Buzzroam - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Buzzroam?
Buzzroam is a new technology that sets you free of expensive international roaming costs while using your mobile/cell phone when travelling abroad. Instead of coming home to shocking bills after you’ve been away, you can take advantage of Buzzroam’s massively discounted voice and data rates in almost any country in the world.
Buzzroam is a global roaming SIM card, which can be used in over 213 countries worldwide to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, emails, and browse the internet at up to 80% savings over your local provider. Buzzroam is a prepaid service, managed by yourself via an online account and in real time, ensuring you are always in full control of your costs.
Buzzroam’s unique technology gives the user the added convenience to travel using your regular mobile/cell number and add up to 50 local numbers to your SIM from 52 counties – enabling you, your business contacts, family, and friends to stay in touch for the price of a local call. See below for more info on adding local numbers and call forwarding.
Buy a Buzzroam SIM, and start saving today!
How much does Buzzroam cost?
Buzzroam will cost you as little as US $35.00 which includes US $20.00 airtime. Go to our rates page to see our incredible rates!
Buzzroam’s rates are set and will cut your roaming bills by up to 80%. There are NO hidden daily charges, taxes etc – what you see is what you get!
What kind of mobile phone do I need?
Our service works on nearly all phones made in the last 4 -5 years. Technically speaking, however, your phone should be Java enabled, capable of installing a SIM, and use the GSM networks.
To get the best roaming mobile rates your phone should be at least tri-band, though quad-band phones are recommended for full global coverage.
If you are unsure if your phone will work where you are travelling to, please contact our support team and we will be happy to help you out.
Where exactly can I use my Buzzroam SIM?
Just about anywhere in the world! As long as you are within network coverage, Buzzroam offers coverage in over 213 countries around the world. See our
Coverage page for details.
Can I call and text anywhere in the world?
Yes. Anyone, anywhere in the world can call or text you at any time, provided you are within network coverage. If you are not in network coverage, or your phone is switched off, those calling you can leave you a voice message on your Buzzroam
, which you can then access from your phone.
What is a SIM?
A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) is a removable smart card for mobile phones that
use the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) mobile network. The SIM card
allows users to change phones by simply removing the SIM card from one mobile phone
and inserting it into another mobile phone.
The SIM card is what we sell you as part of the Buzzroam service.
[More information on this subject:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_Identity_Module]
What is an unlocked mobile phone?
An unlocked mobile/cell phone is not locked in to any specific mobile service provider. You can put any cellular service's SIM card in an unlocked cell phone and it will work.
Your phone may be locked if you bought it as part of a cellular service contract or pay-as-you-go account. The fastest way to determine if your phone is unlocked or locked is to contact your cellular service provider. Alternatively, try inserting a sim card from a different network operator and if it doesn’t register it means your phone is locked.
If your phone is locked there are 3 quick and easy ways to unlock it:
1. Ask your mobile service provider to unlock it
2. Ask any highstreet Mobile/Cell phone shop to unlock it
3. Get unlocking codes off the internet and do it yourself
There may be a small charge to unlock your phone but this is offset by the increased resale value of an unlocked phone. The procedure is harmless to your phone and perfectly legal.
I have seen other travel SIM services. Why is Buzzroam better?
The common method for all “alternative roaming” SIM’s is to originate their service in somewhere like Latvia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, or via a UK-based toll-free phone number. This approach doesn’t work very well. It’s just not intuitive and user-friendly.
The problem is that people usually have to call a strange code to get hold of you; you aren’t able to roam on your usual mobile number; and without being able to add local numbers to your SIM your contacts calling you are charged international rates. With Buzzroam we have created a superior product that is the most cost efficient, convenient and smart way to roam. We also offer the largest coverage and lowest rates in our market.
Will Buzzroam work with an older phone?
The Buzzroam service works in almost all phones manufactured over the last 4 or 5 years.
Can I dial 800/900 (Freephone/Premium) numbers?
No. Buzzroam does not support dialling to 800/900 (Freephone/Premium) numbers.
Can I keep my existing phone number?
No. We do not own the rights to your existing phone number.
However, one of the unique features with Buzzroam is that you can choose to forward/divert your local cell/mobile number to your Buzzroam SIM card. Most new contracts will allow you to forward/divert your calls for free to a local number, some may charge you a small fee – however the savings you receive will far out way this cost. To take advantage of this great feature, check with your original provider that they allow this or get them to add it. For further details on call forwarding/diverting please refer to our user guide.
What do I do if I lose my SIM card?
If you lose your SIM, please contact
Customer Support immediately.
Your lost SIM will then be de-activated, preventing unauthorised use. If you need
a replacement SIM, please order it online. Once you receive your SIM, contact
Customer Support who will transfer the credit from your lost SIM, to your
new SIM.
How long will it take to receive my SIM?
Buzzroam offers the following delivery services:
- Hong Kong delivery from US $2.00
- Worldwide standard delivery from just US $4.00
- Worldwide courier delivery from only US $45.00
- Order your SIM and get it delivered to your door in time for your next trip.
What local numbers can I add to my Buzzroam SIM?
You can add the following countries to your Buzzroam SIM. Adding extra local numbers begins at
US$4.00 per month. All numbers and prices are subject to availability. Some numbers may require
additional documentation; details of this are available upon request.
NOTE: A recently imposed restriction by our number providers requires identification
to be provided to Buzzroam, in the form of a a digital represenation of a Government
Issued ID accompanied by contact address, phone number and email, for the purchase
of German, Netherlands, and French numbers. This requirement has been out into effect
to combat a growing level of worldwide telephony fraud, and is outside Buzzroam's
control. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
El Salvador
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Pakistan
Panama
Peru
Poland
Puerto Rico
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
USA
If you don't see a country here that you would like don't worry. We are adding new
countries all the time.
Can I use Buzzroam in Japan/South Korea?
Yes, Buzzroam works in Japan and South Korea. However, to use Buzzroam in Japan or South Korea requires a 3GSM (or
3G) mobile phone that supports WCDMA 2100.
This is still a GSM phone, however it is using 3rd generation technology which is
deployed in Japan and South Korea. There are 2 different 3G standards presently in use.
To ensure that you have the correct phone for roaming in Japan or South Korea, it is advisable
that you check with either your current network operator, or preferably refer to
your mobile’s handbook to determine whether or not it is WCDMA 2100 compatible.
How can I be sure my phone will work where I am roaming?
Not sure if your phone will work where you roam?
Check your phone manual, and find out what operating frequency your phone will run
at. For standard phones, they can run at 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, and this will be
stated in your phone's manual. There are also 3G phones that operate at different
frequencies, so if you have a 3G phone, find out what frequency it runs at.
Once you have all this information, contact
Buzzroam Customer Support with this, where you are travelling to, and we will happily let you know if your phone will work at the destination you are travelling to.
How do I register my Buzzroam SIM?
Remove your Buzzroam SIM card from the protective packaging it came in. Go Register Your SIM
on the home page. You need to go to our website to register your SIM (this is a security measure).
Enter the required details, following the on screen instructions carefully.
Once all your details have been registered, Buzzroam will automatically email
you your Buzzroam User ID and Password, which you can use to access myBuzzroam.
How do I install my Buzzroam SIM?
Make sure your GSM phone operates on the frequency (If your mobile phone is “tri-band” or “quad-band” it should work just fine) of your destination AND is SIM lock free (unlocked), Switch OFF your phone and remove the battery cover and battery (usually necessary to access the SIM socket).
Carefully snap out the Buzzroam SIM card chip from the larger card. Insert the SIM into the SIM socket in your phone in the correct position (usually it only fits in one way). Replace battery and battery cover. Turn on the phone. Within approximately 90 seconds the phone will auto activate the service and register on a local available GSM network e.g.: Vodafone. If this does not occur, repeat these above steps a few times by switching the phone off and removing the SIM card and replacing it, be sure the SIM is properly in place. If you have any further problems contact the Buzzroam Support Centre
What is my number?
Buzzroam will provide you with a dedicated number for your SIM, which you can use to receive calls at anytime. This number will be located on the packaging that you receive the SIM in.
Do I need to contact all my friends and business colleagues and tell them I have a new number when I travel?
It’s not necessary if you are going to forward/divert your local mobile/cell number to your Buzzroam SIM. However if you only want to travel on our free dedicated number then it would be advisable to let them know.
How do I setup/check my voicemail?
Your SIM service includes full voicemail features. Buzzroam has made this as simple as possible for you, simply hold down the number “1” to access. Alternatively dial 00 32 486 191996 or +32 486 191996 to set up personalised greeting, check and save/erase voicemail messages.
To find out how much it costs to check your voicemail, go to our rates calculator on our Rates page. Select the country you are roaming in, and any other country as the country you are calling to. The rate for accessing voicemail will be shown in the created rates table.
All my contacts are on my current SIM. How do I transfer them to my Buzzroam SIM?
The easiest way to do this is before removing your local SIM card, go to the address book/contacts on your phone and find the function that allows you to copy all numbers from your SIM onto your phone. Do this. Now, switch SIM’s and do the reverse. Copy all your numbers from your phone address book onto the Buzzroam SIM. Each phone is different so you should check the manual that came with your mobile phone or go to the website of your handset manufacturer to find out more details.
Does the Buzzroam SIM have a PIN lock?
Yes, by default it is 1111. Your PIN number, as well as the PUK number (PUK stands for Personal Unblocking Key), is printed on the credit card sized piece of plastic you received your Buzzroam SIM card in. It is possible to lock your Buzzroam SIM by entering the wrong PIN number 3 times or more. If this occurs, please contact Buzzroam Customer Support to retrieve a PIN and PUK code for your Buzzroam SIM
How do I make and receive calls?
For all incoming calls just answer your phone as you normally would.
For all outgoing calls do the following:
Enter the plus sign (+), the country code e.g. 852 (HK), 44 (UK), 1 (USA), 27 (SA) and the number you wish to dial making sure you always drop the first 0. You never need to dial an international prefix such as 00 or 011 before the number. For example, to dial a US number, please enter +18882221234.
Wait a few seconds and you will receive a call back. Answer this call and you will be connected to your destination.
“Call Back” is the way we save you loads of money on your roaming costs. When you initiate your call, the phone triggers our network switch which calls you back and connects you to your destination.
Why doesn’t my Callback work when I try to make a call?
Buzzroam works on almost all handsets made in the last 4 – 5 years, however on the rare occasion with old Nokia,
Samsung or some Apple Iphones, your phone may come back with a message saying “Call not allowed” (or similar).
If this is the case, check that your “Callback” menu is switched “ON”. Try to place another call.
If it still doesn’t work, your phone may not support the Callback feature automatically.
Using these handsets may require a code to be entered before dialing the number.
The code *182* should be entered before each full international number is called.
E.g. *182*+852 xxxx xxxx #, press "Send" and you should receive a call back.
Can I have more than one number on my SIM?
Yes you can. This is yet another great new feature from Buzzroam! You can add up to 50 numbers on to your Buzzroam sim from a combination of 52 different countries. What this means is that you can have contacts all over the world calling you for a local rate at any time on your one Buzzroam Sim Card! Great for business’s with global offices around the world, or Expats with families overseas.
How do I send a text message?
The same way you always have. Write a message, choose the number to whom you wish to send it and send it. Make sure that when entering the number you wish to send the message to that you only use the plus sign (+), country code, followed by the number, and always drop the preceding zero.
How do I check my account balance?
The quickest and easiest way while travelling is just to send us a text! Once you have replaced your local sim with your Buzzroam sim just text the word “BAL” to 1966. You will then receive a text of your current balance. This service is Free.
You can also do this via your account page on the Buzzroam website by logging in using the username and password we sent you when you registered your Buzzroam SIM.
Can I make emergency calls?
Yes. You can dial 999, 911 and 112 wherever you are and they all work.
Can I make a data connection (i.e. send and receive email/MMS/surf the internet)?
Yes you can. To use this great feature you need to enter our APN (mobile access point in your handset). Usually found under your Internet settings on your phone.
APN: web.be
Username: web
Password: web
To send or receive emails you will need to enter SMTP details. Our SMTP-server is mail.internetmail.be
How can I make a data connection on my phone?
Below are examples of some popular handsets. If you do not
see yours here and you are having problems connecting, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
iPhone
If your iPhone's carrier allows you to edit the APN or if you have an authorized unlocked iPhone, you will see Settings > General > Network > Cellular Data Network as an option. Input the APN information here.
Nokia E51, N73, N97
Select Menu > Tools > Settings > Connection > Access points.
Select Options > New access point to create a new access point, or select an existing access point from the list and then Options > Duplicate access point to use the access point as a basis for the new one. Define the following settings.
Connection name — Enter a descriptive name for the connection.
Data bearer — Select Packet data. Access point name — Enter the name for the access point. The name is usually provided by your service provider.
User name — web. User names are case sensitive.
Prompt Password — Select Yes to enter your password each time you log into a server or No to save the password in your device memory and automate the login.
Password — web
Sony W595, W705
Connectivity > Internet Settings > Connect using > Options> Create New > PS data . Enter the APN details here.
Blackberry Storm:
Home screen > Options > Advanced Options > tcp/ip. (Sometimes just options) Enter the APN details here.
Motorola RAZR V8:
Menu > Settings > WEB ACCESS > Web Sessions > New Entry. Enter the APN details here.
Can I track and manage my account online?
Yes you can. Just log into “myBuzzroam” on the Buzzroam website. You can now:
Purchase Additional numbers
Remove and Renew additional numbers
Add airtime to your account
Set up Free Call Forwarding
View real time call billing
On-line SMS Anywhere for US $ 0.05
Do I have to have a credit card to top-up my Buzzroam SIM?
No you don’t. Buzzroam currently accepts the following payment methods:
AMEX
Mastercard
Visa
PayPal
How can I divert my existing mobile number to my Buzzroam number before I travel?
To divert/forward all calls to your Buzzroam number on your mobile phone, use either the divert calls functions usually found under Settings / Calls, on your handset; or enter the following codes in your handset before removing your own SIM card:
**21* Your Buzzroam number # [SEND]
For example: **21*852123456789# then press SEND (Hong Kong)
For example: **21*27123456789# then press SEND (South Africa)
If you have any problems, contact your local service provider as they control this function on your local account.
Please note that Buzzroam has no control of the cost for forwarding your existing number to your new Buzzroam number. We advise that you buy an additional number from your country of residence via myBuzzroam account, as it is usually free or very cheap to forward calls to a local number rather than an overseas number.
While Buzzroam will not charge you any additional fee to receive a diverted call, your existing carrier may charge you for this service. Please check with your carrier for any applicable fees before diverting calls to your new Buzzroam number.
How do I add Airtime to my Account?
You can do this via your account page on the Buzzroam website.
How much does it cost to receive text messages?
Nothing. Receiving text messages to your Buzzroam number is FREE!