As the price of data continues to drop, there are plenty of great data only SIM deals to choose from if you are looking to grab one. The use of data only SIM is traditionally reserved for mobile broadband or Internet access on SIM-compatible tablets. Still, you might wonder what else you could do with a data only SIM card.
Important reason to use a data only SIM for communication
There are various reasons you would want to buy a data only SIM card for your smartphone. Perhaps you no longer use your smartphone in the traditional sense, such as making phone calls or sending texts. If you regularly communicate with your loved ones and friends by calling or texting them using internet-based services, then investing in a data only SIM card may make more sense.
Another advantage of getting a data only SIM card is that it enables you to transform any smartphone into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. When a device takes on the role of a modem, it enables other electronic devices, such as tablets, mobile phones, laptops, and game consoles, to connect to the internet. Portable hotspots connect to the internet using a mobile carrier’s network, enabling users to access the web from virtually any location, regardless of the presence or absence of a Wi-Fi signal. If you want to take your work to a local café that you love but doesn’t have a public Wi-Fi network, or if you’ve recently moved into a new home and it’s going to be some time before you can get the internet set up there, this data only SIM card can come in handy.
The use of a data only SIM can prove to be very useful when driving. As a personal hotspot, you can use it to provide Wi-Fi to your passengers within your car to stay connected while on the road. For families with kids who have their tablets, this can be a great way to keep them entertained while you’re driving or the ability to save your mobile data if you’re using your smartphone for navigation and want to save your mobile data according to your preferences.
There is no discernible visual difference between ordinary phone SIMs and data only SIMs. The sole distinction between the two is that the data only SIM will only come with a data allocation, and you won’t be able to make phone calls or send texts with it. This is the only feature that differentiates the two. You might be able to receive phone calls with certain data only SIM cards, but doing so might come at an additional cost.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to the vast availability of internet-based applications for texting and talking that most of us use today, most individuals could easily get away with using a data only SIM for their smartphone. You do not need to have any minutes or texts left in your allowance if you only use apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Telegram, or Viber to communicate with your family and friends because these apps connect over the internet and do not use any of your minutes or texts. If you are content to use these applications for messaging and calling, you may reduce your monthly phone bill by switching to a data only SIM card from Data Sim that solely supports data usage on your device.