Being connected to the internet anywhere in the world is one of the challenges of becoming location-independent. At least, it is for me.

But the good news is that these days there are many devices that can help with that. I’ve already written about the Surfroam International Simcards, and now I want to talk about another device I use: The Glocalme G3 MIFI (Mobile Wifi).

I’ve been using it all over the world for a few years now.

What is the Glocalme?

The Glocalme M3 has three basic features:

  • It has a virtual sim card built-in
  • It has two slots for sim cards and can be used as a router for local sim cards
  • It can also be used as a power bank (6000 mAh)

The virtual sim card is very handy when you want to access the internet quickly in a new country. Through their website, you can (pre) purchase data packages for specific regions (such as Worldwide or Europe) or over 140 countries in the world. Once you turn on the device in that country, the package is activated and you’re good to go. There is no subscription, you just pay for each package as you use it.

For me, this is very convenient because when I land in a new country, I can access the internet immediately. Before, I always had to either find free wifi or try to buy a local sim card as soon as possible.

But the devices give you the freedom to run it with local sim cards as well. You can add up to two sim cards.

And then there’s the powerbank feature, which I’ve honestly never used. But the battery is quite large and usually lasts the whole working day.

What I like about the Glocalme G3

I like it because it’s a quick and easy solution when traveling to multiple countries, and I really appreciate that it has the option to be used as a router. I like how easy it is to buy the data packages so I can get started right away.

I wouldn’t use it exclusively as my main internet though, as it can get quite expensive in the long run compared to local sim cards. If I were staying in one place for a few weeks and didn’t have access to free wifi, I would definitely try to buy a local sim card and add it to the device. However, for most trips, I get by with a combination of my Glocalme, my Surfroam Simcard on my phone, and free wifi.

Depending on the price of the data package in the country, I’ll also check with Surfroam to see what their rates are. And if they are cheaper, I will put one of my Surfroam cards in the device.

I also like the large display on the Glocalme. It shows how much data has been used. And you can access all the functions, like changing your password, right on the device.

The Glocalme has a handy data usage limit feature that blocks MOST updates. If you want to download an app from the store or run an update, you have the option to manually unblock it for 24 hours. However, to be on the safe side, don’t forget to disable automatic updates on your phones and laptops. Otherwise, the data will be gone in no time.

What I don’t like about it

The biggest downside for me is that only five devices can access it at once. For the two of us with phones, laptops and iPads, and other tech devices, that’s not enough. It’s annoying that we have to disconnect devices.

Thanks to the large battery, the G3 is quite large and heavy. For me, who only travels with one bag only, it’s a pretty clunky device. In the meantime, however, there is already the G4, which is smaller and lighter.

Conclusion

I’ve owned it for more than three years. I’ve used it as backup internet in my home country of Austria and other places in Europe, as well as in South America and in the US. It has worked very, very well.

For me, the convenience is worth the higher price. And I have the peace of mind that I can connect anywhere, which is important when you need the internet for your business.