Anywhere SIM uses different networks to dodge UK not-spots
One company is promising to end Britain's so-called "not-spot" problem with a special SIM card that automatically switches between carriers. The "Anywhere SIM" will alternate between Vodafone, O2 and EE's mobile networks for the best signal, and it'll also offer a single flat rate for roaming across Europe. The UK's major networks are opposed to such a system, but the startup seems to have side-stepped the problem by working with a company based outside the UK. According to the BBC, this firm already has roaming agreements with British carriers -- so it'll be like using a foreign SIM in the UK.
Such an offering comes with a laundry list of caveats. When it launches in five weeks, there will only be a pay-as-you go option (pay monthly plans will launch this autumn) and the pricing isn't cheap: 5p per text, 5p per megabyte of data and 5p per minute for calls. There's no 4G and if you want to make calls or browse the web on a non-O2 network, you'll have to pay extra. Finally, the SIM won't switch between networks mid-call -- if you encounter a not-spot, you'll have to hang up and wait for your phone to pick up a new carrier. We're skeptical about the practicalities of such a SIM card, but if you regularly find yourself with zero connectivity in the UK, this could be an option worth investigating.
[Image Credit: Getty Images]
