messages, and the £10 for call credit.

Well if you send a normal SMS off of one of these sims it still charges you like 50 p so you don't get your free messages, when you're abroad but if you send a multimedia message, a MMS you get it for free.

As I say I didn't believe it but it's true. A MMS takes 3 of your 500 credits everytime you send one, but it was completely free of charge! Nothing went from my balance at all.

So for a cheaper way, if you see any of the O2 online pay as you go sims advertised online, where you can order up to 4 or something, then definitely get one and use it when you are abroad to send messages back home.

Thought this might be a useful bit of information for you all!

*Leanne*

2007-06-20 17:11:51

do you know if this works on all o2 "genie" sim cards? as i've got one which, although wasn't free it cost me £9.99 from the o2 website, gives me 300 texts for £10, 500 texts for £20 and 1000 texts for £30 a month!

fantastic if it works!

Purrrrfect_2002

2007-06-20 18:00:47

I believe so, I am not entirely in the know or a total boff on the subject but I just know it definitely works!

It worked on my o2 genie mobile and I pay £10 a month, may be for 300 texts actually, not 500 so most probably definitely will!

*Leanne*

2007-06-21 17:10:40

great i'll try it out! thanks!

scalder

2007-06-22 10:50:51

no idea how it happens but i've been abroad 6 times with my 02 mobile over the last few years (contract phone) and never once been charged for texts - really strange.

however once had a t mobile contract and used it and ended up with a bill of well over £100!!

long may 02 continue

ellie_meg

2007-06-22 18:07:14

im on 02 (genie) online contract and get 900 free texts and 500 free mins for £20 a mth and i was told that sending a text from abroad to another uk mob uses about 3-4 texts, but when i send my mother from the uk a text to her turkish mobile i get charged about 12-15p each text

joolz

2007-06-22 20:19:01

I have a genie sim card for 02. How do you send this type of text message cpompard to usual one??

Ta.

*Leanne*

2007-06-22 20:21:09

hi joolz

a multimedia message is just a picture message, sending texts from abroad using this function will just be like sending a picture message except you don't add the picture to the message, i imagine!

it might be under your message menu as "multimedia messaging" or "picture messaging"

what type of phone have you got and i'll see if i can find out exactly for you?

joolz

2007-06-22 21:50:52

I don't understand!!!! I have a Samsung flip up fone, pinky coloured!!!!

Checked under "my messages" and see the multimedia option. So...... do I just send my text using this option????

Thank!!

*Leanne*

2007-06-23 15:33:46

yep thats the option joolz!

joolz

2007-06-23 16:34:30

Ooooh goodie!! I'll try it. Normally costs me 50p per text.

scalder

2007-06-24 10:43:14

mine have always worked by just sending it as a normal text - although im on contract so maybe different, last worked like that in Majorca at Easter

GoanMad Tony

2007-06-24 10:58:59

If we use are English phones in Goa it costs 50p for a text and £2 a minute to phone back home. We got a Goan friend who had a mate who has a mobile phone shop in Margao to get us new Nokia multimedia phones, sim card and 800rps credit for approx £40. Using are Indian phones it costs 4p for a text and only 10p a minute to phone home, a lot cheaper

nuttysam

2007-06-27 07:29:02

I'm on an o2 online contract and each time I've been to the Dominican Republic I've not been charged to send texts back to the Uk. They just use 4 of my free text allowance for each text I send. I get 500 free texts a month so for each 25 I send it takes off a 100 free ones...........if you get my meaning. It actually now mentions it on the o2 website, as I was confused before. I'm not sure about "pay as you go" though.
sam

*Leanne*

2007-06-30 18:55:41

if anyone is interested in knowing whether this definately works before they try it, I asked an O2 representative today who also happens to be a mate of mine and it does work!

GlitterGirl

2007-07-06 23:47:13

It works for T-Mobile customers aswell - i phoned up to ask for my answering machine to be switched off before i went to america (Cos it would automatically phone me and therefore charge me to tell me i have a message!) and the woman gave me a tip - send any text messages by MMS instead of SMS and it wouldn't go on top of my £35 per month free stuff! (Im on the Flext 35 contract).

Brigger

2007-07-19 17:36:45

Hi All,
Does anyone know if it costs the receiver of the text anything off their credit to receive your message. :hmmm

Regards, Brigger

GlitterGirl

2007-07-19 18:22:42

I dont think it does Brigger but im not sure.

It might cost you to recieve aswell as send a text abroad though.

Brigger

2007-07-19 18:51:28

Thanks Glittergirl, will give it a try from Ibiza this weekend,if my sister complains I`ll know it`s cost her to receive my text, but as long as I`ve got to send it for free....... Oh well she`s richer than me anyway. :lol: