Re: [87attendees] SIM purchase at the IETF (was Re: [87all] IETF 87 Berlin Meeting Review)

But, but, but....

The problem is that often times it's not AT the meeting that I want the SIM, especially for data.

It's BEFORE the meeting - for example from the minute the wheels touch the ground or the train crosses the border.   So, ideally, I'd want a pre-activated SIM that I can move into my phone/tablet one or two days before the meeting starts.  That means sending me the SIM in advance of me travelling.

THEN we hit Joel's point:

"different nations, have different identity/registration requirements for cellular telephones and the sale of such items is regulated"   

Even where it is legal to post a SIM, you can hit problems; having just bought a very cheap SpeakOut Wireless SIM for Canada (http://www.speakout7eleven.ca/) which was not activated, I've discovered that that particular MVNO has no international roaming agreements, so I can't actually make the thing work or stick any money on it until I arrive IN Canada.   So my plan of giving people my number before I travelled is scuppered - until I activate it, I won't know the number and I can't activate it until...  you get the point.

Whilst the desire is admirable, I suspect that the number of permutations are too great to expect a volunteer force to handle.

David

-----Original Message-----
From: 87attendees-bounces@ietf.org [mailto:87attendees-bounces@ietf.org] On Behalf Of Carlos M. Martinez
Sent: 21 August 2013 11:18
To: Brian Dickson
Cc: 87 Attendees; joel jaeggli; dcrocker@bbiw.net
Subject: Re: [87attendees] SIM purchase at the IETF (was Re: [87all] IETF 87 Berlin Meeting Review)

+1, the point, restated, would be to ensure that during IETF events,
attendeees who may need/want them can buy SIM cards at reasonable prices, and including obtaining some help in activating them taking into account that this process can be highly location-dependant and may imply languages other than English.

If this results in one, two, or eight booths, or in a single wiki page with pointers to a nearby store (store that /should/ be contacted previously IMO), its all fine.

regards

~Carlos

On 8/21/13 2:44 PM, Brian Dickson wrote:
> On Aug 21, 2013, at 1:26 PM, joel jaeggli <joelja@gmail.com> wrote:
>>  it will frequently be more complex then first glance affords.
> Individual attendees may or may not know well in advance of a meeting that they will for sure attend.
>
> However, the IETF knows it will, and where and when for years in advance.
>
> Having IETF staff research these thing scales better and affords more lead time - even if the only result is stuff on a meeting wiki page. It still benefits all attendees, and may provide helpful info in the attendees' language(s).
>
> If on-site SIM sales and/or re-form-factoring also happens, great. But even without this, the advance investigation is still very useful.
>
> Brian
> _______________________________________________
> 87attendees mailing list
> 87attendees@ietf.org
> https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/87attendees

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