I went on a eurotrip last summer and used a service similar to what gfunkdave was referring to in an earlier post. I have a Cingular phone (so it's GSM), and if you have been a paying customer for six months, Cingular will send you an unlock code for your phone. I unlocked my phone and got a prepaid SIM card. I did the math and a prepaid SIM is much cheaper than international roaming. Worked really well everywhere I went in western and eastern europe. The company is called OneSimCard. Hope this helps
I went ahead and did the FREE +44 card from United Mobile. My VOIP providor charges .15 to that number, so I just forward it directly to my +44 number when out of the country and then I give my VOIP number to F&F.
My VOIP providor, net2phone is charging that. I have them only since Sunrocket went belly up last year, and net2phone offered 1 YEAR FREE to Sunrocket refugees. I think my time is up sometime, like, now so not sure if I will keep it.
Guys, maybe you could help me out? I'll read the thread, promise, but it's over 20 pages long and I'm at work...so maybe there'll be a response already before I make it all the way through.
I'm going to England, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands for two weeks. I will need to call phone numbers in presumably all these countries (possibly minus Luxembourg, but I'll probably need to call a German number when I'm there), as well as the States. What's the best card for me to get? I have AT&T in the States.
Last edited by highlanderfil; Aug 15, 08 at 2:23 pm.
Guys, maybe you could help me out? I'll read the thread, promise, but it's over 20 pages long and I'm at work...so maybe there'll be a response already before I make it all the way through.
I'm going to England, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands for two weeks. I will need to call phone numbers in presumably all these countries (possibly minus Luxembourg, but I'll probably need to call a German number when I'm there), as well as the States. What's the best card for me to get? I have AT&T in the States.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jedison
I just finished a trip to Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Dubai, Nairobi and Kigali (Rwanda) and used a sim card from ekit. It worked in all of those places except for Rwanda and I got it for about $17 with $20 of airtime. It's a bit steep in some places but cheap in others (in some countries it's free to receive a call). The web site for the SIM cards is www.ekit.com. I purchased the card from http://www.travellerspoint.com/sim-c...stinations.cfm.
The card worked flawlessly, and I found it perfect for emergencies or just quick "I've arrived" calls when I can't get Skype running. In Rwanda I bought a local sim card for $1.
goalie-sis just used a sim from ekit on her trip to dub, fra & ams and it worked flawlessly . she ordered from them & they sent the sim to her in va in about 3 days. i sent her my back-up phone (unlocked u.s. tri-band nokia 6102) & she activated the sim prior to leaving on her trip and that was it. it also comes with an option for u.s. residents (and other countries i believe) to dial a toll free number and then enter the mobile number thus saving the u.s. caller $$$. yes, as jedison says, it's a bit steep in some places but overall, it's quite simple to get and set up
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We're traveling throughout Italy for about 3 weeks next month. Mrs. Road King is driving me nuts to do some kind of cell phone arrangement while there. (has to do with a new 2 week old grandson!) I've done research on my own and skimmed all 23 pages of this post. I think I have an idea, based on how we wish to use a cell, but wanted to run it past you guys.
My nephew bought a Motorola Razr while serving in Iraq. He's bringing it to me tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure it's unlocked and would work in Italy. We would prefer to have a US 800 #, so the kids wouldn't have to pay for an international call. At the same time, we obviously would like to have a decent rate from Italy back to the US. (something like having your cake and eating it too!)
This is what looks like it fits best:
RangeRoamer's service provides you with two phone numbers, both of which ring to your cell phone. The European number allows you to receive calls for free in 40 countries, but the person calling you will be dialing an international number. Your service also comes with a US-based toll-free number that we uniquely assign to you. When people call you on this number, they don't pay anything and it will connect directly to you, but you will pay for receiving the call. The benefits of the toll-free number are that everyone knows how to dial a toll-free number, people in the US won't pay expensive international charges for calling you, and they don't need a special calling plan either. Rates on incoming from US are .69@min ; outgoing to the US are .79@min ; and local incoming in Italy are free. A card with approx. 90 minutes prepaid would cost 89.00.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to be clear on our situation. I would definately welcome any thoughts or different ideas. Thanks in advance for your help.
The European number allows you to receive calls for free in 40 countries, but the person calling you will be dialing an international number. . .The benefits of the toll-free number are that everyone knows how to dial a toll-free number, people in the US won't pay expensive international charges for calling you,
Road King, I think the literature you quote is somewhat condescending. How difficult is it to dial an international call?
In order to direct dial the Paris Hilton, for example, you dial 011-33-1-44 38 56 00. The people who need to call you can get discount plans from Verizon, AT&T, etc. for a month or more where they'll probably pay 10 cents a minute
Or, you can have those involved buy phone cards or sign up for a discount service, e.g., http://www.pennytalk.com/. I suggest that you get an Italian number. There is a definite value in having a European number while visiting Europe.
We would prefer to have a US 800 #, so the kids wouldn't have to pay for an international call. At the same time, we obviously would like to have a decent rate from Italy back to the US. (something like having your cake and eating it too!)
One of the cheapest rates I know of for this circumstance is 10-10-987, which requires no signing up, no contracts, and no prepayment--it's billed on the caller's regular phone bill. From the US to a mobile in Italy would be 53 cents connection fee plus 18 cents/minute. On your end, incoming calls would be free. Overall this would probably be the least expensive option, and if you want to you can always send the kids money to cover it.
Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with them in any way, but I have relatives who use it and have been happy with it.
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Or look for prepaid calling cards for sale here in the US before you leave, and give them a gift or have them buy one. They wind up averaging from 2 to 4 cents per minute calling over to Europe. However, I believe that calling a mobile phone number in Europe (even a prepaid one), costs more. I believe all incoming calls are free, even w/ prepaid sim cards. Not sure about that.
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Road King, I think the literature you quote is somewhat condescending. How difficult is it to dial an international call?
There is a definite value in having a European number while visiting Europe.
Landing Gear:
RangeRoamer's service provides you with two phone numbers, both of which ring to your cell phone. The European number allows you to receive calls for free in 40 countries. Your service also comes with a US-based toll-free number that we uniquely assign to you.
I think after further review, we will get an Italian Sim card for the GSM phone and have the kids use 10-10-987. Connection fee of .53 and .18 @min to a cell phone sounds pretty good to me.
O' Knowledgeable SIM Card Gods-
I've decided to go with a UK SIM card on this trip instead of using int'l roaming on my 8525.
I have the unlock code and am pretty sure I know how to unlock it once I insert the foreign SIM card.
Does anyone have recommendations on which provider to go with if I'm going to be in the England, N. Ireland, and Ireland? I'll make some UK/Ireland calls, but mostly calls back to the US.
I am looking for a prepaid SIM card that allows data transfers for my next trip to Germany. Does anyone know anything about the T-Mobile Xtra web-n-walk? According to their web site, you can get unlimited data for €4.95 a day. Quite expensive, but cheaper than what most hotels charge for Internet access at your room, plus I get to use it anywhere.
The site says something about this being an online offer only. Does anyone knows if this offer is available at a regular T-Mobile store, where I could get a SIM card and preload it with enough credit for my trip?
. she ordered from them & they sent the sim to her in va in about 3 days. i sent her my back-up phone (unlocked u.s. tri-band nokia 6102) & she activated the sim prior to leaving on her trip and that was it. it also comes with an option for u.s. residents (and other countries i believe) to dial a toll free number and then enter the mobile number thus saving the u.s. caller $$$. yes, as jedison says, it's a bit steep in some places but overall, it's quite simple to get and set up
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Italy trip Oct. 3
I've done research on my own and skimmed all 23 pages of this post. I think 
I have an idea, based on how we wish to use a cell, but wanted to run it past you guys.
