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11 Feb 09 - 03:30 AM (#2563544) Subject: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: Rapparee My wife (who might be in Europe twice this year and once next) would like to know: 1. Does each "area code" in Europe require its own SIM card, or could the same SIM card be used? For example, if she buys a card in Ireland (087) can it also be used in France? 2. If the answer to #1 is yes, how much more might the calls cost if made outside the "home area"? 3. She plans to buy an "unlocked" phone here and take it with her. Does this seem like a viable plan? Thanks for your help! |
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11 Feb 09 - 04:27 AM (#2563582) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: Anne Lister You can use the same SIM card for calls throughout Europe as long as you have set up "international roaming". Calls outside your "home" area are significantly more expensive but the precise cost depends on the company you're using - I think there are price comparison websites available. She could buy an "unlocked" phone before coming over .. on the other hand, I believe there are some pretty cheap deals available everywhere on a basic phone deal. Two ways to go: contract and Pay As You Go. Pay As You Go allows the most flexibility in your circumstances. Hope this is useful - others may be even more informative! Anne |
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11 Feb 09 - 04:55 AM (#2563601) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: John MacKenzie This is interesting, and may be of some help. |
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11 Feb 09 - 05:01 AM (#2563604) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: GUEST,Elfcall I am currently with Virgin here in the UK with an international roaming SIM - I pay as I go. When In France (I go about every 3 weeks) the provider will change wherever I am travelling - orange, bougeytel(sp.) and others. Often they will change in the same area. My wife has exactly the same set up but is usually on a different provider than me! Calls are not cheap when compared with domestic calls and of course you pay for incoming texts and calls too. We have often talk about buying cheap pay as you go phones for when we are in France but we simply do not make or take that many calls. Elfcall |
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11 Feb 09 - 06:42 AM (#2563658) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: akenaton |
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11 Feb 09 - 08:10 AM (#2563704) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: Leadfingers A Quad band phone will work in USA or Europe ! |
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11 Feb 09 - 08:23 AM (#2563713) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: Amos International gallivanting with an iPhone. A |
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11 Feb 09 - 07:24 PM (#2564437) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: John on the Sunset Coast Hey Rapaire, your wife need a porter for those trips? Especially if she's going anywhere near Amsterdam. I work cheap. |
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11 Feb 09 - 07:54 PM (#2564459) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: Rapparee No, just Ireland, France, and England. Sorry 'bout that. |
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11 Feb 09 - 08:27 PM (#2564486) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: McGrath of Harlow It might actually be better switching Sim cards between countries, depending how she's using her phone. (I mean, whether she was making many local calls within the country, or mostly international calls back home.) |
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11 Feb 09 - 10:39 PM (#2564568) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: Rapparee I'd better admit that she and I will be heading to Ireland together on March 5 for a week. But the other two trips she's on her own -- one this July to Moulehouse, France to help in the Museum of Printed Fabrics and another next year for the V&N Museum exhibit on fabrics. |
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12 Feb 09 - 12:43 AM (#2564616) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: Amos Mulhouse. Near the German border. Spent a summer near there as a sprat. A |
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12 Feb 09 - 01:25 AM (#2564624) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: M.Ted Here is the peculiar European cell phone arrangement I've worked out over the years--it's cheap and good: I carry several GSM phones with me and buy a couple of cheapest available SIM card in whatever country I am in(one for me, one for my wife)--I also carry a phone that always has a Mobal world wide pay-as-you go card that is billed to Paypal as I use it--no monthly fee, no need to buy minutes in advance. I use it from the minute I hit the ground until I get the local SIMs for the other phones. Available free here: Free Mobal GSM SIM Card I've accumulated the phones over time from online vendors--you can get useable unlocked GSM phones for as little as $20, if you don't mind that they are aren't the latest gizmo. I actually keep a small 4-band in my backpack for those odd times here in the US when my battery is dead and I need to make a call. A word of warning: DON'T RENT A PHONE OR SIM CARD IN FRANCE -AND, ESPECIALLY DON'T RENT FROM FONEQUEST!!!! You can be stuck for an amazing amount of money, instantaneously--Orange SIMS are available there, and, are good, but the French cf rates are not as good as you'll find in other countries. |
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12 Feb 09 - 07:21 AM (#2564779) Subject: RE: BS: Mobile Phones In Europe From: M.Ted To answer the questions: 1. Some sim cards, like Orange, will work in UK, Ireland, and France, but won't be the cheapest. Others will only work in one country. 2. You have to check the rates for each card to determine what the charges are in which countries. You can find them online, or on the pile of papers they give you when you buy the cards. 3. Buy the phones here--but, with the exception of the Mobal card, buy the SIMs in Europe--you can get the cards there in convenience stores for the equivalent of $5-10 in convenience stores and gas stations, etc, (you then buy the time, the same way you do here) but if you buy, say, an Orange sim here in the US it will cost you $50 or more-- You have to shop around a bit to find the rate arrangement that works best for you. In London, you can buy calling cards that allow you to call the US for very little--I bought a card that gave me 455 min for 5 pounds--I used it with a T-Mobile SIM that allowed me unlimited length calls after 7pm, but only charged me for the first 5 minutes--this little arrangement was pointed out to me by the clerk in a newstand-- A neighbor of mine thought I went to too much trouble, because she'd seen ads that said you could use your American Verizon phone in the UK --and you often can, but for $2.75 per minute. Skype is also a possibility, but you have to have an internet connection-- |