xolinlevh

so for those of you who followed my other thread, i am leaving for a study abroad trip this weekend, which will last for 2 months around the Mediterranean and north Africa. i just picked up a Blackberry 8220 and am getting it unlocked tomorrow. Id like to pick up a prepaid sim to use while abroad to keep in touch with my family. ive been surfing a few online but its confusing. ive seen these 2 so far:
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geogr.../dp/B0021L9JDU

http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=MSIM-EX01

does anyone know if these are any good? can anyone recommend any others?

wijomas

I use GeoSIM from Global Sim Card.

http://www.globalsimcard.co.uk/index.php

Never had any issues with it but have not used it in Africa before so unsure what the coverage is like there.

ETA: Also, I doubt you'd get it in time!

xolinlevh

Do those offer US phone numbers or just UK ones? and if i really want im sure they do overnight shipping?

wijomas

Yes they do offer US numbers but the incoming call rate is slightly higher. Not sure about overnight shipping as I'm in NZ where nothing is overnight!

xolinlevh

just tried to order, they only offer standard shipping, 7-10 business days =/ to late for me. darn it! know of any other good companies?

wijomas

I've also heard MaxROAM isn't too bad, but they don't offer any free incoming call destinations I don't think (but that's not so bad as you're after a US number anyway.)

I used to use United Mobile but unfortunately they went into liquidation.

weekilter

I can tell you right now that telestial is not a good deal. They buy SIM cards and put a 50% of more mark up for the convenience they give you.

You say you are going around "the Mediterranean and north Africa." How long will you be in any one location? If you're more than a few days in one location it's cheaper to get a local prepaid card if you're going to be four or five days it's cheaper to get a new card in each country than get an international card. International cards are good for convenience, but not good for making many calls. Many times the local country SIMs will give you some starter credit with the initial account.

If you must use an international SIM look here:

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html

Telestial is definitely not a good deal.

GrazieRoma

I have used this for about a year and it has proved to be a huge cost savings to me. I have my wife call me on the UK number with a calling card. My incoming calls are free where I go (usually Europe) and it costs her about $0.15 a minute to call me. While not inexpensive to call out ($0.90 I believe), I use it for incoming calls mostly.^

Black Adder

Welcome to Flyertalk, GrazieRoma! Your name reminds me of the song of the same name that I got to know in the summer of '83 along with a beautiful redhead, sigh.

joelfreak

Truphone anywhere is pretty good if you won't be in a country for too long, and it others data (at $1/mb, not cheap, but ok to check email quickly).

Dubai Stu

But does Truphone give you access to the Blackberry APN? Blackberries aren't the best phone for prepaid wanderings because they don't work (data wise) with generic data packages.