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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
Please comment, I want to hear from you.
First, some assumptions... 1) I need a mobile phone while in Europe on vacation. Yes it can be costly vs. calling cards, but it gives me immediate access, as well as allows work and family to call at anytime. Anyways, I now own a 900/1800 GSM phone (unlocked). 2) I expect no more that 150 minutes total usage (incoming and outgoing). 3) I will only use it in Western Europe countries, ie Zone 1. 4) I will be in 5 countries in 30 days, mostly France, Germany and Italy. 5) The initial cost of a country's SIM card is pricey. Now the deductions... Well, I have explored this board, and many other websites that deal with GSM mobile phone useage in Europe, and I have to say, you've given me a lot of great information. But as a traveler to Europe for only the second time, one thing still puzzles me. Should I buy several different country SIM cards or just buy 1 SIM from one country and purchase extra minutes? For my situation and travel itinerary, I've concluded that it makes more sense to do the latter. Cmon people, tell me if I'm wrong! My math tells me that since most of the initial cost of a country's "SIM" card is in the card itself, and not the minutes, and my stay in any one country will not exceed 6 days, it makes more sense to buy just one SIM card (with extra minutes), and pay the price of the international per minute rates outside of the SIM country? Do you agree? This is based on assumption #2, of course. And, my research tells me that Italy has the best per-minute rate for calls originating outside of Italy to international locations, particularly the USA. Is that right? Let me know if I'm all screwed up!!!!! I'm sure someone will! LOL Thanks, Emery |
#2
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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
Check out roadpost.com. They provide service throughout the world at a
relatively reasonable rate. After you subscribe, you're billed only for the calls you actually make. Depending on how long you'll be in Europe, and how often you go, it may work out to considerably less than buying a country-specific SIM card when you get there. "emeryt" wrote in message om... Please comment, I want to hear from you. First, some assumptions... 1) I need a mobile phone while in Europe on vacation. Yes it can be costly vs. calling cards, but it gives me immediate access, as well as allows work and family to call at anytime. Anyways, I now own a 900/1800 GSM phone (unlocked). 2) I expect no more that 150 minutes total usage (incoming and outgoing). 3) I will only use it in Western Europe countries, ie Zone 1. 4) I will be in 5 countries in 30 days, mostly France, Germany and Italy. 5) The initial cost of a country's SIM card is pricey. Now the deductions... Well, I have explored this board, and many other websites that deal with GSM mobile phone useage in Europe, and I have to say, you've given me a lot of great information. But as a traveler to Europe for only the second time, one thing still puzzles me. Should I buy several different country SIM cards or just buy 1 SIM from one country and purchase extra minutes? For my situation and travel itinerary, I've concluded that it makes more sense to do the latter. Cmon people, tell me if I'm wrong! My math tells me that since most of the initial cost of a country's "SIM" card is in the card itself, and not the minutes, and my stay in any one country will not exceed 6 days, it makes more sense to buy just one SIM card (with extra minutes), and pay the price of the international per minute rates outside of the SIM country? Do you agree? This is based on assumption #2, of course. And, my research tells me that Italy has the best per-minute rate for calls originating outside of Italy to international locations, particularly the USA. Is that right? Let me know if I'm all screwed up!!!!! I'm sure someone will! LOL Thanks, Emery |
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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
"PTRAVEL" wrote in message ...
Check out roadpost.com. They provide service throughout the world at a relatively reasonable rate. After you subscribe, you're billed only for the calls you actually make. Depending on how long you'll be in Europe, and how often you go, it may work out to considerably less than buying a country-specific SIM card when you get there. I pondered renting vs. buying a GSM phone. Already purchased one. For those of you out there who want to compare one to the other, try www.telestial.com Thanks for the input. ET |
#5
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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
From my experience when I vacationed in Spain, it is *not* true that the "
initial cost of a country's "SIM" card is in the card itself". It depends on the carrier you choose. In Barcelona, I was able to get a prepaid Vodafone SIM for 50 Euros which included 50 Euros worth of calls. In other words, there was no initial setup charge. After using up the 50 Euros, you can recharge from any newstand by buying a recharge card. Essentially you enter a code and it adds the appropriate number to minutes you purchased. Other carriers in Barcelona whose names I now forget, had an initial cost, so for example you would purchase a prepaid SIM card for 50 Euros but only get 25 Euros worth of calls, so a setup or initial cost of 25 Euros. So, if I can extrapolate based on my experience in Spain, then it's probably true in most of Europe that if you pick the right carrier, there is *no* initial or setup cost for a local prepaid SIM card and so I would definitely go that way. The other problem of buying a SIM card from one country and trying to use it in another is that the good old "roaming charges" come into play. During that vacation in Barcelona, I actually had a few minutes left on my Vodafone SIM card. When I turned on the cell phone at the Amsterdam airport during a layover back to the US, a message indicated that there would be "roaming charges". In short, I would go the route of buying local SIM cards in the country where you're at. Hope this helps. "emeryt" wrote in message om... Please comment, I want to hear from you. First, some assumptions... 1) I need a mobile phone while in Europe on vacation. Yes it can be costly vs. calling cards, but it gives me immediate access, as well as allows work and family to call at anytime. Anyways, I now own a 900/1800 GSM phone (unlocked). 2) I expect no more that 150 minutes total usage (incoming and outgoing). 3) I will only use it in Western Europe countries, ie Zone 1. 4) I will be in 5 countries in 30 days, mostly France, Germany and Italy. 5) The initial cost of a country's SIM card is pricey. Now the deductions... Well, I have explored this board, and many other websites that deal with GSM mobile phone useage in Europe, and I have to say, you've given me a lot of great information. But as a traveler to Europe for only the second time, one thing still puzzles me. Should I buy several different country SIM cards or just buy 1 SIM from one country and purchase extra minutes? For my situation and travel itinerary, I've concluded that it makes more sense to do the latter. Cmon people, tell me if I'm wrong! My math tells me that since most of the initial cost of a country's "SIM" card is in the card itself, and not the minutes, and my stay in any one country will not exceed 6 days, it makes more sense to buy just one SIM card (with extra minutes), and pay the price of the international per minute rates outside of the SIM country? Do you agree? This is based on assumption #2, of course. And, my research tells me that Italy has the best per-minute rate for calls originating outside of Italy to international locations, particularly the USA. Is that right? Let me know if I'm all screwed up!!!!! I'm sure someone will! LOL Thanks, Emery |
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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
(emeryt) wrote in message
om... "PTRAVEL" wrote in message ... Check out roadpost.com. They provide service throughout the world at a relatively reasonable rate. After you subscribe, you're billed only for the calls you actually make. Depending on how long you'll be in Europe, and how often you go, it may work out to considerably less than buying a country-specific SIM card when you get there. I pondered renting vs. buying a GSM phone. Already purchased one. For those of you out there who want to compare one to the other, try www.telestial.com Thanks for the input. Note that Telestial is simply a reseller of the Hop Mobile Hop Abroad SIM card. It is much less expensive to buy the SIM card direct from Hop Mobile than from resellers such as Telestial or U.S. tronics. See http://earthroam.com for details. |
#8
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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
Steven M. Scharf wrote:
You are wrong because the country specific prepaid SIM cards usually don't work outside of that country. Are you sure about that? UK prepaid SIMs have worked abroad for several years now- it's more expensive than roaming on contract, and some providers limit the countries to ones that operate the CAMEL system (most of Europe has at least one provider in a country that uses this), but it can be done. David -- David Horne- (website under reconstruction) davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk |
#9
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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
"David Horne" wrote in message news:1ga8i5g.45e2dn1wom6ywN%this_address_is_for_sp ... Steven M. Scharf wrote: You are wrong because the country specific prepaid SIM cards usually don't work outside of that country. Are you sure about that? UK prepaid SIMs have worked abroad for several years now- it's more expensive than roaming on contract, and some providers limit the countries to ones that operate the CAMEL system (most of Europe has at least one provider in a country that uses this), but it can be done. No I'm not sure. I looked at some of the cards and their coverage maps, but not all of them. |
#10
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Another Word on Mobile (Cell) GSM Phones in Europe
Steven M. Scharf wrote:
"David Horne" wrote in message news:1ga8i5g.45e2dn1wom6ywN%this_address_is_for_sp ... Steven M. Scharf wrote: You are wrong because the country specific prepaid SIM cards usually don't work outside of that country. Are you sure about that? UK prepaid SIMs have worked abroad for several years now- it's more expensive than roaming on contract, and some providers limit the countries to ones that operate the CAMEL system (most of Europe has at least one provider in a country that uses this), but it can be done. No I'm not sure. I looked at some of the cards and their coverage maps, but not all of them. Well, the first two I looked at randomly (Vodafone Spain and Orange France- because I figured out what their web addresses would be) indicate that they roam abroad, at least in Europe. It might be cheaper too- even though it's still expensive. David -- David Horne- (website under reconstruction) davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk |
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