Data Only low usage requirement.

A question about : Data Only low usage requirement.

Hello actually mobiles appears to be the only place to put this thread but please move if incorrect.
I am involved in a product that may require a standard sim card for data transfer only. No phonecalls or texts. 3G is fine.
The amount of data will be a few mb per month only.
I suspect what I want is not available as everything caters for huge amounts these days or for very short periods of time.
Perfect would be a PAYG sim with Data only that lasts for a year (And not only a month). I suppose any PAYG that lasts for a long time without zeroing the balance.
Either that or a Contract Very Low Data Sim.

Any suggestions or am I destined to pay around Ј7.50 a month for something hardly needed ?

Or do I have to investigate M2M market like the telematics / smart meters etc

Best answers:

• Why not use a 3 321 sim it's only 1p a mb
• Thanks being an idiot but cant seem to work out on that 3 321 deal.
  If i top up with Ј1 and only use it for data.
  Does below really mean the Ј1 lasts forever If unused ?
  Once you've topped up, the rates don't change after 30 days - they last until you use your last penny. No more converting to this or bundling to that, just a simple top-up to get great rates.
• I've got a Ј1 / week 4g ee sim for my son. It keeps topping up whenever it is low on credit. Gives him 10 minutes, 100 MB data and some texts as well, per week. Seems like you could use it and it auto renews every week or whenever it is close to exhaustion as long as you have money in your account.
• Just to cut to the chase.
  If I could put 1gb of prepaid credit onto a sim and have it inside my product for a tenner.
  That would probably last for at least 3 years.
  It would be constantly used but in very small buckets.
  Also I would likely need about 200+ of these.
  Have to be sure 3 months down the line said sims are not disabled.
  The sim will not openly be accessible to the end user physically.
  Not sure how they could ever tell what kind of device the sim was being used for ?
  I anticipate no activity ever again in terms of topping up said sims.
  Possible or too risky ?
  Think I will pass by a 3 shop tomorrow.
• A preloaded data sim can't last for 3 years.
  >> Sim deals or PAYG packages with no time limit?
• Been in 3s price guide and Terms and all they seem to state is
  these amazingly low rates don't expire
  after 30 days
• But I am not contemplating buying 3s 1gb or a 3gb or a 12gb sim
  I am looking at buying a 321 sim and loading it with Ј10 credit
  Not specific to data.
  Their website quotes below. I need to find where your last penny may not in reality be your last penny. My device may use 1mb ever day. Where is 3s statement as to when my Ј10 would run out if it is not 1000 days at 1mb a day ?
  Please can I get a real link that states that I would only get 30 days, 60 days or whatever if my device consumed what I stated.
  "With mind-blowing rates of 3p a minute, 2p a text and 1p a MB of data, you can talk, text and browse your heart out. Once you've topped up, the rates don't change after 30 days - they last until you use your last penny. No more converting to this or bundling to that, just a simple top-up to get great rates."
• OK, if allowed by '3', their 3-2-1 sim will work and last indefinitely unless left inactive for 6 months. There is no question about this and wasn't.
  "30 days, 60 days or whatever" was for preloaded data-only sims, not for 3-2-1 PAYG sim.
• Thanks for the answer as I thought we were at crossed wires.
  Do you still have a "real t&C" link to the 6 month inactive thing.
  I have just phoned 3 sales see below.
  Just phoned 3 and put it to them I had a particularly low payg phone need.
  Bit of a lie.
  Asked if I topped up with a fiver and made one 5pence call every month were there any issues ?
  Scottish (Sales) call centre said NO my credit would last.
  Says tarriff was designed to be a "bit different" and corner the low user market.
  Then asked if it was not used for a year would the credit still be their.
  His response was: would you be bothered ?
  I said yes.
  He said yes it would be.
  Can I trust my Glaswegian friend ????
• This sounds like a telemetry/m2m type sim is required. My isp offers a data only sim for Ј2+vat per month and 2p+vat per mb and no risk of the sim "expiring" like a payg sim would. https://aa.nu/telecoms-mobile-data.html
• Thanks again for 9.2(h)
  I also love the point on page 7 that a sim could damage your device !!!
  All sorts spring to mind
• As others have mentioned, the 321 PAYG SIM is intended for phone users who are using small amounts of data and a few phone calls.
  I have one in a remote alarm installation which dials out with a voice call on activation. I have a reminder to make a test call from it every month or so. As far as I know, the credit will last indefinitely provided a chargeable call (or text, or an odd MB of data used) before 6 months has elapsed.
  The initial top up on a 321 SIM is Ј10 as far as I know (I don't think you can top up initially with Ј5). I used a voucher from a local shop with the SIM in another phone. If you plan to obtain 200 of these SIM cards, it would be a real chore to top them up that way... you would need to order them directly from Three and may as well ask for them to be supplied already topped up, if that's an option.
  My advice would be to talk to Three's UK sales team and explain what you are looking to do and see what kind of package they can offer. Equally ask the other networks too, as that number of SIM cards may result in a good offer from them.
• Bloody hell this whole thread has just been pointless.
  Either post the device you'll be using here or just PM me and I'll let you know which SIM will work and which won't.