The Global SIM Card Thread-- Global Members, all please chime in.
May 11, 2005, 10:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: ORD
Programs: UA *G
Posts: 1,720
The Global SIM Card Thread-- Global Members, all please chime in.
Hi Everybody!
I have an interesting idea. Why doesn't everyone who is in a particular country (who is able) offer to buy SIM cards for other FT members, just collecting the price of the SIM card and the price of shipping to the particular destination. This way, you don't have to pay inflated prices, or worry about not knowing your number.
I'll start, if anyone goes to Serbia, I can get you a Mobtel or Telekom Srbija SIM Card. Telekom Srbija will cost you ~ $18 with shipping to the states (I make no money on this)
Mobtel will be about $20 with shipping.
If you go to Bosnia and Herzegovina- about $25 for a GSMBIH SIM Card. These are the countries I have access to SIM Cards in, even though it's much easier for me to get a Serbian SIM Card.
I have an interesting idea. Why doesn't everyone who is in a particular country (who is able) offer to buy SIM cards for other FT members, just collecting the price of the SIM card and the price of shipping to the particular destination. This way, you don't have to pay inflated prices, or worry about not knowing your number.
I'll start, if anyone goes to Serbia, I can get you a Mobtel or Telekom Srbija SIM Card. Telekom Srbija will cost you ~ $18 with shipping to the states (I make no money on this)
Mobtel will be about $20 with shipping.
If you go to Bosnia and Herzegovina- about $25 for a GSMBIH SIM Card. These are the countries I have access to SIM Cards in, even though it's much easier for me to get a Serbian SIM Card.
May 11, 2005, 10:08 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,236
Even better why not report where to buy the card in the airport or train station, how much it cost, what the rates are and a link to the providers web site.
Here is a link to most of the gsm providers by country worldwide. What's missing is how to get the local card at the airport. I usually just fire off an email to the provider before I get there.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml
It is obscene to pay dollars per minute for cell phone roaming. Just buy an unlocked quad band GSM cell phone for $100 to $200 go to the link above find the provider, buy a local card and pay 10-25 cents per minute like the locals. For international calls use calling cards and for usually 10 cents per minute depending on location. In high rate areas especially ones with free incoming cell calls use callback services.
Example I'll be in Honduras next week. The cheapest calls from Honduras to US are $1.00 per minute in internet cafe's. There are no calling cards.
Cell phone sim cards in Honduras are $5. Incoming calls are free and international callback services cost 40-50 cents. So by using a callback service you pay the cell phone company nothing and the callback company is the only one you pay.
As far as wanting to know the number in advance I just forward my cell phone in the us to a stantaphone http://www.stanaphone.com/ number and it forwards the call to me wherever I am in the world (most locations under 3 cents per minute) so all my callers have to do is call my home cell phone and it is forwarded to me wherever I am in the world at no cost to the caller.
If anyone needs an unlocked quad band cell phone to try this out PM me I'll loan established FT members one for free.
As far as where to get a sim card for the US Buy one on ebay for Tmobile. You will find a seller that will ship worldwide and your cost will be only a few cents per minute.
Here is a link to most of the gsm providers by country worldwide. What's missing is how to get the local card at the airport. I usually just fire off an email to the provider before I get there.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml
It is obscene to pay dollars per minute for cell phone roaming. Just buy an unlocked quad band GSM cell phone for $100 to $200 go to the link above find the provider, buy a local card and pay 10-25 cents per minute like the locals. For international calls use calling cards and for usually 10 cents per minute depending on location. In high rate areas especially ones with free incoming cell calls use callback services.
Example I'll be in Honduras next week. The cheapest calls from Honduras to US are $1.00 per minute in internet cafe's. There are no calling cards.
Cell phone sim cards in Honduras are $5. Incoming calls are free and international callback services cost 40-50 cents. So by using a callback service you pay the cell phone company nothing and the callback company is the only one you pay.
As far as wanting to know the number in advance I just forward my cell phone in the us to a stantaphone http://www.stanaphone.com/ number and it forwards the call to me wherever I am in the world (most locations under 3 cents per minute) so all my callers have to do is call my home cell phone and it is forwarded to me wherever I am in the world at no cost to the caller.
If anyone needs an unlocked quad band cell phone to try this out PM me I'll loan established FT members one for free.
As far as where to get a sim card for the US Buy one on ebay for Tmobile. You will find a seller that will ship worldwide and your cost will be only a few cents per minute.