Ordering a Saunalahti SIM from my home country

menene · Post by **menene** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 2:44 am

Hello forum,

I would like to order a Saunalahti SIM from my home country. Is there any way to do it by myself, or should I ask for a friend to do it on my behalf? Long story short, I'm moving soon there and would like to have the number before going there to make some changes.

Thanks!

**Sponsor:**

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:51 am

Since most of the contracts from telecom providers come with a 2 year minimum they are quite strict about their security.
I don't think you can get one without a Finnish bank account and/or a SSN.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:52 am

Unless you get a prepaid your friend can pop over to a kiosk and pick one up for you.
(you won't get a contract without paying a hefty deposit)

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:04 am

I've also found that Finnish SIMs don't really work anywhere outside Finland except for very popular holiday destinations like Thailand etc.

Ordering one before you come here is just stupid. It might sound like a good idea but it really isn't. You can't set it up properly without being in the country, you can't send text messages or make calls (because they won't bill you overseas) and I would bet that you won't even get roaming service in your country. If you do, it'll cost a fortune. All-in-all it's a really dumb idea, no offence.

Wait until you are here. Walk in and get one in a few seconds. Or call up and get one sent to you in about a day or two. (Provided you have a credit rating)

If I were you I wouldn't go with Saunalahti either, they're nasty and sneaky. Go with DNA.

OrangeCrush · Post by **OrangeCrush** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:44 pm

pierrot · Post by **pierrot** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:37 pm

Kutittaa wrote:I've also found that Finnish SIMs don't really work anywhere outside Finland except for very popular holiday destinations like Thailand etc.(...)

That greatly depends on what company you are with and who are their roaming partners.
I didn't have issue at all anywhere on the world yet with Sonera. Might be different with some cheap solutions

CH · Post by CH » Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:51 pm

pierrot wrote:
Kutittaa wrote:I've also found that Finnish SIMs don't really work anywhere outside Finland except for very popular holiday destinations like Thailand etc.(...)
That greatly depends on what company you are with and who are their roaming partners.
I didn't have issue at all anywhere on the world yet with Sonera. Might be different with some cheap solutions

Yeah.

Sure, we are so backwards here that our phones don't work anywhere... yeah, sure.

Unless one is somewhere really remote most will work... or at least I haven't yet been in a place where my Sonera connection hasn't worked. Check the home pages of the different providers, they will have the list of their roaming partners.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 2:27 am

CH wrote:
pierrot wrote:
Kutittaa wrote:I've also found that Finnish SIMs don't really work anywhere outside Finland except for very popular holiday destinations like Thailand etc.(...)
That greatly depends on what company you are with and who are their roaming partners.
I didn't have issue at all anywhere on the world yet with Sonera. Might be different with some cheap solutions
Yeah. Sure, we are so backwards here that our phones don't work anywhere... yeah, sure.

Unless one is somewhere really remote most will work... or at least I haven't yet been in a place where my Sonera connection hasn't worked. Check the home pages of the different providers, they will have the list of their roaming partners.

To the 2 clowns above me when I said Saunalahti a few months ago it didn't work in Singapore, or China or and didn't even work in London for crying out loud. It did work in Thailand and France and Amsterdam. So yes, your SIMs are still backwards and not accepted 'everywhere' or at least what I could call 'everywhere' that is 'anywhere'.

As for Australia, we aren't doing any better with Telstra, Optus and etc. So don't cry yourselves a river.

pierrot · Post by **pierrot** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:11 am

Kutittaa wrote: To the 2 clowns above me when I said Saunalahti a few months ago it didn't work in Singapore, or China or and didn't even work in London for crying out loud. It did work in Thailand and France and Amsterdam. So yes, your SIMs are still backwards and not accepted 'everywhere' or at least what I could call 'everywhere' that is 'anywhere'.

As for Australia, we aren't doing any better with Telstra, Optus and etc. So don't cry yourselves a river.

Competent and factual comment as usual from you.

Fact is that with the Sonera Sim i have I naver had any issues abroad in any european or asian country I went for leisure or business. Neither have my colleagues. I don't cry a river, my stuff works

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:00 pm

Last time I used Sonera was back when they were still owned by Finland. That was when they went from being th cheapest carrier to the most expensive. Can't say I have now in the last few years and I don't care. Also, I hate the colour purple and Ilkka Villi's voice annoys me.

Though I would be obvious that Sonera would care more about roaming than cheapskates like Saunalahti.

The OP should still not jump the gun and wait until she gets to the airport where it can be the first thing she grabs.

menene · Post by **menene** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:50 pm

Hey! Sorry for not replying you all sooner, I've been very busy lately.

Well, I think it's time to clarify my question. I want a prepaid SIM from Saunalahti.

a) Why Saunalahti? Because they have a prepaid data plan that works good for my needs, no one else has.

b) Why am I asking to get it now? Because I have many things (mostly Internet stuff) and would like to have the finnish number before ending with my phone company in my home country. I have a contract and I don't want to pay for a number that I don't use. What's more, I can't end the contract being outside - actually I can, but sending photocopies, faxes... you know, burocracy everywhere. That means, things will be easier if I have *now* the phone number and I can change all the stuff to the new number, while confirming the changes from my old number (sometimes needed).

So now, as I clarified this, would someone help me with my question? I saw something at eBay but seems pretty expensive - I heard it only costs around 6-7 €... also, tried to find one at Huuto, but I only saw two-three but contract ones.

Cheers!

Sunil-123 · Post by **Sunil-123** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:46 pm

Actually I have a DNA and it has worked fine for me in all three continents I have visited with it in my mobile.Worked fine even in Mauritius, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:13 am

I still think that this is a stupid idea. But your only real option is to ask someone to buy it for you. Activate it for you and then have them send it to you... your phone also has to be unlocked or else it won't even work.

menene · Post by **menene** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:16 am

Kutittaa wrote:I still think that this is a stupid idea. But your only real option is to ask someone to buy it for you. Activate it for you and then have them send it to you... your phone also has to be unlocked or else it won't even work.

Well, I don't see why my idea is a stupid one. As I said, at least in my country, you have to cancel the contract in person in a shop - otherwise, it's a pain in the ass: certificated faxes, time to check if data is correct, more contract time (aka more time paying for a number I don't use at all)... anyway, thanks for your help.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:03 am

It's stupid because as I explained in the first post I made:

1. The SIM might not work in your country.
2. If it does, it'll still cost a fortune to do anything.
3. You don't need a number already that badly. You said you were months away from coming here.
4. In my experience Saunalahti sucks.
5. You can buy one for less than a packet of chips in the airport in Helsinki. It can be the first thing you do.
6. You basically need a friend inside Finland who will send you the SIM.
7. Activating it in your country might not work because it may not activate over a roaming network.
8. It's a stupid idea.
9. It's a stupid idea.
10. Stop jumping-the-gun and wait until you get here.

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland