INTERNATIONAL ROAMING FACT SHEET AbOuT INTERNATIONAL ROAMING

INTERNATIONAL ROAMING FACT SHEET
about internationAL ROAMING
International Roaming lets you use your Virgin Mobile service
while you are outside of Australia. While overseas, your
phone will connect to a local network, who then send us a
bill which we then pass on to you.
To set up International Roaming
Call us on 1300 555 100 (free call) 7am to 11pm (AEST) any
day.
To turn off International Roaming
Call +61 2 8861 0588 (free call) and follow the prompts. This
call can be placed at any time from 15 September 2013.
Alternatives to International Roaming
These include using a local SIM card (a good option if you
will be in the same country for a while) or using free WiFi
(often found these days in airports, libraries, cafes, and
shopping centres) to get online, check your Facebook and
even make calls using a data-based call/SMS apps such as
Facetime, Viber or WhatsApp.
International Roaming (especially using the internet on
your phone) can be very expensive, and because roaming
charges are not included within your standard plan value,
they are added to your minimum monthly access fee. To
keep a lid on your bill while using your phone overseas, we
recommend:
•Only use your phone when necessary
•Consider turning off your voicemail and using texts to keep
in touch
•Because data usage is so expensive, and many apps use
data even while running in the background, turn off data
roaming altogether and only use data via free WiFi when
available
•Use My Account (preferably via WiFi) to keep tabs on
your usage, but please note that due to delays in getting
information from overseas networks, it may not be a totally
up-to-date reflection of your latest usage
International Roaming Top 10 Country Charges
To give you a better idea of what you could pay for
International Roaming, below is information on the maximum
expected charges (in some countries there are several
networks to choose from and costs vary) for the 10 most
popular destinations by Australian travellers. If you are
visiting a country not listed here, feel free to call us on
1300 555 100 any day, 7am to 11pm (AEST) for specific
information.
Cost for
1 minute
call to Oz
1 minute
call within
country
Receipt of
a 1 minute
call
SMS to Oz
China
$0.47
$0.47
$1.40
$0.39
Fiji
$2.28
$2.28
$1.70
Indonesia
$4.42
$4.42
Italy
$3.07
Malaysia
New Zealand
SMS
within
country
Receipt of
SMS
1MB data
$0.39
$0.00
$0.22
$1.10
$1.10
$0.00
$5.99
$1.62
$0.51
$0.51
$0.00
$9.85
$3.07
$0.80
$0.51
$0.51
$0.00
$0.51
$5.05
$5.05
$2.74
$0.89
$0.89
$0.00
$23.86
$0.25
$0.25
$0.60
$0.38
$0.38
$0.00
$0.08
Singapore
$1.79
$1.79
$1.66
$0.74
$0.74
$0.00
$15.65
Thailand
$3.05
$3.05
$2.59
$0.83
$0.83
$0.00
$26.52
United Kingdom
$3.34
$3.34
$0.60
$0.90
$0.90
$0.00
$30.46
USA
$1.88
$1.88
$2.50
$0.46
$0.46
$0.00
$0.72
This information is correct as at 22 August 2013 but is subject to change at any time. Virgin Mobile (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 67 092 726 442. Please recycle me VM000619
International mobile roaming
What is international mobile roaming?
International mobile roaming (IMR) means using
your mobile device at an overseas location, via
the same mobile service provider you use in
Australia. You keep the same SIM card in your
phone or tablet device as you would normally
use, as your provider has agreements with
overseas networks for you to ‘roam’ onto their
networks when using your device in that location.
It is important to note that the charges for using
your mobile device overseas can be much
higher than within Australia, and that these
charges are usually not part of the included
value, if you are on a monthly plan. You may
also accrue charges for services which are free
in Australia, such as receiving a voice call at an
overseas location.
What protection is there against bill
shock?
To combat bill shock, the ACMA has created the
International Mobile Roaming Standard. This
standard obliges your mobile service provider to
ensure a number of consumer protection
measures are in place to help you better monitor
and manage your mobile roaming usage while
overseas. These measures include:
>
A warning notification sent via SMS to you
on arrival in an overseas destination,
warning that higher charges for using IMR
services may apply.
>
Most users will also receive a notification via
SMS providing price information for using a
range of IMR services.
>
Providing you with IMR price information
when you activate these services with your
provider—separate to the information
supplied to you when you sign up for a
domestic service.
>
Providing you with the ability to decline the
use of IMR services, at no or low cost, at
any time, including from an overseas
location.
>
Providing spend-management tools via a
website or an app, including notifications in
A$100 increments for post-paid data usage
and notifications at 50 per cent, 85 per cent
and 100 per cent of included value, if you
have purchased a travel pack from your
provider.
What is bill shock?
CANBERRA
Purple Building Benjamin Offices
Chan Street
Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 78
Belconnen ACT 2616
T: 02 6219 5555
F: 02 6219 5200
MELBOURNE
Level 44, Melbourne Central
Tower
360 Elizabeth Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
PO Box 13112 Law Courts
Melbourne VIC 8010
T: 03 9963 6800
F: 03 9963 6899
SYDNEY
Level 5, The Bay Centre
65 Pirrama Road
Pyrmont NSW 2009
PO Box Q500
Queen Victoria Building NSW
1230
T: 02 9334 7700
F: 02 9334 7799
‘Bill shock’ refers to unexpected high charges
that occur as a result of using your mobile device
overseas. Simple tasks, such as using a map
function on your phone, may involve the use of
downloaded data which can quickly add to the
costs of using your device. The bills for this use
can run into the many thousands of dollars for
just a short overseas trip— as such it is definitely
worth planning your communications needs
before you travel.
As the charging structures for roaming are
usually very different to the charging structures
for using your phone at home, you should take
note of the following elements of pricing:
> how call duration is calculated—per second,
per minute or otherwise
> whether there is a fixed charge for call
connection in addition to charges for call
duration
> data service prices
How to avoid bill shock
While this list is not exhaustive, here are some
ways you can reduce the chances of
experiencing bill shock:
>
Check your charges before you leave. Be
aware that making a voice call or sending
an SMS overseas can cost a lot more than
in Australia. Receiving a call from Australia
may accrue charges for the ‘international’
leg of that call. However, receiving SMS is
usually more affordable than voice or data.
>
Consider your data usage while you are
overseas. Apps installed on your smart
device often have auto-update settings that
rely on data downloads, which can easily
chew through the megabytes. Simple
> any difference between peak and off-peak
charges
> whether different charges apply among
different mobile networks in the visited
country. You may manually select a network
when travelling overseas.
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actions, such as checking a map on your
smartphone, can also incur significant data
downloads.
CANBERRA
Purple Building Benjamin Offices
Chan Street
Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 78
Belconnen ACT 2616
T: 02 6219 5555
F: 02 6219 5200
>
Look for places that offer free Wi-Fi. This is
a good opportunity to take advantage of free
data to upload photos, send e-mails or
check your Facebook account. Many smart
devices do not need a SIM card to be
inserted in them to avail of free Wi-Fi.
>
Consider a travel product from your
provider. Major service providers in
Australia can offer data packs or similar
products that allow for a predetermined level
of use while you are overseas. Be careful—
significant charges may still apply if you go
over your allowance for voice calls, SMS or
data.
>
Another option to consider is a passportstyle SIM product. This product is designed
specifically for travellers with a preset limit
of voice, SMS and/or data that often
includes its own phone number (or includes
a phone number in two countries to take
advantage of the cheapest rates wherever
you travel) Travellers must ensure they
unlock their mobile device prior to using a
passport-style SIM product.
>
If you unlock your phone prior to departure,
you may purchase a SIM at your destination
and use this with your smart device instead
of using your regular Australian service.
Many major airports around the world now
have vending machines that offer local SIM
cards with pre-set limits in much the same
fashion as a passport style product.
Unfortunately, this option does not enable
you to use your mobile phone number.
MELBOURNE
Level 44, Melbourne Central
Tower
360 Elizabeth Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
PO Box 13112 Law Courts
Melbourne VIC 8010
T: 03 9963 6800
F: 03 9963 6899
SYDNEY
Level 5, The Bay Centre
65 Pirrama Road
Pyrmont NSW 2009
PO Box Q500
Queen Victoria Building NSW
1230
T: 02 9334 7700
F: 02 9334 7799
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