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).

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

Data feature packs
The data allowance is divided into general Internet usage and Orange Portal surfing. This is somewhat confusing because people report normal Internet usage (Skype, SIP calls, etc.) even when they go with "Orange portal only" plan. YMMV.

All packages are monthly (even for Pay-as-you-go - so they have to be cancelled once you stop using them).

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

No package: 250KB for Orange portal, None for Internet.


 * UMTS Basic: 25MB for Orange portal, None for Internet for 26.90 NIS.


 * 5GB UMTS PP: 5GB, shared for Orange portal and Internet for 99 NIS.


 * 20GB UMTS PP: 20GB, shared for Orange portal and Internet for 149 NIS.

Prices taken from: http://www.orange.co.il/he-il/cellular/packages/packages/bigtalk_surfcont/

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

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) 0.7866 NIS / minute

Calls outside the Cellcom network on peak times: 0.9857 NIS / minute

Calls everywhere on off-peak times: 0.9857 NIS / minute.

Data plans for pay-as-you go: Cellcom offers a data plan for tourists that gets you a SIM card with unlimited 30-day internet for 179 NIS. After 30 days, the card expires. You can also make calls using this SIM at a rate of 0.5 NIS / minute but you have to load more money on it beforehand.

Cellcom also offers a data-only monthly plan (one month rolling contract). Monthly price: 129.90 NIS ("unlimited"), one-time SIM cost of 143.40 NIS. Downstream speed is 2.8Mbit/sec, upstream: 1.2Mbit/sec.

Pelephone
Need more information about this provider, is it suitable for iPhone/Android phones? 2010-08-01

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 coverage. iPhone and Blackberry models are reported to work with Pelephone and in fact are sold by the company (3Gs and Bold 9700; see http://www.pelephone.co.il//web/3g/corporate/catalog/catalogues/devicecatalog/.aspx). No Android devices are found among current Pelephone offerings, however it does not say these won't work. Check your phone to make sure it supports the frequencies mentioned.

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

Call prices are 0.924 NIS / minute for all destinations.

Data: 0.009 NIS / 1 KB up to the first 5 MB. Afterwards, 0.001 NIS / 1KB with a maximum daily charge of 49 NIS for Internet usage.

Pelephone has data-only plans (59.90 NIS / month for 1 GB Internet) but it is unclear if they can be purchased on a rolling-contract basis.