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I Tried Holafly eSIM in Vietnam For 2 Weeks: It’s the Best eSIM Service

I Tried Holafly eSIM in Vietnam For 2 Weeks: It’s the Best eSIM Service

International travel in 2025 is a tricky business. That’s because there’s so much to worry about. Booked your tickets? Now, got to check whether the layover flight you booked requires a transit visa from the connecting country. Applied for the visa for the destination? Need to check if immigration is open 24/7, or you’ll be stuck at the airport at night for hours. The list doesn’t stop. And every time, I forget something, which often means my travel experiences involve running frantically through the airport. Another thing that has caused a lot of headaches is connectivity. Everyone needs a taxi from the airport to the hotel, and for that, you need data. Unfortunately, at most airports, I’ve only seen long queues to get a new SIM, which can sometimes take hours. Beyond that, buying a SIM at the airport is generally more expensive, making the overall experience less than ideal.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this headache, and that’s eSIM. As you may already know, eSIMs are just regular SIMs without the physical card. They function exactly the same and can be used in different countries. With an upcoming Vietnam trip, I decided to finally give eSIMs a go and chose Holafly for this test. These guys offer unlimited data plans in over 200 destinations, with no hidden charges or fuss.

Options

As mentioned, Holafly covers over 200 destinations spanning across North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and even the Caribbean. For all these places, the company provides unlimited data, without a phone number. This means you can browse the web, watch content, and even make calls using apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

In addition, if you’re planning to visit multiple countries, Holafly also offers regional eSIMs and a global option that provides connectivity in 110+ countries and starts at $9.90 per day. The cost per day decreases with a longer plan. And if you use my code FOSSBYTES, you get a 5% on your eSIM.

Beyond that, if your work requires you to travel to various countries each week, Holafly recently introduced a subscription, called Holafly Plans, with coverage in 160+ destinations. The 25GB plan costs $49.90, the unlimited data plan costs $ 64.90 monthly, and you can cancel the service at any time. It is important to note that this is an introductory price offer, and you can get 10% off for 12 months using the coupon FOSSBYTES.

Holafly’s eSIMs are not transferable, and, like every other eSIM, your phone must be unlocked to use the service. The eSIM does not work with carrier-locked phones, so be sure to check the compatibility before buying. Also, older phones might not have eSIM technology, so check Holafly’s website or app to see if your mobile is compatible. Fortunately, if you do end up purchasing an eSIM and it’s not compatible, Holafly offers a generous 6-month return policy, which also applies if you cancelled your travel plans. Plus, for any help, you can contact the company’s 24/7 multilingual customer support team, with real people, who’d be happy to assist you.

The Setup

A person holding a phone with holafly installed

To have a pleasant travel experience, I needed to set up the eSIM before the actual flight date. After all, nobody wants to be stuck using the airport wifi to install the eSIM. Fortunately, Holafly’s setup is actually simple. I headed to the Holafly website, searched for Vietnam, and bought a 15-day plan for a total of $50,90. However, you can configure it from 1 to 90 days if you wish.

From there, it was another straightforward journey to install it on my Android device, and there are multiple ways to do so. You can either set up manually, using the QR code or the Holafly app for a one-button install, available for iPhone users with iOS 17.4 or above. I went with the QR code route, and it took just a few minutes.

The Experience

a person holding the vivo x300 pro

Everything was set up a day before flying, and for the test, I was using my daily driver, the vivo X300 Pro. As soon as my plane touched down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC, I was instantly connected to the service, with mobile data running. Naturally, the first order of business was to inform my parents since this was my first solo international trip, and they were obviously worried. I sent them a text, and it went pretty smoothly.

Once I got out of the plane, the next item on the list was immigration. If you aren’t already aware, immigration in Vietnam can take hours. However, there’s a fast-track paid service that helps you get past all this nonsense. Since my Vietnamese speaking skills are basically non-existent, I used ChatGPT as my translator, which, thanks to the connection, worked super fine.

After reaching the hotel, it was time to push Holafly’s connection to the limit. For that, I first started downloading the new episodes of Squid Game Season 3. They were done in just a few minutes, and I was also able to track my data usage using the Holafly app. I then ran a series of speed tests. On average, download speeds ranged from 45.6 Mbps to 56 Mbps, while upload speeds reached 39 Mbps. These speeds are pretty fine for just about anyone, since I could do everything from streaming content to playing PUBG with my friends. However, some streaming services like Netflix did not play well with the eSIM, thanks to the weird “this content is not available at your location” error, which I faced a couple of times. I also faced a couple of errors with the Holafly app, which crashed when tracking my data usage.

After spending a few days in Ho Chi Minh City, the next destination on my travel list was Tuy Hoa. I’m the kind of person who likes to stay away from the touristy places, and it seemed like the best of the bunch. I took a train from Saigon to the region. Since Vietnamese trains don’t have Wi-Fi on board, I was relying on the Holafly connection, which, barring a few desolate forest regions, worked really well. There was decent coverage for about 90% of my journey. Even in the super quiet town of Tuy Hoa, the speeds were the same as in the big city, and I had no problems on my few excursions out of the city and into the wild as well.

Verdict

holafly campaign with fossbytes image

Holafly’s eSIM service is really good for just about anyone, simply because you get unlimited data. Throughout my Vietnam trip, I never worried about finishing my daily data quota, and that’s a very reassuring feeling. Beyond that, you get really solid coverage across almost the entire globe, a simple setup with various options, a global eSIM for frequent travellers, excellent customer support, and a generous 6-month refund policy. Sure, the app can be a bit buggy at times, and some streaming services can freak out, but Holafly is still a fantastic travel companion. If you have a trip coming up, be sure to give it a try, and don’t forget to save some money using my code FOSSBYTES.

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#Holafly #eSIM #Vietnam #Weeks #eSIM #Service

announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment.

The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.

What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?

Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition
	
Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment. 



The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.



What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?







Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at  per month and goes up to  per month, while two-year plans cost 9 to 9.



There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a  service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between  and . Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.





#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at $8 per month and goes up to $15 per month, while two-year plans cost $159 to $279.

There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a $99 service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between $79 and $99. Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.

#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel">Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition
	
Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment. 



The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.



What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?







Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at  per month and goes up to  per month, while two-year plans cost 9 to 9.



There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a  service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between  and . Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.





#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment.

The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.

What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?

Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition
	
Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment. 



The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.



What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?







Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at  per month and goes up to  per month, while two-year plans cost 9 to 9.



There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a  service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between  and . Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.





#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at $8 per month and goes up to $15 per month, while two-year plans cost $159 to $279.

There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a $99 service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between $79 and $99. Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.

#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel">Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition

Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment.

The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.

What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?

Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition
	
Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment. 



The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.



What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?







Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at  per month and goes up to  per month, while two-year plans cost 9 to 9.



There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a  service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between  and . Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.





#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at $8 per month and goes up to $15 per month, while two-year plans cost $159 to $279.

There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a $99 service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between $79 and $99. Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.

#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

Most of us sense we’re in an affordability crisis these days. If you’re like me, you’re helpless and complacent at the checkstand even when it feels like you’re being mugged. But being billed for billions—or even trillions—more than you owe on web hosting would snap anyone out of their affordability daze.

Amazon Web Services users around the world have noticed one such glitch:

Bharath, an X user based in India, showed off what looks like a $1,499,659,180,107 cost statement and writes, “my soul left my body.” That statement says Bharath’s total is up by 744,728,201,771% this month, which means, by my math, the previous month’s bill was about $200.

According to the Guardian, a marketer named  Dan Harvey, working for an educational nonprofit in the U.K. said he “almost had a heart attack” after seeing a bill climb from 43 cents last month to $7.8 billion this month—and the month wasn’t even over. Harvey added to the Guardian that he had to get on the phone with tech support and “have a real dig around,” to get to the bottom of things. Amazon did not apparently return the Guardian’s request for comment.

This has been resolved, according to Amazon, which writes that on July 16 and 17, “customers received erroneous budget and cost anomaly detection alerts, and saw inflated estimated cost and usage data in the Billing and Cost Management Console and the Cost and Usage Reports.” The amounts are “inaccurate” and “did not affect customer invoices,” Amazon writes, but everything has apparently been restored to normal.

An update Saturday on the AWS service health dashboard lays out what happened. Apparently on July 16, a faulty “configuration change” in the AWS billing system was implemented. “This system relies on unit conversion data to calculate line item charges,” AWS writes, but the change “caused updates to the unit conversion data to fail, resulting in inflated line item costs, which propagated to the Billing and Cost Management console and triggered the budget and cost anomaly alerts.”

Logs on the health dashboard show AWS trying to roll out a solution for about two days before marking the issue as fully resolved.

#Soul #Left #Body #Amazon #Accidentally #Bills #Users #Billions #Times #Oweaffordability crisis,AWS,billing">‘My Soul Left My Body’: Amazon Accidentally Bills Users Billions of Times What They Owe
                Most of us sense we’re in an affordability crisis these days. If you’re like me, you’re helpless and complacent at the checkstand even when it feels like you’re being mugged. But being billed for billions—or even trillions—more than you owe on web hosting would snap anyone out of their affordability daze. Amazon Web Services users around the world have noticed one such glitch:  I just saw .5 trillion on my AWS bill and my soul left my body https://t.co/EgfQKJTHVl pic.twitter.com/L0gXYbDio7 — Bharath (@Bharath_uwu) July 17, 2026  Bharath, an X user based in India, showed off what looks like a ,499,659,180,107 cost statement and writes, “my soul left my body.” That statement says Bharath’s total is up by 744,728,201,771% this month, which means, by my math, the previous month’s bill was about 0. According to the Guardian, a marketer named  Dan Harvey, working for an educational nonprofit in the U.K. said he “almost had a heart attack” after seeing a bill climb from 43 cents last month to .8 billion this month—and the month wasn’t even over. Harvey added to the Guardian that he had to get on the phone with tech support and “have a real dig around,” to get to the bottom of things. Amazon did not apparently return the Guardian’s request for comment.

 This has been resolved, according to Amazon, which writes that on July 16 and 17, “customers received erroneous budget and cost anomaly detection alerts, and saw inflated estimated cost and usage data in the Billing and Cost Management Console and the Cost and Usage Reports.” The amounts are “inaccurate” and “did not affect customer invoices,” Amazon writes, but everything has apparently been restored to normal.

 An update Saturday on the AWS service health dashboard lays out what happened. Apparently on July 16, a faulty “configuration change” in the AWS billing system was implemented. “This system relies on unit conversion data to calculate line item charges,” AWS writes, but the change “caused updates to the unit conversion data to fail, resulting in inflated line item costs, which propagated to the Billing and Cost Management console and triggered the budget and cost anomaly alerts.” Logs on the health dashboard show AWS trying to roll out a solution for about two days before marking the issue as fully resolved.      #Soul #Left #Body #Amazon #Accidentally #Bills #Users #Billions #Times #Oweaffordability crisis,AWS,billing

Bharath, an X user based in India, showed off what looks like a $1,499,659,180,107 cost statement and writes, “my soul left my body.” That statement says Bharath’s total is up by 744,728,201,771% this month, which means, by my math, the previous month’s bill was about $200.

According to the Guardian, a marketer named  Dan Harvey, working for an educational nonprofit in the U.K. said he “almost had a heart attack” after seeing a bill climb from 43 cents last month to $7.8 billion this month—and the month wasn’t even over. Harvey added to the Guardian that he had to get on the phone with tech support and “have a real dig around,” to get to the bottom of things. Amazon did not apparently return the Guardian’s request for comment.

This has been resolved, according to Amazon, which writes that on July 16 and 17, “customers received erroneous budget and cost anomaly detection alerts, and saw inflated estimated cost and usage data in the Billing and Cost Management Console and the Cost and Usage Reports.” The amounts are “inaccurate” and “did not affect customer invoices,” Amazon writes, but everything has apparently been restored to normal.

An update Saturday on the AWS service health dashboard lays out what happened. Apparently on July 16, a faulty “configuration change” in the AWS billing system was implemented. “This system relies on unit conversion data to calculate line item charges,” AWS writes, but the change “caused updates to the unit conversion data to fail, resulting in inflated line item costs, which propagated to the Billing and Cost Management console and triggered the budget and cost anomaly alerts.”

Logs on the health dashboard show AWS trying to roll out a solution for about two days before marking the issue as fully resolved.

#Soul #Left #Body #Amazon #Accidentally #Bills #Users #Billions #Times #Oweaffordability crisis,AWS,billing">‘My Soul Left My Body’: Amazon Accidentally Bills Users Billions of Times What They Owe‘My Soul Left My Body’: Amazon Accidentally Bills Users Billions of Times What They Owe
                Most of us sense we’re in an affordability crisis these days. If you’re like me, you’re helpless and complacent at the checkstand even when it feels like you’re being mugged. But being billed for billions—or even trillions—more than you owe on web hosting would snap anyone out of their affordability daze. Amazon Web Services users around the world have noticed one such glitch:  I just saw $1.5 trillion on my AWS bill and my soul left my body https://t.co/EgfQKJTHVl pic.twitter.com/L0gXYbDio7 — Bharath (@Bharath_uwu) July 17, 2026  Bharath, an X user based in India, showed off what looks like a $1,499,659,180,107 cost statement and writes, “my soul left my body.” That statement says Bharath’s total is up by 744,728,201,771% this month, which means, by my math, the previous month’s bill was about $200. According to the Guardian, a marketer named  Dan Harvey, working for an educational nonprofit in the U.K. said he “almost had a heart attack” after seeing a bill climb from 43 cents last month to $7.8 billion this month—and the month wasn’t even over. Harvey added to the Guardian that he had to get on the phone with tech support and “have a real dig around,” to get to the bottom of things. Amazon did not apparently return the Guardian’s request for comment.

 This has been resolved, according to Amazon, which writes that on July 16 and 17, “customers received erroneous budget and cost anomaly detection alerts, and saw inflated estimated cost and usage data in the Billing and Cost Management Console and the Cost and Usage Reports.” The amounts are “inaccurate” and “did not affect customer invoices,” Amazon writes, but everything has apparently been restored to normal.

 An update Saturday on the AWS service health dashboard lays out what happened. Apparently on July 16, a faulty “configuration change” in the AWS billing system was implemented. “This system relies on unit conversion data to calculate line item charges,” AWS writes, but the change “caused updates to the unit conversion data to fail, resulting in inflated line item costs, which propagated to the Billing and Cost Management console and triggered the budget and cost anomaly alerts.” Logs on the health dashboard show AWS trying to roll out a solution for about two days before marking the issue as fully resolved.      #Soul #Left #Body #Amazon #Accidentally #Bills #Users #Billions #Times #Oweaffordability crisis,AWS,billing

Most of us sense we’re in an affordability crisis these days. If you’re like me, you’re helpless and complacent at the checkstand even when it feels like you’re being mugged. But being billed for billions—or even trillions—more than you owe on web hosting would snap anyone out of their affordability daze.

Amazon Web Services users around the world have noticed one such glitch:

Bharath, an X user based in India, showed off what looks like a $1,499,659,180,107 cost statement and writes, “my soul left my body.” That statement says Bharath’s total is up by 744,728,201,771% this month, which means, by my math, the previous month’s bill was about $200.

According to the Guardian, a marketer named  Dan Harvey, working for an educational nonprofit in the U.K. said he “almost had a heart attack” after seeing a bill climb from 43 cents last month to $7.8 billion this month—and the month wasn’t even over. Harvey added to the Guardian that he had to get on the phone with tech support and “have a real dig around,” to get to the bottom of things. Amazon did not apparently return the Guardian’s request for comment.

This has been resolved, according to Amazon, which writes that on July 16 and 17, “customers received erroneous budget and cost anomaly detection alerts, and saw inflated estimated cost and usage data in the Billing and Cost Management Console and the Cost and Usage Reports.” The amounts are “inaccurate” and “did not affect customer invoices,” Amazon writes, but everything has apparently been restored to normal.

An update Saturday on the AWS service health dashboard lays out what happened. Apparently on July 16, a faulty “configuration change” in the AWS billing system was implemented. “This system relies on unit conversion data to calculate line item charges,” AWS writes, but the change “caused updates to the unit conversion data to fail, resulting in inflated line item costs, which propagated to the Billing and Cost Management console and triggered the budget and cost anomaly alerts.”

Logs on the health dashboard show AWS trying to roll out a solution for about two days before marking the issue as fully resolved.

#Soul #Left #Body #Amazon #Accidentally #Bills #Users #Billions #Times #Oweaffordability crisis,AWS,billing

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