Not aboard submarines.

COLLATED SUMMARY OF THIS DEAL FROM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE - ie GOT IT: + HUKDers feedback in this thread...
NB: @ 25Apr15 this product/deal is no longer listed on PCWorld/Currys website - it too late to buy & start your 1yr prepaid plan

This is what the pack looks like: (if collecting from store, ensure you get the right pack - several people have been given the wrong pack!)


This is a 3-sizes-in-1 Standard/Micro/Nano pre-paid SIM that gives you “1GB of [4G/3G] mobile date to use every month for 1 year”

Sold online & in-store by both PCWorld and Currys at £24.99 currently as product code 121006 described as
“KNOWHOW Mobile Broadband 3-in-1 Starter SIM” though has been 60% more at £39.99.
You might get cashback by ordering thru a Quidco/TopcashBack type site - eg I'm due 21p!

The item was initially in stock to order online for (free) home delivery (but it sold out) + Reserve&Collect in store. Though not a Clearance/.97p item they haven't restocked online (perhaps we made this too popular!), & though Sale may end any time & eg become 60% pricier again it is still available at some stores @2/4/15!.
For an example of why getting delivered beats collecting - see this HUKDer experience:http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/knowhow-three-network-1gb-per-month-mobile-broadband-for-12-months-24-99-annual-2160024?p=24609534

I believe it's being considered a Hot UK Deal as at £24.99 up-front cost (instead of £39.99) you get 12 months of 1GB/m of UK 3G/4G data ie just £2.08/m with no "Overage" charges as your 1GB/m is capped (ie can't use more), has no contract & "You can use your SIM in WiFi devices, USB dongles, smartphones & tablets including iPads to connect to the service" & tethering/VoIP/hotspots etc are all OK..

Thanks to HUKDer Sykos for starting activation process on his SIM (ie paid £24.99 up-front for the £0.00/m plan) & sharing its features: ie:

(NB: As per packaging: "In order to activate the service a valid debit/credit card is required for validation - this card will not be charged." The service is by "Globalgig" [see below re MVNO] so you may have used your email address with that brand before. The "'WiFi on the go" is them supporting its use for personal hotspot & MiFi's, not any access to other peoples' WiFi networks.)

Not sure it'd be hot at regular £39.99 & the optional extra £4.99/m bundles would probably make it poor value.

It is a pre-paid SIM - "no contract", "no credit checks" - that gives you what it says on the actual tin (ie cardboard sleeve & website - ie
The Knowhow-Mbb website [it's their product] is your best starting position to knowing what it is:
https://annual.knowhow-mbb.com/uk/en/annual#

For a quick "Annual SIM Starter Pack Service Description" of what you're buying see their 4 page PDF with info on its optional extras (more data OR overseas use at £4.99/m), here's a direct link to it:
https://assets.globalgig.com/globalgig-uk/docs/Annual-Plan-SIM-Starter-Pack-Service-Description.pdf

It explains clearly that you're getting mobile data:
* UK 1GB/m for 12m included in price and that 1GB/m on 4G/3G is capped, no "Overage" use/costs available to you
* and can start paying £4.99/m to increase to 2GB/m in UK for rest of the 12m, still no "Overage", ie capped at 2GB/m in UK.
* or can start paying £4.99/m to use the 1GB/m in c40 countries for the rest of the 12m but then "Overage" applies both in UK @5p/MB and overseas at 15p/MB - ie no longer capped though they aim to send email alerts as usage reaches 50/85/100%.

Options are "rolling month-month contracts" for the rest of your SIM's 12 months; you can cancel an option but that totally cancels the entire SIM, including the original prepaid elements!
If you are interested in 30-day international contracts probably look at their Freedom/Travel plans instead
https://www.knowhow-mbb.com/

If you want to find the link yourself (as you shouldn't trust strangers), look on their website at
https://annual.knowhow-mbb.com/uk/en/annual
then look at the bottom of the page at the footer... the last text is "Service Description". Click on that link & then the Annual Plan SIM doc link.

Any reference on PCW/Currys website to a 30-days contract must be to the two optional extra £4.99/m which remain for the rest of your 12m term, unless you cancel - ie per Service Description document "All upgrade plan options are rolling month-to-month contracts. There are no fees to cancel your service.". (There is no 10GB/£7.99 or other options showing on the Knowhow website (ie PCW/Currys website errors)).

The SIM only provides data : per packaging "This is a data only service. Traditional voice & SMS services are not supported."
which nicely suggests the VoiP/SIP/WhatsApps/Skype etc services would be working as they are data not voice/SMS based.


If you want to read the back of the actual product packaging, please follow this link
http://i.imgur.com/I7rSZfF.jpg

Note: when activating it asks for a mobile number - this is NOT the 07777777777 [a dummy/nominal number]... from your pack... but is meant to be your own [other] mobile number.

Usage monitoring: with the bundled 1GB/m your usage is capped at the 1GB/m & then service pauses until the next of the 12 months begins. Currently there is no online usage meter, just email alerts on the day when you hit 50/85/100% of monthly limit. The website says more functionality coming.

So if aiming to use in a SmartPhone with normal voice/SMSs, you would need a Dual-SIM/Triple-SIM phone (with at least a 3G SIM socket for this SIM it seems) where this prepaid SIM can provide 1GB/m of data, while your other SIM provides any traditional voice/SMS services. [This SIM v.likely needs 3G, so to use alongside another 3/Three network SIM that also needs 3G would require a more sophisticated Dual-SIM phone than many are - ie many older/cheaper have one "2G/GSM only" SIM socket - ie do some more research if that's your plan.]

When you visit the website to activate your SIM, it offers you the chance to upgrade there & then, but you can upgrade later. See these screens captured by HUKDer Sykos:
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/knowhow-three-network-1gb-per-month-mobile-broadband-for-12-months-24-99-annual-2160024?p=24585576

If you're considering the £4.99/m optional extra probably worth reading this first
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/knowhow-three-network-1gb-per-month-mobile-broadband-for-12-months-24-99-annual-2160024?p=24585630

re the fact that the SIM is on a MVNO based on 3/Three UK network this is based on T&Cs that services provided by "Globalgig (which is a trading name of Voiamo Limited" & their Australian site says MVNO with 3 in UK.
https://www.globalgig.com/au/en/how-it-works
Update: First users have reported it is indeed on "3 UK" network, and named as "KNOWHOW EU1" as service provider; plus checking the # of my SIM shows it as allocated to 3 UK too.
Their official network 'Coverage' section is (farcical) at:
https://annual.knowhow-mbb.com/uk/en/annual#coverage
but as a MVNO on "3 UK" network best to look:
http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Coverage

And if you're looking for a 4G mobile WiFi hotspot device and more you could try...
HUKDer seedbot's EE Osprey 4G MiFi at £20 up front (+cancel)
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/ee-osprey-mifi-device-free-with-15gb-ultrafast-double-speed-4g-30-day-rolling-contract-2114457
or at £30 with no contract to cancel - ie on PAYG at:
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/ee-osprey-mifi-2gb-4g-data-ee-prepay-29-99-cpw-2161843?p=24603814
(though there are some reports of Osprey's not being mega reliable - eg 'Dodo')
or HUKDer Technation's EE Buzzard 4G USB powered at £20 one off
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/ee-payg-buzzard-dongle-with-car-wifi-adapter-half-price-2gb-4g-data-19-99-cpw-2159897
eg get the 4G gizmo and use the initial data and then exploit this 4G SIM in them...
Though the monthly 1GB allowance won't last long if/when used at 4G data rates!

Tip: If considering using as basis of a data only 'Smartphone' - eg using VoIP/SIP for voice & other services for SMS : I can recommend having a look at say using a FreeVoipDeal a/c & their MobileVOIP App. You prepay c£10 on a PAYG a/c & that gives you 120 days 'free calls' to c30 countries landlines (+some mobiles) subject to rolling 300mins fair use. (We've used them/associated companies for c10 years & while not perfect are totally 'usable'.) [Plus of course Skype + WhatsApp...]

If your device isn't picking up the Internet data connection properly, try their FAQ, ie to set the APN as: mbb.voiamo.net
https://annual.knowhow-mbb.com/uk/en/faqs

Things we still don't know:
- Activate by? - any deadline to Activate the SIM by after purchase.[no expiry on pack/site!]
- 2G SIM socket - does the SIM work in a 2G socket (probably not)
- Content control? - is the Adult block removed during activation (with debit/credit card "validation"?)

16/3/15: Globalgig are also offering a free "Worldwide" SIM with 100MB/m for 3 months to use overseas... [with 15p/MB "Overage"]
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/free-sim-free-100mb-month-international-for-3-months-globalgig-2166085

Hot, but as usual Currys makes buying something from them an ordeal.

1. reserve online
2. go to shop to order&collect counter
3. avoid assistant I had to repeatedly explain the Sale of Goods Act to a few weeks previously, when I wanted a refund on a camera with a clear manufacturing fault *one day* after Currys 21 day refund policy.
4. another assistant finds my order in the system quickly.
5. assistant disappears into the back room
6. assistant comes out of the back room, with nothing...?
7. prints something off
8. shouts at second assistant across the shop floor in a non-English language
9. second assistant appears, is handed a piece of paper (with my order on)
10. second assistant wanders off and starts surfing the internet on one of their Apple Macs
11. a few minutes pass
12. more time passes. Second assistant now appears to be helping someone else with an iPad. the original assistant is in front of me, ignoring me, and typing something into the sales computer, in a one-fingered hunt-and-peck manner.
13. second assistant now appears to be looking at the item I ordered on the Currys web site.
14. second assistant comes back and says "are you sure you want this, we can do you a better deal than this?".
15. i look incredulous. I explain it is 1GB of data PER MONTH for a year, for 25 quid in total, and no I don't want to be upsold to something else.
16. second assistant doesn't believe me. I offer to show him the service description on the Currys web page on my phone, which I do.
17. second assistant now believes me, but doesn't know where to find the SIM pack. He disappears.
18. more time passes.
19. third assistant appears and hands me a large plastic security box containing the SIM pack (so off the shop floor), and tells me to go to the checkout to complete the purchase.
20. I go to the checkout. The checkout assistant is listening to the radio.
21. The guy scans the barcode, and the checkout computer asks for the SIM ID (ICC ID - 20 digits) and mobile phone number off the pack. Three times he scans them the wrong way around which the computer will not accept, and I have to tell him how to do it so the system will accept it...
22. FINALLY! I CAN PAY!
23. Escape! Run away! Never buy anything from Currys again!

Depends how you use it. I'm delighted to pay 2 quid a month to be contactable on whatsapp, hangouts and facebook messenger alone without having to mess about with a rolling contract full of minutes and texts im not going to use.

can i use this aboard?

Not aboard submarines.

cool, hong kong is on the list. basically they are "three" network but just rebranding as their own?

It will do for iPad, only use every know and again

would do for the caravan if I get a signal

can use in Germany which is not on 3 list. Strange...

It looks like you won't get the international roaming unless you sign up to to one of the data plans, detailed here
"Upgrading allows you to use your data abroad without incurring roaming charges, which is great for using on holiday or staying in touch with loved ones if you travel a lot."

So the min charge is £7.99 per month for 1gb - for the core countries - UK, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA.
For the remaining 28 countries you can only use the "bonus data", which is 10% of the allowance - ie 100mb for your £7.99 per month, which is pretty much useless.

update: As is now clear this is the "annual" package and not the old £7.99 monthly package

virgin gives better deals.cold from me