Africa - using my USA cell phone in South Africa

My wife and I are technologically illiterate when it comes to overseas use of our cell phones. I've heard about SIM cards and such, but never bothered to figure it out.

But we're headed to South Africa for a few weeks next month and need cellphone service -- especially to make int'l calls. My wife has an iphone paid for by her company with (I think) ATT service. I have a Samsung Android phone with T-mobile. What are our best options -- considering reliability, ease of set up and cost? I recall there's a way to use the data feature to call for free if you have internet access, but that doesn't seem like quite enough coverage (at least for both phones).

We're also going to be in Zimbabwe and Zambia for a few days, but I figure I'll just stay "unconnected" there.

Thanks!

I'll start with the end and work backwards. I can't help with Zim or Zambia.

You're talking about cell phone coverage - e.g. to me that means voice calls. So, unless I missed something you don't seem to need data access for emails and surfing the web while in SA. That's a good thing. There's much better things to be looking at out the window than on a small iPhone screen.

FOR PHONE ACCESS
What I'd do is get a SIM unlocked regular phone that works in South Africa (something like this http://goo.gl/jyBcg ). Then upon arrival in SA, get yourself a local pay as you go SIM from one of the providers MTN, Voda, Cell-C. You'll have a local number in SA that people call call you at both from the US as well as from SA. And, you'll have a much cheaper (than your US carriers' - AT&T(?) and T-Mo) option for making and receiving both local (intra SA) and international calls. You can keep topping it up (adding value) to the phone as you go. If you leave a little ZAR "on the table" at the end of your trip, no big loss. The drawback will be that folks in the US calling you will have to pay international rates to call you. But, hey, they want to call you, right? If you're worried about having this number in advance, mention it in a follow-up post and I could point you to an idea or two I had in a previous post.

MAKE SURE US PHONE'S DATA (VIA THE SA CELL NETWORK) IS OFF, REPEAT OFF
As far as your US phones. Contact AT&T and T-Mo and make 100% sure that you know how turn all data services via the cell network OFF. Explain to the rep you're traveling international and want to make sure you understand how to do this (try it once or twice with a rep on the phone). You want to do it BEFORE you leave the US (do it in the terminal). Otherwise, simply turning on the phone on arrival in SA with data services on would - more than likely - incur costs (and the costs could be significant, depending on what data streams-in during those first few minutes in SA).

CALLS TO/FROM YOUR US PHONES WHILE IN SA, THIS IS YOUR PARAGRAPH
Make sure you also understand how to keep the "phone" part of your devices on so that you can still make and receive (EXPENSIVE) calls to/from your phone if absolutely necessary. Finally, vis the phone part, make sure they know you'll need to make and receive calls while in SA so that they can turn this "feature" on (some companies keep it off to prevent fraud). It should be a no-cost feature (it is on T-Mo) since they're making $ off you on the high-priced calls (I think T-Mo is a $1.99 per minute to make and receive calls while in SA, whether you're calling across the street or back to the US).

WANT DATA (EMAIL AND WEB SURFING) ON YOUR US PHONES READ THIS PARAGRAPH
You could also set up (again talk to the reps and have them walk you through it) your US devices to also ONLY receive data (email, web surfing) via WiFi. Doesn't sound like you need data access (see para 2, above). Admittedly, you'd have to be at a WiFi hotspot in SA (coffee shop, hotel, generous homeowner, airport, etc.) and may have to pay for said WiFi access, but it is a method to get data access to download emails and surf the web from your devices for far cheaper than international roaming data costs from AT&T and T-Mo.

FEELING TECHNICAL?
Finally, there are some stand alone iPhone apps (and certain T-Mo Phones) that allow you to make and receive calls using data access only (it's called VOIP for Voice over internet protocol) but that assumes a level of technical knowledge that you don't sound like you have. If you're familiar with computer programs such as Skype, you have the idea of how this works. Just think of this potential option (that you hint at in your initial inquiry) the "small" screen version of Skype running on your iPhone (or similarly, through your T-Mo phone). But, keep in mind that you (a) need data access to make and receive these VOIP calls - which will not be 100% since Wi-Fi isn't everywhere and (b) you would need, in some cases, added feature to this WOIP service - such as a Skype-In number to allow non-computer/tech savvy people to call you. Again, if this sounds too technical, skip this paragraph/option.

That's my setup when I'm in SA. Everyone knows my pay-go SA number (I've had it for almost a decade) and I use that day-to-day to text and call people in SA. Even some US-based contacts call me on it when I'm in SA on that number. And, for true "emergencies" or cheapskates, the US based folks call me on my US number, I see their number on caller ID and decide whether to take the call or not. If I'm expecting a call from someone important, I take it (and pay for it, dearly) and keep it very very short (in some cases, I can bill it back to the company or client). If not, I let it go to voicemail and ignore it. Most folks know when I'm over there and don't bother calling me unless it's an emergency. Plus, I also I have email access (not through my phones/devices, subject for another thread) to follow up with them via email if necessary (e.g. "Hey XXX, saw you called. Sorry, traveling internationally, what's up....?).

Post probably raises more questions, but happy to help..... and add on if necessary.






For the experts out there, yes, I know I should be on contract in SA for cheaper rates. Thanks. I'm fine with pay-go. Like I said, I don't have a lot of friends. Nobody talks to me anyway.

Thanks, jsnydcsa. I sure do wish this were easier! :)

I'm pretty certain my tmobile android is "unlocked." Does that mean it would work in South Africa with a South African SIM card? Or not necessarily?

If it would work, would there be some sort of "easy" prepaid plan I could sign up for? For example, in the USA, you can spend $30 and get unlimited text, day and 100 phone minutes. Anything like that in South Africa? And where's a good place to buy a SIM card in South Africa?

If getting a South African SIM card to work on my phone is not possible, it sounds like I might do better just leaving the phone home and bringing a tablet to access the internet whenever I could find free/cheap internet. I could also buy a prepaid phone in South Africa if I feel I need it for phone calls. Where would be the best place to do this?

Thanks for the help!

Thanks, jsnydcsa. I sure do wish this were easier! :)

It's actually pretty simple really. Don't fret.


I'm pretty certain my tmobile android is "unlocked." Does that mean it would work in South Africa with a South African SIM card? Or not necessarily?


Likely, yes. Most, if not all of the T-Mo phones I've owned / purchased in the US work on SA's networks. So, if it is SIM unlocked, you could theoretically, pop in a SA SIM and it would work. But, note, there are pay-go data plans for SA SIMs, you really don't want (need) it, you just want a phone. Why not find one of your old - Pre-T-Mo Android device - phones - you know, a basic phone, get it SIM unlocked and you're all set. You don't want anything complicated (hence the recommended simple phone in the previous post) for use with your SA SIM.

If it would work, would there be some sort of "easy" prepaid plan I could sign up for? For example, in the USA, you can spend $30 and get unlimited text, day and 100 phone minutes. Anything like that in South Africa? And where's a good place to buy a SIM card in South Africa?

Think of pay as you go as the "simple" pre-paid. You put some money (Rand) on your SIM and use it as you please, balance goes down and down and down until zero. Because of the nature of call pricing, you really can't put it in "minutes" terms, different calls to different numbers (cell v. landline, local v. international) cost different amounts. No phone company is going to offer you "100 minutes" of calling - where? 100 minutes of international calling, 100 minutes of local calling, 50/50? Check the Voda site http://goo.gl/a8XyR and MTN http://goo.gl/3qFZJ for info on rates

You'd be putting Rand - say a couple of hundred on your phone via the Top Up system. You buy an amount of rand to add and get a code, you follow some simple steps and enter into your phone that adds the value to your balance via the cell network, it's pretty simple.

You can buy a SIM for your SIM unlocked phone on arrival in SA at all the airports. You can top up just about anywhere, just buy a voucher. You can even do it at an ATM. Instead of getting cash, you get a voucher.



If getting a South African SIM card to work on my phone is not possible, it sounds like I might do better just leaving the phone home and bringing a tablet to access the internet whenever I could find free/cheap internet.


That's certainly an option - as long as you can find free/cheap internet access via WiFi, you'd be set and you're US phones could stay home (or off) throughout the trip (don't turn them on as "experiment - see my previous comment re: data use just turning the device on). Indeed, I have a WiFi/3G Apple iPad (AT&T) that I DON'T have data on. But, w/o issue, I was able ot get a SA Data SIM (via Vodacom) and used my iPad over the Voda network (as well as WiFi). It didn't get much data or pay too much attention, it was just an experiment, and it worked. But, I was fully able to check email, surf the web, etc. using the tablet and free/cheap wifi all over JNB, CPT and other major towns.



I could also buy a prepaid phone in South Africa if I feel I need it for phone calls. Where would be the best place to do this?

Don't buy a phone there. No need. Either get a SIM unlocked one cheap off e-bay here (PM me if this becomes a real big problem or is a terrible concern). Seriously, you should have an old phone lying around somewhere that works and keeps it real simple. If you don't want to have to deal with getting your own phone (and don't want to PM me), you can rent a phone and SIM on arrival at the airport from Voda, MTN or Cell-C. Use it, then return once heading out of SA. Don't take this the wrong way, but this is the "idiot-proof" way of doing it. They get everything set up for you while you wait, they give you a phone, a charger, maybe a headset all in a little carrier bag. The phone has got a SIM in it and it's ready to go. You give them your credit card and they charge your card for all the calls you make on your phone while you've got it. Simple.

If the iphone is with AT&T it will work there.I use my iphone G3S with AT&T and it works ok in South Africa. I send Text messages and can even do the internet. or data as they call it all OK.
:D ^

If the iphone is with AT&T it will work there.I use my iphone G3S with AT&T and it works ok in South Africa. I send Text messages and can even do the internet. or data as they call it all OK.
:D ^

How do I do a frowny face and thumbs down? Mr. Frosty must work in AT&T sales.

Yes, you can do it. But if you're doing data (that's what they call it) - email, web surfing and iphone apps gathering data in the background - over the mobile phone network, it'll cost you! Dearly. It'll even cost quite a bit to make and receive calls and texts from SA to SA or from SA back to the US.

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/affordable-world-packages.jsp#roaming

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/international-roaming.jsp

My AT&T worked fine in SA (well no worse than it works in the US), though it might have cost a bit.

Another option is you can rent a local phone at JNB airport when you arrive.

Thanks for all the S.A. phone/tablet suggestions.

So I'm bringing an ipad with me, which I put skype on. I'll try it when I have internet access, but I'm afraid that won't be too often. We're spending more than a week in Kruger, and I understand internet access is limited there.

So that leaves the phone. My son has a non-data T-mobile prepaid phone (he does have a text plan on it). Before I leave the USA, just pop the SIM card out of it "just to be safe," right? And then when I land in S. Africa. Buy a SIM card. Are the prices for these "fixed"? Where do I buy one and what do I ask for? Is there one company that has better service/lower int'l rates than others? (Like what about in Kruger?). I assume I automatically get a S. African phone number with the SIM kit. Anything else a non-techie should know?

BTW, when I have to make int'l calls from the USA, I typically use Startec, which is usually just a few pennies a minute. But I see a call to a S. African land line is about 8 cents, and to a S. African cell phone is almost a quarter a minute. That's almost real money! Any way for USA folks to make these calls for less? And about how much per minute should I expect a S. African cell phone call to the USA to cost? Thanks!

We're spending more than a week in Kruger, and I understand internet access is limited there.It is.

Where in Kruger?

Johan

There's a Vodafone shop for certain inJNB shortly after customs. Probably others. Anytime I've ever purchased a sim for my international "dumb" phone I use while traveling I've needed to provide a copy of my passport and an address in the country. No problem using a hotel address but often there isn't a copier at the kiosk so now I carry extra passport copies to avoid frustrations.