Frequently Asked Questions

Nope! When power fails, the Wi-Fi will too. iSocket is a cellular solution! You will need a SIM card though, please read below.

Absolutely!

Presently we only sell equipment and we do not offer connectivity (i.e. SIM cards) - nor do we charge for service (e.g. access to our apps). iSocket is not locked into any certain provider. You only pay to your SIM card supplier. For some countries you need to choose your network before purchase. See also: "Why do you ask for my network?". Simple answer: we will not charge you monthly.

If you have a Verizon/Sprint (USA) phone you can manage iSocket, but iSocket itself will only work on non-Verizon networks. The device and your phone are independent of one another. It doesn’t matter if you are a T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint or Verizon customer – iSocket has no agreements with operators. To put it simply: there will be no problems if you are a Verizon or Sprint customer, but you will need a SIM card that is not from Verizon for iSocket. See below.

When you buy a phone or any other device with a cellular connection (e.g. Kindle) in the USA you often do not need to buy an additional SIM card, because connectivity is already uploaded to a SIM card installed inside the device or to a chip in the device such as for old Verizon phones. For these devices you usually pay a monthly service fee. These are sometimes called locked phones. Since iSocket works through the cellular network and is not locked to any operator, it needs connectivity to be able to send and accept text messages, call or send data. To provide connectivity to iSocket you need to insert a SIM card to a special slot for this card. SIM card has a phone number. You can then text or call to this number in the same way that you call or text to another cellular phone.

Since October 2020 our recommendation for USA will be H2O Wireless SIM Card (Pay As You Go Plan for $10 per 3 months) or SpeedTalk Alarm SIM after other suppliers that we recommended before suspended their SIM-card sales or increased their tariffs or lots of issues were reported from customers. The minimal Pay As You Go plan from H2O Wireless (~$3 /mo or $10 per 3 months) or minimal SpeedTalk Mobile will fit all your needs. Please check your coverage for H2O Wireless SIM here or SpeedTalk Mobile SIM here - Choose "Show 3G/2G Map". You need to check coverage where iSocket will be installed, not where you live. You will need a micro SIM card. If you see that you are not covered with their SIMs, please contact us. Soon we plan to announce iSocket with a built-in connectivity for the U.S. for a very attractive price.

See also question #18

Our customers in Canada usually use 7eleven SpeakOut SIM or Petro-Canada prepaid plans when they have network coverage from Rogers. They use these SIM cards, because of the good price, simple activation and long expiration of prepaid airtime. In November 2019 we heard some rumors that NFC enabled SIM cards from Bell/Telus will not work, so please ask Bell/Telus for non-NFC SIM if you use Bell network. SaskTel confirmed that iSocket works with their SIMs. We have customers from Saskatchewan who use iSocket successfully. If you have coverage from Rogers network we recommend SpeakOut or Petro-Canada SIMs as the most cost effective solution regardless of who is your phone provider. Note, these SIMs might not have access to extended network of Rogers (the network that Rogers doesn't own, but roaming with local carriers) - this information we confirmed with SpeakOut. You can identify Rogers' "extended" network from Rogers coverage map. Few words about networks: iSocket will work on any UMTS network in Canada and carries in Canada are NOT going to switch off these networks at least next 6 years. It's just a matter of finding correct SIMs.

For Australia we highly recommend ALDImobile prepaid SIM card that you can pick up from your local ALDI store or buy online. We recommend ALDI SIMs for their long lasting for 365 days and because of good prices - see Go $15 or Go $30 plans. Activation process is also quite simple. ALDI SIM will work on Telstra 850Mhz network and iSocket support this network. You can also use Telstra prepaid SIMs, but we don't see good reasons why would you need to use them. You may need some help with activation process for Telstra SIM from Telstra store. If you want use Optus SIMs please choose "Optus" as your network provider on the checkout. Make sure you always insert only micro-SIM to iSocket and NOT nano-SIM to avoid a damage to the holder.

For the UK if you have network coverage from Vodafone in the area that the iSocket will be installed, please check a Truphone Pay-As-You-Go SIM card. It has no monthly fee and the cost of a message is only 6p. Of course, you are free to choose any other SIM cards that are suitable for your iSocket.