Introduction: Due to dissatisfaction with the campus network nearing graduation, many friends have plans to buy a data card. This article uses the three major telecommunications operators as examples to explain the routines and choices of common data cards.
- What is a data card: Essentially, a data card is still a SIM card, known for its large data allowance and low monthly fees.
- Why do we need a data card: Regular cards mostly have long contracts and fixed locations, making it difficult to change plans easily. The monthly fees for these plans are also high, especially during the 5G era when 4G prices have increased and speeds have decreased. On the other hand, data cards offer over 100GB of data, with monthly fees below 50, and can be cancelled at any time.
- Basic principles of data cards: As the three major telecommunications operators are in a semi-state-owned status (self-financing), they have to adopt certain strategies due to long-term losses, such as lengthy terms and hidden discounts. Additionally, due to different economic development conditions in different regions, some regional branches of the operators have poor performance. In order to meet requirements in the short term, they often cooperate with local distributors to offer discounted plans, attracting customers. Note: 99% of so-called 19 or 29 monthly fee data cards require an upfront payment, with monthly refunds, to achieve long-term low monthly fees. The operators aim to generate short-term revenue! However, compared to the fees of 5 yuan for 1GB or 40 yuan for 10GB, these data cards are still very cost-effective.
- Distinguishing between data cards and IoT cards! Some friends have reported being tricked by IoT cards! Here, we must pay attention. Products like 9999GB super data cards and USB portable WiFi are usually IoT cards, which are used for industrial devices. They generally have very slow speeds, ranging from a few hundred KB to 1MB. These cards cannot be used by individuals and are likely to be blocked after a period of time. Moreover, the distributors are not official telecommunications operators and may disappear at any time.
- Things to consider when purchasing a data card:
- About attractive numbers: Most data cards cannot choose the number because these cards with discounted plans mostly come from previous buyers in different regions. Therefore, the number of attractive numbers is limited. It is not possible to have both a good number and a discounted plan. This brings up the second issue:
- About number binding: As an important identifier in the information age, phone numbers are almost as important as ID cards. In the case of previous owners not being aware of their information, most of their social media, life services, and various website accounts will remain. We need to unbind them one by one. The author once bought a data card from Ningxia and successfully accessed the previous owner's WeChat and Taobao accounts through verification and social engineering. Of course, they have been canceled now. Some platforms do not support cancellation, so we can only continue using the previous number. There is even a chance of receiving debt collection calls from the previous owner's debtors. Therefore, we must be careful and cautious.
- About location: Due to the first reason, the location of data cards is mostly random, such as Qinghai, Ningxia, etc. When someone calls, they may see the address as "China Ningxia" and may mistakenly think it is a scam call. Of course, there are also advantages to not showing the address, as they say, each has its own benefits.
- About signal: What really affects the experience is not just the phone's baseband, but also the distribution of base stations by the three major telecommunications operators in the region. Therefore, before purchasing, you can check which operator has the best signal in your area and choose accordingly.
- About secondary cards: Some friends plan to use the data card as their main card after purchasing it, so the previous card plan is no longer necessary. They can apply for an 8 yuan plan to keep the number active and continue using it.
- About cancellation: Each operator can only handle up to 5 phone cards, so cancellation should be done carefully. Most data cards can be canceled online from a different location, but the terms and conditions should be carefully read.
- Practical operation:
- Due to the lack of discounts in offline stores, we often have to search for various distribution channels on the internet, such as answers on Zhihu, Taobao stores, WeChat mini-programs, etc. Here, we will use a Zhihu activity as an example:
As you can see, it is indeed very cost-effective, but there are a few details to note:
First, the card needs to be precharged with a large amount of money for activation. Second, additional data is provided in the form of data packages, and the way to obtain these packages varies depending on the activity. Third, out of the 155GB, there is dedicated data that cannot be used with other apps. Fourth, the fees for exceeding the data limit are very expensive, so be careful.
Remember to provide real information when purchasing the card, and make sure the delivery address is detailed enough. There will be a dedicated delivery person to activate the card offline, precharge it, and be aware of incoming calls!
- Hidden terms: After obtaining the card, the app of the telecommunications operator may not appear immediately. This is due to system delays and the way the operator calculates usage. The full data allowance will only be available at the beginning of the month, and for the following days, it will be calculated based on a percentage. From the second month onwards, it will be normal.
Afterword: Carefully observe the terms and conditions and avoid impulsive consumption.