You’ve just purchased a travel eSIM, ready for your next adventure. You’re excited about instant, affordable data the moment you land. But then a question pops into your head: “How will I call my family back home? Does my eSIM even have a phone number?”
It’s a common and important question. The short answer is that most travel eSIMs, including many offered by Yoho Mobile, are data-only. This means they provide internet access but don’t come with a traditional phone number for cellular calls or SMS texts.
But don’t worry! A data-only plan doesn’t mean you’re cut off from the world. In fact, it unlocks a modern, flexible, and often cheaper way to stay in touch. This guide will explain everything you need to know about making and receiving calls with your travel eSIM.
Ready to stay connected without the high costs? Check out Yoho Mobile’s affordable data-only eSIMs for over 200 countries and regions.
The Core Concept: What is a Data-Only eSIM?
Think of a traditional SIM card. It’s usually a bundle: a phone number for calls, a service for SMS texts, and a package of mobile data. A data-only eSIM simplifies this by stripping away the traditional call and text services, focusing entirely on what modern travelers need most: fast, reliable internet.
This approach has several advantages:
- Cost-Effective: By not including traditional voice services, providers can offer data at a much more competitive price. You avoid the high fees associated with international roaming for calls.
- Simplicity: It’s a straightforward solution for getting online abroad without complex carrier agreements.
- Flexibility: You can use your data for everything—browsing, maps, social media, and, yes, even making phone calls.
This is a key point to understand when you’re figuring out how to make calls with a data-only eSIM. You won’t dial numbers the old-fashioned way; you’ll use the power of the internet.
Your Phone’s New Best Friends: Calling with VoIP Apps
So, if you can’t use the regular phone dialer, how do you make calls? The answer is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). It sounds technical, but you’re probably already using it every day.
VoIP is simply a technology that lets you make voice and video calls over the internet. Popular apps that use VoIP include:
- WhatsApp Call & Video
- FaceTime Audio & Video
- Skype
- Telegram
- Facebook Messenger
- Viber
When you use your Yoho Mobile eSIM, you have a powerful data connection. To make a call, you just open one of these apps, find your contact, and tap the phone or video icon. The call is routed over your eSIM’s data network instead of a traditional cellular voice network. It’s that simple!
The quality is often crystal-clear (sometimes even better than a regular call), and it uses a surprisingly small amount of data. For example, a one-minute call on WhatsApp typically uses less than 1MB of data. You can find more details on the official WhatsApp help page.
How to Receive Calls with a Travel eSIM
This is the other crucial part of the equation. If you’re wondering, “Can I receive calls on my travel eSIM?”, the answer is a resounding yes—as long as it’s through an internet-based app.
Friends, family, or colleagues can call you on your WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Skype account just like they normally would. The call will come through on your phone using your eSIM’s data connection.
But what about calls to your regular phone number? This is where the beauty of a Dual SIM phone comes in. Most modern smartphones are eSIM-compatible and allow you to have both your physical SIM and an eSIM active at the same time. You can keep your primary SIM from home active to receive calls and important SMS messages (like bank verifications), while using your Yoho Mobile travel eSIM for all your data needs. Just be sure to turn off data roaming on your primary SIM to avoid any surprise charges from your home carrier.
Not sure if your phone supports eSIM? Check our comprehensive eSIM compatible devices list.
Another Option: Wi-Fi Calling Abroad
Besides VoIP apps, many carriers offer a feature called Wi-Fi Calling. This allows your phone to make and receive calls and texts over a Wi-Fi network instead of the cellular network.
If your home carrier supports it, you can enable Wi-Fi Calling on your phone. When you’re connected to Wi-Fi in your hotel, a cafe, or the airport, any calls you make to your home country are typically treated as if you were making them from home—meaning no roaming charges. It’s a fantastic option for Wi-Fi calling abroad. For a deeper dive, check out this excellent explainer from CNET.
However, it’s dependent on a good Wi-Fi signal. When you’re out exploring, a reliable data-only eSIM from Yoho Mobile is your best bet for consistent connectivity.
Why Choose a Data-Only eSIM from Yoho Mobile?
Embracing data-only connectivity for your travels is the smartest way to stay in touch. With Yoho Mobile, you get more than just data; you get peace of mind.
- Ultimate Flexibility: Headed to Spain? Or maybe a multi-country trip across Southeast Asia? Build a flexible plan that perfectly matches your itinerary. Pay only for the data you truly need.
- Total Cost Control: Forget about terrifying roaming bills. Our clear, upfront pricing means you’ll never have a surprise charge. Simply top up your data if you need more.
- Yoho Care Protection: What if you run out of data at a critical moment? With our exclusive Yoho Care service, we’ve got your back. We provide a backup network to ensure you can always send a message or find your way, even if your plan expires.
- Try Before You Commit: Still on the fence? Get our free eSIM trial and experience the seamless connectivity for yourself, completely risk-free.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I keep my original phone number when using a travel eSIM?
Yes. On a Dual SIM phone, you can keep your primary SIM active to receive calls and texts on your original number. Simply set your travel eSIM as the primary source for mobile data to avoid roaming charges from your home carrier.
2. Do I need a special app to make calls with a data-only eSIM?
No, you don’t need any special new apps. You can use the popular communication apps you already have, such as WhatsApp, FaceTime Audio, Skype, or Facebook Messenger. These apps will automatically use your eSIM’s data connection to make calls.
3. Is it expensive to make calls using eSIM data?
No, it’s significantly cheaper than traditional voice roaming. A standard voice call over an app like WhatsApp uses very little data (typically under 1MB per minute). For the price of a few megabytes of data, you can have a long conversation, whereas a single minute of roaming could cost several dollars.
4. What if I need to receive a 2FA verification code via SMS?
This is a great reason to keep your primary SIM active in your phone. Most phones will still receive SMS messages on the primary line even when using data from the secondary eSIM. This allows you to get important verification codes without enabling costly data roaming on your home plan.
5. Will VoIP calls work everywhere I travel?
The quality of your VoIP calls depends on the strength of your internet connection. With Yoho Mobile’s wide coverage across the globe, you’ll have a reliable data connection in most cities and tourist areas, ensuring your calls are clear and stable.
Conclusion
While most travel eSIMs don’t come with a dedicated phone number, they open up a world of modern, cost-effective communication. By leveraging the power of data and the VoIP apps you already use, you can easily make and receive calls, share video moments, and message loved ones from anywhere in the world—all without the fear of a massive phone bill waiting for you at home.
It’s the smarter, more flexible way to travel. You get the connectivity you need, when you need it, and you stay in complete control of your spending.
Ready to travel smart and connected? Explore Yoho Mobile’s global and regional eSIM plans today and unlock the freedom of data-only travel!