If your BB is from Verizion it is not GSM. You can buy unlocked here in the states that you can use in Europe.
I have used www.importgsm.com. They are just as expensive as a phone in Europe, but they give you a warranty with the phone. This is something most e-bay sellers won't do. You then buy a sim card in the country that you are in, or buy one of the many international cards on sale. A good source of information is www.prepaidgsm.net they have most sim cards listed and the rates. I hope this helps.
Actually, the blackberry could be GSM as well. Verizon has a Dual-Band GSM phone. So if the BB is the BlackBerry® 8830 World Edition Smartphone, then it can work on a GSM network. But Verizon's other Blackberries are not GSM.
Actually, the blackberry could be GSM as well. Verizon has a Dual-Band GSM phone. So if the BB is the BlackBerry® 8830 World Edition Smartphone, then it can work on a GSM network. But Verizon's other Blackberries are not GSM.
I'm starting to like the vodaphone germany plans, and the UK are not too far behind.
they have just introduced a plan call passport, which allows for european roaming, including UK for .75 euro a call, and then one uses either their prepaid minutes, or minutes included in a monthly plan. So, a one minute call while roaming in Switzerland is .80-.85 for the first minute, but then only regular rates per minute for future calls. As well, the group calling features work apparently with this plan, so the one number deals would allow for fairly cheap euro zone roaming.
Read the fine print!
That is only when calling TO your phone and when you are roaming on a vodaphone approved for passport network. The tick is to not allow your phone to roam automatically but roam manually and pick the network that is on the vodaphone list of participating networks or you could be in for a very nasty surprise. Calls from your phone and BACK to the country where the cellnumber belong. I believe it is also for calls within the country you visit. But if your number is german, you're in spain and you call france - you pay premium rates.
Passport has been around in UK for quite a while. It started on paymonthly plans and can now be added to oreoay sims as wel.
I still think the free-roaming sims are the best deal.
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I have VZW for my wireless, and SBC/ATT for home. I was able to "add" a low-cost cell phone to my home service as part of a "bundle", as a result of which my total home phone etc. bill went down, and get a RAZR free. The RAZR is quad band, and AT&T will send me a code to unlock it.
So, for no money, I have an unlocked quad band phone. I've bought a TIM sim card via Telestial (yes, I know I could have gotten it cheaper in Italy, but I needed to distribute the # before I leave home), and should be ready to go. Plus, I only have to have the one phone - I can use it all the way to departure on my first flight if needed, switch the chip en route, and be ready immediately when I land in Europe.
That is only when calling TO your phone and when you are roaming on a vodaphone approved for passport network. The tick is to not allow your phone to roam automatically but roam manually and pick the network that is on the vodaphone list of participating networks or you could be in for a very nasty surprise. Calls from your phone and BACK to the country where the cellnumber belong. I believe it is also for calls within the country you visit. But if your number is german, you're in spain and you call france - you pay premium rates.
Passport has been around in UK for quite a while. It started on paymonthly plans and can now be added to oreoay sims as wel.
I still think the free-roaming sims are the best deal.
I'm just starting to learn about this stuff, so I may be off base, but I found a press release at http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_..._vodafone.html that says "tomorrow onwards it will be available in all the mobile networks of 33 countries in total; that's the 27 EU countries plus popular holiday destinations such as Turkey, Switzerland and Egypt."
Rates are typically 75 euro cents plus 29 euro cents per minute for prepaid.
This looks good to me. Am I missing something?
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Oh, what a tangled web weave we, when first we try to fly for free.
I'd recommend blauworld.de to any traveller visiting Germany. VERY cheap calls to any country ( 9ct. /min. to the US ), reasonable price for calls within Germany, but expensive for calls if you take the phone outside of Germany and call from there.
united-mobile sims are working well, +44 area code now, seems to be working fine in Italy, Portugal, France and Germany for me now. Haven't tried GB yet
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I just got back from London/Amsterdam having used the Telestial Passport Plus, which appeared to work fine. Calls to the phone from the U.S. are free via an 800 number, but it costs US$.30 to receive them...still not an outrageous sum, I didn't think.
The beauty of it is that you get a UK number and your minutes don't expire for a year, as opposed to the 90 day expiration from most SIM companies.
You can auto-top-up or top up online OR simply dial 154 from your phone. Their customer service was awesome. I'd recommend 'em.
For folks asking what phone to buy: the term you want is "unlocked gsm phone." "Quad-band" is also a good search term (this means your phone will work in more countries, basically.) Two phones that will work: Treo 650; Motorola Razr V3, the basic flavor of which is available for around $150. Not bad, considering they were $500 a few years ago.
Many cell stores will unlock your phone free if you buy a SIM card from them (a "locked" phone is a phone you buy from Cingular, Sprint or the like, that works only on their network.) Be aware that Verizon-branded phones do not use SIM cards, so you'll need a new phone if you're trying to unlock one you bought there.
Awesome post by Landing Gear. I did this last week and it went smoothly; despite a dozen or so trips to Paris, this bit of advice:
Quote:
No matter how phone savvy you are, I would ask the guy nicely, if he wouldn't mind activating the card for you. There may be the usual way of doing things but then there is the French way.
... is absolutely essential. I've usually rehearsed what I'm going to (try to) say in French before I reach the person I'm going to say it to, but today I was reminded of this bit of Must Have Info: pleasantries first, then business! I went to buy a carnet in the Metro, and the first response I got was basically "dit quoi?" ... then she interrupted me and emphasized Bonjour ... and invited me to ask again, AFTER saying hello first!
Thanks again for a terrific post, very well researched and helpful.
Awesome post by Landing Gear. I did this last week and it went smoothly; despite a dozen or so trips to Paris, this bit of advice:
... is absolutely essential. I've usually rehearsed what I'm going to (try to) say in French before I reach the person I'm going to say it to, but today I was reminded of this bit of Must Have Info: pleasantries first, then business! I went to buy a carnet in the Metro, and the first response I got was basically "dit quoi?" ... then she interrupted me and emphasized Bonjour ... and invited me to ask again, AFTER saying hello first!
Thanks again for a terrific post, very well researched and helpful.
Welcome back to the USA!
It's my pleasure to help you, JM, and glad you had a good trip.
When I was a kid and my parents took me to France, I only knew two words in French, "bonjour" and "merci." Everyone was so nice to me that I eventually learned a lot more.
In case you didn't see, I have posted another thread where Motorola is now selling unlocked GSM phones direct to consumers.
