Need Advice-Smartphone 4 countries
Jun 9, 2012 | 2:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 36
Need Advice-Smartphone 4 countries
I will be in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and London over a two week vacation and I need to keep in touch with work and have an internet connection for Google maps, translate etc... I am with Verizon with a Droid here. What is the best way to go? Verizon's rental phone service? some other rental? buy a cheapie?
Also, is there any one carrier that can cover all these places at a reasonable cost?
Also, is there any one carrier that can cover all these places at a reasonable cost?
Jun 9, 2012 | 3:27 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: Alaska mvp G, AA Exec Plat, Marriott/SPG platinum, United Silver, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 165
Go with a gsm phone with prepaid minutes
This will help
http://goeurope.about.com/cs/staying..._phone_buy.htm
This will help
http://goeurope.about.com/cs/staying..._phone_buy.htm
Jun 9, 2012 | 5:21 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MCO/FRA
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 799
Which `droid?
In the interim I'd look for a cheap GSM smartphone and decent PAYG SIM.
Craigslist should yield the phone for ~$150 or less and PAYG SIMs can be had almost any where once you hit the ground.
In the interim I'd look for a cheap GSM smartphone and decent PAYG SIM.
Craigslist should yield the phone for ~$150 or less and PAYG SIMs can be had almost any where once you hit the ground.
Jun 9, 2012 | 10:31 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 36
Anyone tried a mobile hotspot with Skype?
I saw an ad for a british firm Tep that rents a hotspot mifi for use anywhere in Europe for like $10/day with 50 mb per day. Could I just turn off the phone section of my Droid Razr Max and use Skype to call anyone I need to call?
I have no idea how data intensive a voice skype call is.
I have no idea how data intensive a voice skype call is.
Jun 10, 2012 | 5:43 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 582
That's $5/MB = Highway robbery. That will not get you far, if you plan on using skype on it.
I saw an ad for a british firm Tep that rents a hotspot mifi for use anywhere in Europe for like $10/day with 50 mb per day. Could I just turn off the phone section of my Droid Razr Max and use Skype to call anyone I need to call?
I have no idea how data intensive a voice skype call is.
I have no idea how data intensive a voice skype call is.
Jun 10, 2012 | 6:06 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MCO/FRA
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 799
I saw an ad for a british firm Tep that rents a hotspot mifi for use anywhere in Europe for like $10/day with 50 mb per day. Could I just turn off the phone section of my Droid Razr Max and use Skype to call anyone I need to call?
I have no idea how data intensive a voice skype call is.
I have no idea how data intensive a voice skype call is.
I was lazy and only checked 1 place BUT 3 offers:
3000 texts and 300 minutes plus all-you-can-eat data for just 15 ($23USD) So if you are in London more then 3 days a local PAYG SIM is cheaper.
You can get a unlocked mifi device fairly cheap and go that route across all 4 countries.
From Skypes support pages:
Jun 11, 2012 | 8:07 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: MCO/FRA
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 799
Which Service? The mifi or just decent PAYG deals?
MiFi: Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 runs about $60 on amazon
Germany: vodafone, T-Mobile, aldi talk, just so many everywhere.
Swiss: Orange
Austria: T-Mobile, Orange, bob, yesss
MiFi: Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 runs about $60 on amazon
Germany: vodafone, T-Mobile, aldi talk, just so many everywhere.
Swiss: Orange
Austria: T-Mobile, Orange, bob, yesss