Israel

Orange IL
Pay-as-you-go plan is called BigTalk.

Startup cost
99 NIS with no credit if bought directly from Orange retail outlets.

50 NIS including 40 NIS credit if bought at any participating post office (see http://www.israelpost.co.il/Mall.nsf/ProdsbyCode/175). There's a post office on the upper floor of Terminal 3 in Ben-Gurion International airport where most flights to Israel land. This sim card can be bought from the English site of the Israel post (http://www.israelpost.co.il/mall.nsf/prodsbycode/175?opendocument&L=EN), the shipping cost is less than 10.5 NIS worldwide.

It's best to add money to your account using cash at a post office or phone shop, recharging with a credit card is only possible for Israeli residents as you need an Israeli ID card number. There is a 7NIS service charge added to the cost of every top up.

Default data rate
Using data without a plan: 4 NIS/MB.

Data feature packs
All packages are monthly (even for Pay-as-you-go - they have to be cancelled once you stop using them via the *4555 automated menu or by speaking with a customer service rep on *111 - beware, purchased packages stop working immediately upon cancellation).

On all packages, data usage outside the package limits costs 4NIS per MB.


 * No package: 250KB for Orange portal, None for Internet.
 * 100MB for 26.9 NIS
 * 500MB for 49 NIS
 * 5GB for 99 NIS
 * "Unlimited" (20GB) UMTS data for 149 NIS.

Prices taken from: http://www.orange.co.il/en/en/Mobile/Packages-and-Offers/data_packages1/

Maximise a 150 NIS top-up
Rather than directly buying the unlimited packfor 149NIS from your main account balance, first purchase the "150 NIS bonus card " (You must buy the physical card or ask for the bonus package when topping up, it can't be bought using credit already added to your account balance)

The bonus card gives you 3 different credit balances (valid for 30 days) of: If you then buy the 149NIS data package via *4555 it will be purchased using the 150NIS "in Israel" balance, leaving you with the other balances for calls and texts over the next 30 days.
 * 500 minutes or texts to phones on the orange network
 * 100 NIS to spend on calls in Israel or abroad
 * 150 NIS for usage in Israel

Techical details

APN Details: APN: uinternet, No username/password.

Calling Home
Orange is the best choice for international travellers because they have low rates to several countries via a special access number for example:

- US and Canada: 0.29 NIS (dial *313 and follow the prompts)

- France landline / mobile: 0.33 /0.59 NIS (*337 nand *336 respectively)

More information and other countries can be found here:

http://www.orange.co.il/en/en/Mobile/Services-and-Apps/2in1/

More information
See these pages on the Orange Israel website for more details in english.

Cellcom
Cellcom operates UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS/EDGE and TDMA networks. Cellcom supports iPhone, Android and Blackberry, and as a matter of fact sells iPhone 3Gs, HTC Legend with Android 2.1, and Blackberry Bold 9700 (http://www.cellcom.co.il/shop/phones/search_results/pages/default.aspx?features=a9094f6b-15e3-4d72-b454-695a5e435f9f).

Cellcom's pre-paid plan is called TalkMan.

Pricing
Calls within the Cellcom network on peak times (Sun - Fri, 6 am to 6 pm) 1.15 NIS / minute

Calls outside the Cellcom network on peak times: 1.19 NIS / minute

Calls everywhere on off-peak times: 1.19 NIS / minute.

Data feature packs
Monthly unlimited UMTS for 149 NIS.

Frequencies
Pelephone used to be a CDMA network and is now a hybrid CDMA / UMTS network. This means only phones supporting the 850 *and* 2100MHz frequency could use it, and it has no GSM (i.e. non-3G) coverage. iPhone 4/3G/3Gs, Samsung Galaxy S and Blackberry models are reported to work with Pelephone and in fact are sold by the company (see http://www.pelephone.co.il//web/3g/corporate/catalog/catalogues/devicecatalog/.aspx). All devices from Apple and most Android handsets are compatible as long as the device is SIM-unlocked and uses a sim card. Check your phone to make sure it supports the frequencies mentioned, and take into consideration that voice calls use 3G (i.e. with 3G turned off, no calls can be made).

Coverage
Pelephone claims to be the best network for the iPhone 3gs and iPhone 4. They claim that with the iPhone 3G data plan you can reach download speeds of up to 7.2MBPS. They proudly advertise the 7.2mbps speed with the GSM+ sim but it has not yet been confirmed. The GSM+ sim is 149 NIS for the initial fees and prepaid monthly data plans.

SIM sizes
Pelephone offers both 3G sim and Micro Sim for iPhone 4 users. The micro-SIM is sold with their iPhone 4.

Pelephone's pay-as-you-go plan is called Talk & Go.

Call prices are 0.49 NIS / minute for all destinations.

Data feature packs
3NIS for the first 10 MB of the day. Afterwards, 2NIS / 1MB with a maximum daily charge of 49 NIS for Internet usage. Pelephone has data-only plans that can be purchased by calling the customer service (*900):

- 60NIS / 3GB for 14 days.

Rami-Levy
Rami-Levy started on 5 december 2011 and is the first MVNO in Israel. As a MVNO it is using the CDMA / UMTS network of Pelephone (please reffer to the Pelephone section to find out about the 850 *and* 2100MHz frequency).

Rami-Levy is a supermarket and can be found in suburban shopping areas.
 * Sim card: 39.9NIS
 * Monthly fee: 4.90NIS
 * Call price: 0.39NIS
 * SMS: 0.29NIS
 * Data: 0.29NIS / MB

Data feature packs

 * Data 5Gb: 69NIS
 * Data 10Gb: 89NIS

Home Cellular
Home Cellular is a MVNO that uses the GSM/UMTS network of Cellcom.

Home Celluar (or h-mobile) is a brand of Home Center, a DIY store chain that can be found in suburban shopping areas.
 * Sim card: 29NIS
 * Top up fee: 5NIS. There is no top up fee for paying with credit card.
 * Call price: 0.39NIS
 * SMS: 0.39NIS
 * Data: 0.50NIS / MB

Hot Mobile
Hot Mobile has UMTS/2100 and 850/2100 UMTS network of Pelephone

No prepaid, but there are the only ones to offer a no-monthly fee plan, 0.10 NIS /min. Cheapest option for most users.
 * Sim card: 39NIS
 * Top up fee: no top up, not pre-paid.
 * Call price: 0.10NIS
 * SMS: 0.10NIS
 * Data: 0.10NIS / MB