It was very simple, I had an old AT&T SIM that is inactive and the phone prompted me for the code and that was it. If you have a friend on T Mobile that SIM should work as well if you want to unlock in advance of your trip. After unlocking I just put my Cingular SIM back in and my phone worked. Later on I purchased an Orange SIM card later in Paris and the phone worked fine. Hard part was getting Cingular to give me the code.
BogeyMan,
Thanks for your heads-up.
Just to be sure. My Motorola V180 is an old ATT-Cingular phone that is not currently in use (No Service) as I have switched to a new phone (still same service) now. So, I can essentially unlock this phone with its current SIM (no need for a foreign SIM) in place, right?
BogeyMan,
Thanks for your heads-up.
Just to be sure. My Motorola V180 is an old ATT-Cingular phone that is not currently in use (No Service) as I have switched to a new phone (still same service) now. So, I can essentially unlock this phone with its current SIM (no need for a foreign SIM) in place, right?
Yes, that should work. My phone had current Cingular service so I needed another provider's SIM card. I didn't know anyone w Tmobile but found an old inactive ATT SIM that worked perfectly.
Yes, that should work. My phone had current Cingular service so I needed another provider's SIM card. I didn't know anyone w Tmobile but found an old inactive ATT SIM that worked perfectly.
BogeyMan,
If the unlocking is successful (have not tried it yet), I then purchase a prepaid SIM at a foreign destination, together with a local number, and that's it.
If the unlocking is successful (have not tried it yet), I then purchase a prepaid SIM at a foreign destination, together with a local number, and that's it.
Thanks
When I purchased my SIM card in Paris, I did ask the clerk to do the install/activation for me. Don't forget to buy additional minutes as well at the same time. After getting all set up I had to go stand in another line again to buy more minutes.
If you are visiting Ireland you can get a Meteor network sim card from a video rental company called Extravision for 20e which includes 20e of call credit, effectively free.
Got a Telestial Passport SIM card for my wife's GSM phone-she's currently in Rome this week for a weeklong school trip. Works fine for her so far. She's called and text messaged me with no problems. The auto recharge feature is a plus, so she doesn't have to worry about needing to recharge her account.
As an aside, she has a SE T637 with Cingular. I got the subsidy unlock code from Cingular, but didn't need it since the phone was already unlocked!
Does anyone have any advice regarding where to purchase a prepaid SIM card in CDG terminal 1? I've seen great advice on this forum for terminal 2, but nothing for terminal 1, where my flight will be arriving. I will be traveling solely in France, so orange/SFR would be fine.
Barring that, where else can one purchase prepaid SIM cards in France, in general? It sounds like refills are easy to purchase at Tabac shops, but not SIM cards. Do I need to go to a cell-company-branded store? I will be staying in the countryside, not in Paris.
Does anyone have any advice regarding where to purchase a prepaid SIM card in CDG terminal 1? I've seen great advice on this forum for terminal 2, but nothing for terminal 1, where my flight will be arriving. I will be traveling solely in France, so orange/SFR would be fine.
Barring that, where else can one purchase prepaid SIM cards in France, in general? It sounds like refills are easy to purchase at Tabac shops, but not SIM cards. Do I need to go to a cell-company-branded store? I will be staying in the countryside, not in Paris.
Thanks!
Hello Redtop.
As you noted, I have given lots of information about Terminal 2, but none about Terminal 1. I looked at the map for T1, http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/Adp/R...phase2_def.pdf, however, and it seems that Level 2 of that terminal is designated as the Shopping Area, also known as the Zone Publique. I would try there.
When you say you are going to "the countryside," could you be a bit more specific? If we can locate a branch of an electronics chain like FNAC or Darty, or certain other stores, you'll be set.
Hey folks
My dad is going to Spain and France for two weeks.
What is the best SIM card to buy for an unlocked GSM phone?
and
What plan is best?
They probably won't use it much at all as they are 65+ and technophobes, but they need a phone to call apartments and hotels.
I know Telestial sells the SIM cards, but the markup is outrageous and usually you can buy a SIM in the airport or at a market...
Thanks for the advice!
Kevin
Without having certain information (which I'll get to in a moment), my suggestion is two separate prepaid SIM cards, one for each country.
I've mentioned previously in this thread that I haven't been a prepaid customer of Orange for a few years because I switched to a regular account. A few years ago, when you had a prepaid account on Orange (it's called Mobicarte), they allowed only very limited roaming outside France (only calls to and from France). I don't know what the policy is now, because it doesn't affect me. When I go to Switzerland, for example, I use my permanent French number.
Take a look at the Orange website, www.orange.fr and look for the Mobicarte service. If your question is not answered (and this is not the most user-friendly website), send them an e-mail and try to keep it in simple English if you cannot write it in French.
I am terribly sorry, but I know nothing about cellular service in Spain. There may be someone at www.howardforums.com who could help, but the Europe section is not very active.
I haven't been able to find good info about mobile phones in S. Korea. Are SIM cards available there?
I have a Nokia 3120, GSM phone that is unlocked. Will that work?
Thanks for any info you can offer.
I haven't been able to find good info about mobile phones in S. Korea. Are SIM cards available there?
I have a Nokia 3120, GSM phone that is unlocked. Will that work?
Thanks for any info you can offer.
I haven't refreshed my memory in a while on this, but I thought S. Korea is 2100 MHz 3G network only, no GSM stuff that runs on 850, 900, 1800, or 1900.
She's called and text messaged me with no problems. The auto recharge feature is a plus, so she doesn't have to worry about needing to recharge her account. 
