SIM for UK and Germany?
Dec 9, 2004 | 12:00 pm
#1
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SIM for UK and Germany?
My apologies if this is a frequently asked question, but I haven't found a response through any search I can come up with. I'll be traveling in Europe the next two weeks, with a Cingular Moto V600 World Phone (which Cingular assures me is unlocked). I'll mostly be in London with a few days in Germany, although I expect to spend more time in Germany in the future.
Is it possible to get a prepaid SIM card that provides reasonable rates for local calling in both Germany and the UK? Extra points for ones available in London, where I'll be first.
Thanks!
Is it possible to get a prepaid SIM card that provides reasonable rates for local calling in both Germany and the UK? Extra points for ones available in London, where I'll be first.
Thanks!
Dec 9, 2004 | 1:11 pm
#2
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Hmmmmmmmm... I thought the only phone Cingular sold unlocked was the new Moto Razr.
I can't help directly because I have only bought SIMs in Canada. Besides here, you may some useful info by posting at the Howard Forums world thread
I can't help directly because I have only bought SIMs in Canada. Besides here, you may some useful info by posting at the Howard Forums world thread
Dec 9, 2004 | 1:25 pm
#3
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I've read that Cingular sells all of their World Phones unlocked.
For a trip of a couple of weeks I'd think hard about how much I planned to use the phone. The sunk cost of a SIM (buying the SIM with a minimal number of minutes, recharging, the prepaid balance that will remain unused when you come back home) mean that if you'll be using the phone less than 30-40 minutes during your trip you're better off just roaming at around a dollar a minute.
I think you'll be in for two SIMs since if you can get your UK SIM to work in Germany it won't be at the same cheap rate as in the UK.
For a trip of a couple of weeks I'd think hard about how much I planned to use the phone. The sunk cost of a SIM (buying the SIM with a minimal number of minutes, recharging, the prepaid balance that will remain unused when you come back home) mean that if you'll be using the phone less than 30-40 minutes during your trip you're better off just roaming at around a dollar a minute.
I think you'll be in for two SIMs since if you can get your UK SIM to work in Germany it won't be at the same cheap rate as in the UK.
Dec 9, 2004 | 9:33 pm
#4
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Get a Virgin prepaid sim for 10 quid in London at any cell phone joint (or even at Heathrow or Gatwick) and you'll be set - great local/national/int. rates (even to the US.) And it' easily rechargable. But DON'T use it in Germany!! Crazy high roaming rates. For Germany, I haven't found nearly as good a deal for a prepaid SIM - usually the min. to buy is about 30 euro. You may be better off roaming on Cingular there unless you are making a whole lot of local (in Germany) calls.
Dec 10, 2004 | 6:19 pm
#5
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Germany
Last time I was in Germany I bought a prepaid Vodafone CallYa Basic SIM card. My cellphone is unlocked - so everything works seamlessly. Rate varies, but here's a good website to check for current prepaid offers for many countries:
http://www.prepaidgsm.net
Unfortunately I don't know of any SIM cards that will give you the most values in both UK and Germany - you'll probably do better if you buy one for each specific country. Check out O2 as well - heard great things about it.
Hope this helps!
Jamester
http://www.prepaidgsm.net
Unfortunately I don't know of any SIM cards that will give you the most values in both UK and Germany - you'll probably do better if you buy one for each specific country. Check out O2 as well - heard great things about it.
Hope this helps!
Jamester
Dec 11, 2004 | 1:05 pm
#6
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There are a couple from Monaco that will be a bit cheaper than roaming in either country but a lot more than getting a prepaid card for each country. Basically, you will need two SIMs or roam on Cingular. For the UK either Orange or Virgin have great rates. I think you can roam in Germany with Orange (I know you can with Vodafone UK but that is more than the Orange or Virgin rates) but it will cost more than roaming with Cingular I suspect. Im pretty skeptical that the phone is unlocked by the way. I would check on Howard Forums in the Cingular forum and see if anyone knows about it for sure.
Dec 14, 2004 | 6:04 am
#8
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Thanks everyone. I ended up deciding to just go the two-SIM route. Grabbed one from e-plus here in Berlin (as it was cheap and I won't be using it that much) and will pick one up from one of the providers in London when I return there tomorrow. That is, if I can ever find a cell shop in London that isn't closed! (Saturday and Sunday are probably poor sample days...)
Oh, and my Cingular V600 is, quite conveniently, unlocked. That may be the first time a cell company has told me something good that turned out to be true . . .
d.
Oh, and my Cingular V600 is, quite conveniently, unlocked. That may be the first time a cell company has told me something good that turned out to be true . . .
d.
Dec 14, 2004 | 8:36 am
#9
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Originally Posted by dtremit
Thanks everyone. I ended up deciding to just go the two-SIM route. Grabbed one from e-plus here in Berlin (as it was cheap and I won't be using it that much) and will pick one up from one of the providers in London when I return there tomorrow. That is, if I can ever find a cell shop in London that isn't closed! (Saturday and Sunday are probably poor sample days...)
Oh, and my Cingular V600 is, quite conveniently, unlocked. That may be the first time a cell company has told me something good that turned out to be true . . .
d.
Oh, and my Cingular V600 is, quite conveniently, unlocked. That may be the first time a cell company has told me something good that turned out to be true . . .
d.
Dec 14, 2004 | 8:38 am
#10
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Originally Posted by pdhenry
I've read that Cingular sells all of their World Phones unlocked.
--Ben
edit: typos