GSM Phone assistance please!!
May 16th, 2004, 04:41 PM
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GSM Phone assistance please!!
Hello,
The knowledge in this forum is amazing!! We are going on a trip to Switzerland in a couple of months. In the past we have never used a cell phone overseas, but from what I've read on this site it really seems to make alot of sense. This year we'll be traveling for the first time with our infant and I guess that's why I'm concerned now about having cellular service while on the road.... Based on what I have read already it seems to make sense to buy a phone. I have a couple of questions:
1. Has anyone ever heard of or bought anything from samstores.com? They have a couple of phones on closeout that seem pretty reasonable... Motorola Intl 6200 for $39.99 and Motorola 3588 or 3788 for $65. All of these phones are dual band, which is all I am interested in at this time. Does anyone know anything about these phones?
2. I read somewhere (I think on slowtrav) that in Italy prepaid SIMS cards are only to be sold to residents. Is that true and is that the case in Switzerland??? I was planning to purchase cards when we arrived assuming they would be cheaper than what I can buy from the states... Should I buy a card online before I leave??
Any information that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!
The knowledge in this forum is amazing!! We are going on a trip to Switzerland in a couple of months. In the past we have never used a cell phone overseas, but from what I've read on this site it really seems to make alot of sense. This year we'll be traveling for the first time with our infant and I guess that's why I'm concerned now about having cellular service while on the road.... Based on what I have read already it seems to make sense to buy a phone. I have a couple of questions:
1. Has anyone ever heard of or bought anything from samstores.com? They have a couple of phones on closeout that seem pretty reasonable... Motorola Intl 6200 for $39.99 and Motorola 3588 or 3788 for $65. All of these phones are dual band, which is all I am interested in at this time. Does anyone know anything about these phones?
2. I read somewhere (I think on slowtrav) that in Italy prepaid SIMS cards are only to be sold to residents. Is that true and is that the case in Switzerland??? I was planning to purchase cards when we arrived assuming they would be cheaper than what I can buy from the states... Should I buy a card online before I leave??
Any information that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!
May 16th, 2004, 05:12 PM
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I don't know the phone models but dual band could mean 850/1900 which would be useless in Europe. Make sure the phones are unlocked and if dual band they are 900/1800 which would be useless in the United States but the frequencies needed in Europe.
This business about SIM cards in Italy is a myth in the same vein that it is a myth that Carte Orange can only be bought by residents of the Paris area. Apparently you need some sort of Italian ID number but the shop owner will either use his own or help you get one. I say apparently because quite frankly nobody has ever indicated they were unable to purchase an Italian SIM (just like nobody has ever had trouble purchasing Carte Orange in Paris)...
As far as other countries, I do not know any countries with any restrictions whatsoever as to who can buy a prepaid SIM. Just go to a phone store, lay down your Swiss francs and the shop owner will be more than happy to sell you one.
Again the big issue is the phone. You must make sure the phone has the European frequencies and is unlocked.
This business about SIM cards in Italy is a myth in the same vein that it is a myth that Carte Orange can only be bought by residents of the Paris area. Apparently you need some sort of Italian ID number but the shop owner will either use his own or help you get one. I say apparently because quite frankly nobody has ever indicated they were unable to purchase an Italian SIM (just like nobody has ever had trouble purchasing Carte Orange in Paris)...
As far as other countries, I do not know any countries with any restrictions whatsoever as to who can buy a prepaid SIM. Just go to a phone store, lay down your Swiss francs and the shop owner will be more than happy to sell you one.
Again the big issue is the phone. You must make sure the phone has the European frequencies and is unlocked.
May 17th, 2004, 04:11 AM
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There was a talk following 9/11 that in Switzerland they would only sell SIM cards against local ID (apparently one of the 9/11 highjackers used Swiss mobile), but seemingly never got further. As a Swiss resident has recently told me, anyone can buy one. Get details of what's available at www.prepaidgsm.net
May 17th, 2004, 05:31 PM
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I deal with telcommunications all day long and would like to point out a few things from my experiences with GSM/GPRS phones/devices between US and Europe:
1. if you are going to buy a GSM phone make sure it is quad band -- including the new 850 standard. This new standard does nothing in europe but makes the world of a difference in the US. If you have AT&T I recommend the Motorola V600 (quad band phone). However, if you cannot get the quad band phone make sure your phone has at least 900, 1800 and 1900. I currently have the Nokia 7210 (tri band) and it worked in Europe as well....but I will be getting the V600 shortly. I know two people that have it and they absolutely love it.
2. As stated above, you need the other bands to connect in Europe and your phone must have WorldConnect enabled. If you do not have WorldConnect your phone will say access denied when trying to connect to Vodaphone. Believe me....I have experienced this in Italy.
3. I would strongly recommend using a calling card unless you are in an emergency situation. The cost of a phone call when roaming in Europe will be at at least 1.00 dollar a minute, plus a the cost of the call, etc. I have already seen a few 500 to 800 dollar phone bills for executives making phone calls from Europe...when they could have used a calling card and talked a lot longer for at least a 1/10th the price.
4. Finally, you may find that GSM / GPRS devices do not always work properly in Europe...regardless of what people say. I strongly recommend reading on http://www.phonescoop.com/ to see what people say about the phones.
5. You may be able to rent a phone from a carrier that has an international number. I am not sure of the cost but I know it is possible.
6. You will most likely have to manually select the service from the cell phone and make sure you pick Vodaphone....unless your cell phone company has a special international roaming agreement...but I doubt that because I have not seen one yet and keep asking our sales execs if this is going to happen...and they shrugs their shoulders and say...."dont know".
1. if you are going to buy a GSM phone make sure it is quad band -- including the new 850 standard. This new standard does nothing in europe but makes the world of a difference in the US. If you have AT&T I recommend the Motorola V600 (quad band phone). However, if you cannot get the quad band phone make sure your phone has at least 900, 1800 and 1900. I currently have the Nokia 7210 (tri band) and it worked in Europe as well....but I will be getting the V600 shortly. I know two people that have it and they absolutely love it.
2. As stated above, you need the other bands to connect in Europe and your phone must have WorldConnect enabled. If you do not have WorldConnect your phone will say access denied when trying to connect to Vodaphone. Believe me....I have experienced this in Italy.
3. I would strongly recommend using a calling card unless you are in an emergency situation. The cost of a phone call when roaming in Europe will be at at least 1.00 dollar a minute, plus a the cost of the call, etc. I have already seen a few 500 to 800 dollar phone bills for executives making phone calls from Europe...when they could have used a calling card and talked a lot longer for at least a 1/10th the price.
4. Finally, you may find that GSM / GPRS devices do not always work properly in Europe...regardless of what people say. I strongly recommend reading on http://www.phonescoop.com/ to see what people say about the phones.
5. You may be able to rent a phone from a carrier that has an international number. I am not sure of the cost but I know it is possible.
6. You will most likely have to manually select the service from the cell phone and make sure you pick Vodaphone....unless your cell phone company has a special international roaming agreement...but I doubt that because I have not seen one yet and keep asking our sales execs if this is going to happen...and they shrugs their shoulders and say...."dont know".
May 17th, 2004, 06:16 PM
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Incidentally, with the newer phones you don't have to manually select a roaming partner. If you have, for example, T mobile international roaming (free) most phones when you turn on will search and automatically register with any of its roaming partners. There is no particular reason to choose one or the other; for the most parts the rates are the same.
As far as the new quad band Motorola, it is a hell of a phone. But, you can easily buy a simple dual band off the net or at e bay. May I recommend you look at the Nokia 3310 available for around $90 on the net. It is a dual band phone with 900/1800 perfectly usable in Europe. If you buy it on the net, chances are it will be unlocked or you can unlock it yourself, nokia unlocking calculators are freely available on the net. With this phone, you can get prepaid GSM plans in any country you are spending more than 10 days in and it is very simple to switch SIM cards on this model; unlike others.
As I noted in response on the Cell Phones in Italy thread, T mobile US is the best for international roaming. If you buy a phone from them, unlike the bums at AT&T and Cingular, they will provide unlocking codes, their international roaming is somewhat cheaper and you don't have to waste money on worrying about 850 frequency as T mobile is 1900 only. So any tri bands you buy from them will have 900/1800/1900, the kind of phone you want for European travel. You most assuredly don't want 850/1800/1900, the tri bands sold by AT&T and Cingular as 850 is useless in Europe and you don't have 900 which you may need for many European carriers and for roaming in some countries.
If you click on my screen name, I have contributed many responses to questions regarding mobile (the proper European name I might add) phones and unlike some my information is correct.
As far as the new quad band Motorola, it is a hell of a phone. But, you can easily buy a simple dual band off the net or at e bay. May I recommend you look at the Nokia 3310 available for around $90 on the net. It is a dual band phone with 900/1800 perfectly usable in Europe. If you buy it on the net, chances are it will be unlocked or you can unlock it yourself, nokia unlocking calculators are freely available on the net. With this phone, you can get prepaid GSM plans in any country you are spending more than 10 days in and it is very simple to switch SIM cards on this model; unlike others.
As I noted in response on the Cell Phones in Italy thread, T mobile US is the best for international roaming. If you buy a phone from them, unlike the bums at AT&T and Cingular, they will provide unlocking codes, their international roaming is somewhat cheaper and you don't have to waste money on worrying about 850 frequency as T mobile is 1900 only. So any tri bands you buy from them will have 900/1800/1900, the kind of phone you want for European travel. You most assuredly don't want 850/1800/1900, the tri bands sold by AT&T and Cingular as 850 is useless in Europe and you don't have 900 which you may need for many European carriers and for roaming in some countries.
If you click on my screen name, I have contributed many responses to questions regarding mobile (the proper European name I might add) phones and unlike some my information is correct.
May 17th, 2004, 06:48 PM
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Again, thanks to all. Just to clarify... I am definitely looking to buy a phone that I will only use in Europe. I do not intend to change my current US cellular service, which is ATT, at this time. I fully understand that I DON'T want to use my ATT phone overseas and roam. My goal is to buy a phone and then get prepaid SIMS cards when I get to Switzerland and Italy.
One other question I have... Is it more difficult to find the SIMS cards that are the size of a credit card vs. the smaller ones? I am assuming the larger ones are older technology. The reason I ask is because one of the phones I mentioned (the cheapest) says it only uses the larger cards.
Thanks again!
One other question I have... Is it more difficult to find the SIMS cards that are the size of a credit card vs. the smaller ones? I am assuming the larger ones are older technology. The reason I ask is because one of the phones I mentioned (the cheapest) says it only uses the larger cards.
Thanks again!
May 17th, 2004, 07:01 PM
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Hacsutton..the question is whether you have AT&T GSM or the original AT&T. The former allows international roaming but then the question of 850 frequency comes into play. With the older one the question is moot as no gSM no European roaming.
To the best of my knowledge, all the GSM carriers in Western Europe use the small SIM card.
The solution, of course, is to buy an unlocked GSM dual band on the net and there are some sellers who sell them for as little as $50...they don't have all the whistles some of us have come to expect like camera, video taping capability, bluetooth, etc. but then again I think most people who want a mobile phone for use when travelling basically only want the phone and its convenience for being reached. With the exception of the UK's Virgin Mobile and Orange mobile, it is obscenely expensive on most prepaid plans to dial back to the US (or Canada). There are ways around that like by using a local calling card so the mobile part of the call is local or to use a service such as www.callbackworld.com which is described on other threads.
Chances are, hosever, if you have a tri band phone bought from AT&T and Cingular, such as the T306 to T616, which are both Americanized versions of popular European phones (T300 and T610), then you will not have the 900 frequency but rather the 850 frequency which is absolutely necessary as there are many areas of North America where the GSM carriers use 850 exclusively.
Hope that helps.
To the best of my knowledge, all the GSM carriers in Western Europe use the small SIM card.
The solution, of course, is to buy an unlocked GSM dual band on the net and there are some sellers who sell them for as little as $50...they don't have all the whistles some of us have come to expect like camera, video taping capability, bluetooth, etc. but then again I think most people who want a mobile phone for use when travelling basically only want the phone and its convenience for being reached. With the exception of the UK's Virgin Mobile and Orange mobile, it is obscenely expensive on most prepaid plans to dial back to the US (or Canada). There are ways around that like by using a local calling card so the mobile part of the call is local or to use a service such as www.callbackworld.com which is described on other threads.
Chances are, hosever, if you have a tri band phone bought from AT&T and Cingular, such as the T306 to T616, which are both Americanized versions of popular European phones (T300 and T610), then you will not have the 900 frequency but rather the 850 frequency which is absolutely necessary as there are many areas of North America where the GSM carriers use 850 exclusively.
Hope that helps.
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