Cell Phone for daughter
Nov 29th, 2007, 07:29 AM
#1
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Cell Phone for daughter
My daughter will be in Italy for 4 weeks in January. My wife is insisting she have a cell phone that works so she can call if needed (or wife needs to talk to her). The phones we have (Verizon) won't work overseas. I am thinking it will be best to buy a phone that is usable throughout Europe since we will be in France and Norway in the next year. We want the phone before she travels so I will use the internet. Any advise on what to look for and avoid?
Nov 29th, 2007, 07:56 AM
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For my trip to Italy this past summer I bought an used, unlocked, quad band GSM phone on ebay for $20. (Moto V190).
I bought an Italian mobil co (TIM) SIM card before departure (so I had the tel # before departure).
It is cheaper to have her wait till she arrives and buy a SIM card there at a TIM store. They can show her how it works, how to add call time ($), etc.
I bought an Italian mobil co (TIM) SIM card before departure (so I had the tel # before departure).
It is cheaper to have her wait till she arrives and buy a SIM card there at a TIM store. They can show her how it works, how to add call time ($), etc.
Nov 29th, 2007, 08:10 AM
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I agree with J62 about buying a used unlocked GSM phone on ebay. Good bets are a Motorola v190, v191, v195, and v197, and a Nokia 6610. An alternative to buying an Italian sim is to get an international sim from the list at
www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html
Getting one of these sims provides a phone number before your daughter leaves and a sim you and your wife can use in Europe next year. If you go this route, find you what you have to do to keep the sim active between trips.
www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html
Getting one of these sims provides a phone number before your daughter leaves and a sim you and your wife can use in Europe next year. If you go this route, find you what you have to do to keep the sim active between trips.
Jul 24th, 2008, 01:17 AM
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Another suggestion (which I personally conseder a better one) is a travel kit from callineurope.com
The phone is 19$, the prepaid Sim is 29$. Or you may simply rent a phone if you don't need a tri band one.
The calling rates are cheap, so this is a very good way to go.
The phone is 19$, the prepaid Sim is 29$. Or you may simply rent a phone if you don't need a tri band one.
The calling rates are cheap, so this is a very good way to go.
Jul 24th, 2008, 05:18 AM
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Have you called Verizon to see what they offer? We also use Verizon and when we ran into this situation a couple of years ago, they sent us an international phone for which we paid a deposit of $40 (which was credited back when we returned the phone). As I recall the usage rates were pretty reasonable.
Jul 24th, 2008, 05:26 AM
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Hi rhy,
If it is intended only for emergency use while in Europe, look at the $49 phone at www.mobal.com.
You get to keep the phone and the number forever. No charges unless you use the phone.
Per minute rates are very high.
Otherwise, enter <cell phone> in the "search this forum" box.
If it is intended only for emergency use while in Europe, look at the $49 phone at www.mobal.com.
You get to keep the phone and the number forever. No charges unless you use the phone.
Per minute rates are very high.
Otherwise, enter <cell phone> in the "search this forum" box.
