FAQ                                                                                                                                                         Version 2

What is SafariSim Service?

It is a Prepaid SIM Card service that is specially designed for use by the international traveler. It offers the advantage of low-cost per minute rates for calling any fixed line or mobile number anywhere without the exorbitant roaming charges that are ordinarily imposed on calls made from a roaming handset. It is a service supported by best-of-class tier-1 GSM operators offering high-quality reliable services. With SafariSim you have all the standard GSM services including SMS and GPRS. There is no significant delay or inconvenience in the use of SafariSim to make a call. Receiving a call by the SafariSim is exactly the same as with a regular GSM SIM card; the important difference is that with SafariSim you achieve great savings.


How does the SafariSim service work?

When you dial a telephone number from a roaming GSM handset equipped with SafariSim and press SEND, the SafariSim signals its home GSM operator (i.e. the operator that issues the SafariSim) to do the following:

(a) to call back the roaming GSM handset to the telephone number that is assigned to the roaming GSM handset by the foreign (local) GSM operator of the GSM network servicing the GSM handset

(b) to call the destination number that you have dialed

and then bridge (or connect) the 2 calls (a) and (b) to enable you to have conversation with the party at the destination number.

The operation described in (a) and (b) above are transparent to the you, the user, and you do not experience any significant delay in making the call. As the call is dialed by your home GSM operator through its normal high-quality carrier network, you would experience the normal high-quality service.


Can I do SMS text messaging with the SafariSim?

Yes. SafariSim incorporates current advanced SIM technology and supports all standard features of a GSM service.


Is Voice Mail service available with SafariSim?

Yes. All calls that are not answered after a certain number of rings (programmable to suit) are automatically routed to a Voice Mail Server where the caller can leave a voice message for the called party.

To retrieve the voice mail message, you simply dial 095.

There is a small per minute charge for accessing the Voice Mail Server.


Is there a charge for receiving an incoming call to the handset equipped with SafariSim?

There is no charge for receiving an incoming call while roaming with SafariSim in some 60 of the 160 countries (this compares to the US$2.00/minute rate normally charged by your home country GSM operator for receiving a call while roaming); the per minute rates for receiving an incoming call while roaming in the remainder countries are lower by some 50%-65% compared to the normal rates imposed by the home country GSM operator on receiving incoming calls while roaming. Incoming calls received at the SafariSim's alias phone number (+1 number) are charged US$0.34/minute in addition to the standard rate for incoming calls received at the main phone number (+372 number).

There is no charge for receiving calls while roaming with SafariSim in the following countries*:

What are the service features of SafariSim service and the benefits it offers to the user?

Standard  Features

• Easy and simple to use
• Receive roaming calls free in over 60 countries
• Coverage and low-rates in  more than 160 countries
• Save up to 85% on your roaming calls
• Free incoming SMS
• Your personal Global GSM Number
• No Line Rental, No Contract
• No initial set-up fees, no commitment
• No set-up charge per call
• Easy, any-time credit top up
• Works in most unlocked GSM phones
• Voice-mail
• Great facilities for managing roaming usage
• To purchase additional credit for use complete with on-line payment through credit cards, Moneybookers and PayPal
• Call Cost Calculator available on-line at www.safarisim.com  for calculating the per minute rate for calling a certain country/city
• On-line user name & password protected access at www.safarisim.com  to view Call History

Optional Feature

Alias personal telephone numbers of your SafariSim for you to receive calls as local calls in more than 50 countries such as Canada, USA, UAE, France, Singapore, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil etc. Please enquire with our sales representative for a complete list of countries. There are additional charges for the initial set-up, monthly service fee for the Alias and an additional per minute rate charge of US$0.34/minute for receiving calls in any country for this facility.

Benefits

• Insert your SafariSim into your mobile handset.
• Switch on your handset.
• Your handset will automatically connect to an available GSM network in the country and it is ready to make call or receive calls through the SafariSim service.

Note that SafariSim is a prepaid service. When there is no credit remaining in your SafariSim account, you will not be able to make calls using the SafariSim service. The maximum duration to be allowed for a call, that you want to dial, is calculated, based on the per-minute rate according to the dialed destination number dialed and the available credit in your SafariSim account, by the SafariSim system before the call begins.


How can I test out your service quality?

An authorized reseller of SafariSim service in your local area can give you a demo to show you how the service work and let you experience the high voice quality of the service.


How can I become a reseller of SafariSim service, and what qualification do I need to have?

To apply to become a reseller of SafariSim service, write to resellerservices@safarisim.com and one of our representatives will contact you within the next business day to speak to you about the SafariSim Reseller Program.

The basic essential qualifications are that 

(a) you have to be able to articulate the concept and the benefits of the SafariSim service and be able to demonstrate the use of the service and
(b) you have a good business networking in your market


Do you offer private-labelling of the SafariSim service?

The software that supports the user interface for the SafariSim service is designed to support private-labelling if required. The decision to offer private-label production of SafariSim service will depend on the business proposition of the proposing party. SafariSim supports a 4-level hierarchy or food chain arrangement including 2 levels of resellers. For further details please enquire with a SafariSim service sales manager.


How does mobile roaming work?

Roaming is defined as the ability for a cellular customer to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network, by means of using a network in the area visited.

Roaming is technically supported by mobility management, authentication and billing procedures. Establishing roaming between network operators is based on - and the commercial terms are contained in - Roaming Agreements. If the network visited is outside the home country, this is known as International Roaming.

GSM Roaming, which involves roaming between GSM networks, offers the convenience of a single number, a single bill and a single phone with worldwide access to over 210 countries. The convenience of GSM Roaming has been a key driver behind the global success of the GSM Platform.

When abroad and "Calling Home"

What actually happens when you "Call Home", and what are you paying for?

1. When abroad and "Calling Home" to a friend, your call is managed by the host operator.
2. The host operator passes the call via 'international transit' to your home operator.
3. Your home operator connects you to your friend's operator and establishes your call.



Who pays for what?

Steps 1 and 2. The host operator charges your home operator a wholesale rate which includes the interconnection costs ("International Transit" and costs for terminating the call) and its own network costs.

What you pay?

Your next bill will include the above charges, plus other costs sustained by your operator (i.e. commercial costs, overhead costs, IT costs), plus a "profit margin" applied by your operator.

When abroad and being called from home

When a friend calls you from your home country, you are charged an international roaming price.

1. A friend calls you on your mobile phone while you're roaming
2. His operator routes the call initially to your home operator (which may or may not be the same)
3. Your home operator forwards the call to the host operator you are currently roaming on in the destination country, via 'international transit'
4. The host operator receives the forwarded call, connects you using its network and establishes your friend's originated call



Who pays for what?

Step 1. Your friend will be charged a normal call by his home operator for calling you.
Steps 2 and 3. Your home operator will charge you a tariff which includes inter alia the international transit fees to forward the call to you in the destination country and the cost for terminating the call on the host network.

Your friend pays the standard national rate (step 1).
You as a roamer pay the above charges (steps 2/3), plus other costs (i.e. commercial costs, overhead costs, IT costs), plus any additional charge to provide a reasonable return on investment by your home operator.