Forum Discussion

GaryJef_1776247's avatar
GaryJef_1776247
SMARTY Pioneer
11-07-2023

Data only Sim vs Voice Sim

I have a 4g mifi device that takes any Sim.

I want to use this to connect my tablet to the internet.

My question is do I have to get a data only plan Sim or can I get a normal plan used for a phone?

Reason for my question is Unlimited data on the normal phone plan is on offer for £16.

The unlimited data only plan is more expensive at £20.

I just want to ensure I get the right plan

Plans

10 Replies

  • jassingh's avatar
    jassingh
    SMARTY Motivator
    04-09-2023

    Afaik someone mentioned to me that the data-only SIM has its number hidden but is in other ways no different to the usual phone-plan SIM - if you just pop that into your router it'll work the same way as if you were hotspotting directly from your phone for example .. so you should be good to go straight away. Also works from the price perspective. You're not going to use the SIM for calling anyways so no worries I guess.

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      04-09-2023

       

      Spot on jassingh 

      A data only SIM simply has its number hidden / switched off, but you can make calls and send texts through them. Smarty sells an add on allowing you to do just that. 

      As per my other post in this thread, a ‘normal’ phone SIM works well in my iPad Mini 6. I believe, but haven’t tried it yet, that, if you use a ‘normal’ phone SIM in a tablet, whether Android or Apple, then you can make / take calls, and send / receive messages through WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. 

      • jassingh's avatar
        jassingh
        SMARTY Motivator
        04-09-2023

        Interesting JJP2 that bridges the gap between the two then - can users currently migrate from a 'data plan' to a 'voice plan' easily or nah? 

  • ben1's avatar
    ben1
    SMARTY Maverick
    04-09-2023

    Did you ever solve this Gary? I too am wondering about this. The data only sims are more expensive than the voice sims, and offer less data for the prices

    • JJP2's avatar
      JJP2
      SMARTY Pro-coach
      04-09-2023

      Hi ben1 GaryJef_1776247 

      YES, you can use a ‘normal’ phone sim within a tablet, I do this with my iPad Mini 6.

      It works absolutely fine.

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      04-09-2023

      ben1 I agree that it is quite difficult to see the benefit in having a data only plan. 

      I am not aware that a voice plan sim won't work in a device - it's always possible to hot spot from a phone to the device in any case.

  • Strandloper's avatar
    Strandloper
    SMARTY Motivator
    11-07-2023

    If memory serves, mifi usually need a full-size SIM.  If you already have a SIM that is in you phone, you would probably need an adapter,or a new SIM.

    I would probably opt for the data only SIM, which you could probably get a 10% discount on if you already have a SMARTY SIM in your phone and "group" the 2 SIMS. This would make the data SIM a little cheaper.

    It may be possible to do this with the normal phone plan SIM with the unlimited data, but this is just me being cautious.  Maybe someone else would have a more definite answer.

    • GaryJef_1776247's avatar
      GaryJef_1776247
      SMARTY Pioneer
      11-07-2023

      Thanks for the response Steven 

      Maybe I will just try my phone SIM card in the device and see if it works ok.

      Thanks again