European roaming for 20 cents per minute comming ?

**rchl** · 06-06-2012, 10:35 AM

Tony Lacavera was just interviewed on BNN at aprox. 11:20 am and stated that European roaming is coming this summer at 20 cents per minute using Vimpel Com network.

From what I see the only European country that Vimpel Com has service is Italy so not quite sure what he means.

If Wind somehow manages to get European wide roaming at a reasonable price it may be the differentiating feature they need to really boost subscriber numbers.

**phreek_11** · 06-06-2012, 12:48 PM

My parents go to Switzerland all the time. If Switzerland is included, my parents would totally switch.

ROBELLUS is going to be so mad!!!

**Humza** · 06-06-2012, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by phreek_11

My parents go to Switzerland all the time. If Switzerland is included, my parents would totally switch.

ROBELLUS is going to be so mad!!!

I don't think they'll be mad if 2 people leave..if that's what you were implying.

**mattt33** · 06-06-2012, 01:56 PM

The reduced roaming rates include $0.15/texts sent to anywhere internationally and $1.00/MB as well for data, in addition to $0.20/minute calls for all the included European countries + calling back to Canada.

**icemasta** · 06-06-2012, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by mattt33

The reduced roaming rates include $0.15/texts sent to anywhere internationally and $1.00/MB as well for data, in addition to $0.20/minute calls for all the included European countries + calling back to Canada.

Those are some great roaming rates.

**mGeek** · 06-06-2012, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by mattt33

The reduced roaming rates include $0.15/texts sent to anywhere internationally and $1.00/MB as well for data, in addition to $0.20/minute calls for all the included European countries + calling back to Canada.

Those are excellent rates. I assume you need to buy a Preferred Roaming Rates add-on, no? And I think only Italy has a sister company now. WIND HELLAS in Greece isn't even owned by Vimplecom any more.

But maybe it's possible for all of Euro. According to this site, if you are from Italy, your pre-paid roaming rates in other major EU countries are about 0.13 Euros (less than 20 cents Canadian). Maybe they are leveraging their connection with WIND Italy.

http://ec.europa.eu/information_soci...e/index_en.htm

**mattt33** · 06-06-2012, 04:23 PM

The special Europe roaming rates are available as an $8 monthly add-on. Those who do go with the add-on will receive it for free of charge until the end of September though - i.e. almost 4 months free.

A new 'roaming sim card' (free of charge) is required though - in addition to enabling international roaming on the account, to receive the new reduced rates.

The included countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.

**mGeek** · 06-06-2012, 04:27 PM

So "roaming sim", that's how they are doing it. To the roaming partner network, you're not WIND Mobile user, you're WIND Italy user and you get their much lower rate. Makes perfect sense now.

**OCZ** · 06-06-2012, 04:30 PM

What I am kinda of surprised is that WIND is owned by Orascom Telecom which is based in Egypt ... There is no special rates or roaming agreements with Orascom's own network back in Egypt (Mobinil)

kinda weird!

**bigjonsson** · 06-06-2012, 04:41 PM

Hmm, I am going to England and France in July, this might be useful...........as long as they don't take away my all in the family 2011

**Shoephone** · 06-06-2012, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by OCZ

What I am kinda of surprised is that WIND is owned by Orascom Telecom which is based in Egypt ... There is no special rates or roaming agreements with Orascom's own network back in Egypt (Mobinil)

kinda weird!

Not really. Orascom sold its Egyptian holdings (ie Mobinil) to France Telecom / Orange last month. Technically, they are now out of Telecoms in their home country.

**OCZ** · 06-06-2012, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Shoephone

Not really. Orascom sold its Egyptian holdings (ie Mobinil) to France Telecom / Orange last month. Technically, they are now out of Telecoms in their home country.

100% sale or 49 vs 51 share?

**AMRivlin** · 06-06-2012, 08:08 PM

Wait how is 15 cents a text a deal. If you spend time in EU so much that $8 a month and 15 cents a text is a deal, why not just get a EU SIM?

What am I missing?

**AMRivlin** · 06-06-2012, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by mattt33

The reduced roaming rates include $0.15/texts sent to anywhere internationally and $1.00/MB as well for data, in addition to $0.20/minute calls for all the included European countries + calling back to Canada.

How about calling back to USA, if I have USA calling on my account

**rchl** · 06-06-2012, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by AMRivlin

Wait how is 15 cents a text a deal. If you spend time in EU so much that $8 a month and 15 cents a text is a deal, why not just get a EU SIM?

What am I missing?

What you are missing is convenience and cost. First it will probably cost you a lot more than 20c per minute, specially when you add international LD to Canada, and the inconvenience of finding the right plan, buying a SIM, loading money onto it and probably leaving money on the account at the end of your trip.

The only time a local SIM will make sense compared to these proposed rates is if it's a long stay in a single country and you need a lot of data.