The blogger has always wanted to purchase a foreign SIM card to register for overseas services. Recently, while browsing V2EX, they came across a recommendation for the Giffgaff SIM card. Thus, the blogger bought a Giffgaff UK SIM card from JD.com and is sharing the activation process and important notes.

About Giffgaff

Giffgaff is a mobile phone company based in the UK. As a mobile virtual network operator, Giffgaff uses the O2 network and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of O2, founded on November 25, 2009. Unlike traditional mobile phone operators, Giffgaff allows its users to participate in some of the company's operations, such as sales, customer service, and marketing. — From Wikipedia

Features of Giffgaff

• Can be used to register for various overseas services like OpenAI/WhatsApp
• No monthly fee; sending a text within 6 months will keep the number active
• No real-name registration required
• Can be used normally for roaming in China

Purchasing Giffgaff

The price for the Giffgaff cards sold here is:

• 30 yuan/1 card (free shipping)
• 55 yuan/2 cards (free shipping)

Please purchase by scanning the WeChat code below (xiaozme), and when adding, please note: giffgaff

Activating Giffgaff

After receiving the SIM card, the next step is activation. You will need a MasterCard or VISA credit card (domestic credit cards with MasterCard/VISA are also acceptable). The blogger used a NobePay virtual card (card segment 553437), and those without a credit card can contact the blogger via WeChat: xiaozme for recharge activation (a fee of £5 will be charged).

1. Open the Giffgaff activation page: https://www.giffgaff.com/activate
2. Enter the activation code on the card

3. Enter your commonly used email address

4. Set a password as required and then click register.

5. It will ask if you want to receive promotional notifications; generally, you do not need this.

6. Next, choose a plan. Since I don't need internet or calls, scroll to the bottom, find "No monthly plan," and select it.

7. Then proceed to recharge. The minimum first recharge is £10, which will also include a £5 bonus. Fill in your credit card and billing information as required, with the following precautions in the screenshots.

Note that the billing address should be selected as a UK address to avoid issues.

8. Usually, it will be activated within a few minutes, and you can see your card number.

This is the entire activation process. If you encounter any problems or have questions, feel free to leave a comment for discussion.

Using Giffgaff on Mobile

I inserted the Giffgaff SIM card into my newly purchased Redmi Note11T Pro. Without any special settings, I was able to roam and send/receive messages directly.

Next, when sending a text, one important note is to include the international dialing code; otherwise, the message will fail to send. For example:

1. To send to a domestic number, use “+86” followed by the phone number.
2. To send to a Hong Kong number, use “+852” followed by the phone number.

Xiaoz successfully sent a text to a Hong Kong number using Giffgaff.

How to Get Your Giffgaff Phone Number

After activation, you can log into the Giffgaff backend to see your phone number, which looks like this.

However, you will notice that when registering for foreign services, you need to select the area code and enter the phone number. In this case, we need to adjust it by removing the leading 0 and replacing it with the UK international dialing code “+44.”

Therefore, the actual phone number will be “+44”7759...

Keeping Your Number

To extend the number's validity, you need to make a consumption once every 180 days. The cheapest way to keep the number is to send a text every 6 months (be sure to set a reminder to avoid losing the number). When using Giffgaff to send messages, remember to include the area code, such as +86 138xxx.

Rates

• Optional £0 monthly fee
• Receiving messages is free
• Calling: £1/minute
• Receiving calls: £1/minute
• Sending messages: £0.3/message
• Internet data: £2000 for 1GB (£0.2/MB)

Important Notes:

• iPhone users are advised to turn off FaceTime; otherwise, each time you boot up, FaceTime will trigger a Giffgaff message charge.
• If used in mainland China, be sure to turn off mobile data (as it is very expensive and not cost-effective).

Summary

1. Prepare a VISA or MasterCard credit card.
2. The initial activation of Giffgaff requires a £10 recharge, with an additional £5 bonus.
3. Ensure to fill in a UK address for the billing address.
4. Sending messages with Giffgaff requires including the complete international dialing code.
5. When registering for foreign services, replace “0” with the UK international dialing code “+44.”
6. You need to send a text every 6 months to maintain your number.

Giffgaff official website: https://www.giffgaff.com/