More London Cell Phone ??
Aug 11th, 2008, 01:01 PM
#1
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More London Cell Phone ??
Hello,
From the many posts I've read, it looks like buying a phone from Mobal or buying one on arrival in London at Carphone Warehouse are the best deals. But I have two main questions (because I'm an ignoramus about cell phones): 1) why does Carphone Warehouse not unlock their own phones and 2) Mobal has an offer for a 49 pound phone with free 20 pound airtime - but how much are calls to the US per minute? I know I should be able to find this, but somehow I can't! Thanks very much.
From the many posts I've read, it looks like buying a phone from Mobal or buying one on arrival in London at Carphone Warehouse are the best deals. But I have two main questions (because I'm an ignoramus about cell phones): 1) why does Carphone Warehouse not unlock their own phones and 2) Mobal has an offer for a 49 pound phone with free 20 pound airtime - but how much are calls to the US per minute? I know I should be able to find this, but somehow I can't! Thanks very much.
Aug 11th, 2008, 11:03 PM
#2
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They don't unlock the phones because they sell them for the networks. You can buy an unlocked phone but it would cost you £150+. The network make their money from the calls so they subsidise the handset.
If you are intending to use the phone to call the US then look at the cost on the various websites for international calls.
£49 is quite a lot for a basic phone, you can get phones for £20.
Orange do a PAYG sim called Camel - offers calls to the US for 6p a min if you register your phone with them, they also do phones from £9.99.
Not pushing Orange, just giving it as an example.
If you are intending to use the phone to call the US then look at the cost on the various websites for international calls.
£49 is quite a lot for a basic phone, you can get phones for £20.
Orange do a PAYG sim called Camel - offers calls to the US for 6p a min if you register your phone with them, they also do phones from £9.99.
Not pushing Orange, just giving it as an example.
Aug 12th, 2008, 04:55 AM
#3
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6p/minute to call the USA...what an outrage....
I've post this before here...
Right now, today, the best deal for a provider in the UK is T Mobile UK...
With their tie in with a firm called yourcallworld (see their web site) you can make international calls from the UK most anywhere in the world for 3p/minute...(it costs more to call cell phones but this surcharge does not apply on calls to cell phones in the USA and Canada)
T Mobile UK, if you go to their web site, has in the past sent free sim card packs to UK addresses; also I have found sites on ebay that will send t mobile UK packs to the USA for less than $6 with free shipping!
The OP may already have a gsm phone with the needed frequency (1800 mhz) for use on T Mobile UK unless their provider is Verizon which uses a completely different technology incompatible with most European mobile providers. (Sprint doesn't use gsm either).
If you don't have an unlocked gsm phone with 1800 mhz. you can buy one on ebay starting for as little as $30 or...
You can go into either a T mobile UK or carphone warehouse or one of the other mobile providers upon arrival in London and buy the cheapest phone they have....it might be less than 20 quid including the sim card...it will be locked to T Mobile UK (if that's the carrier you want) but as long as you're in the UK that's not an issue.
Also T Mobile UK subscribes the eu cap on roaming rates within the eu which is scheduled to come down this month so you can use the phone and the British number within the eu but unfortunately yo won't get the bargain rates to call the USA and Canada (there are other solutions to this including getting a phone card with a local calling number in the country you're in) but as long as you're in the UK, this is the neatest and easiest solution. Also T Mobile UK rates within the UK are very competitive.
I've post this before here...
Right now, today, the best deal for a provider in the UK is T Mobile UK...
With their tie in with a firm called yourcallworld (see their web site) you can make international calls from the UK most anywhere in the world for 3p/minute...(it costs more to call cell phones but this surcharge does not apply on calls to cell phones in the USA and Canada)
T Mobile UK, if you go to their web site, has in the past sent free sim card packs to UK addresses; also I have found sites on ebay that will send t mobile UK packs to the USA for less than $6 with free shipping!
The OP may already have a gsm phone with the needed frequency (1800 mhz) for use on T Mobile UK unless their provider is Verizon which uses a completely different technology incompatible with most European mobile providers. (Sprint doesn't use gsm either).
If you don't have an unlocked gsm phone with 1800 mhz. you can buy one on ebay starting for as little as $30 or...
You can go into either a T mobile UK or carphone warehouse or one of the other mobile providers upon arrival in London and buy the cheapest phone they have....it might be less than 20 quid including the sim card...it will be locked to T Mobile UK (if that's the carrier you want) but as long as you're in the UK that's not an issue.
Also T Mobile UK subscribes the eu cap on roaming rates within the eu which is scheduled to come down this month so you can use the phone and the British number within the eu but unfortunately yo won't get the bargain rates to call the USA and Canada (there are other solutions to this including getting a phone card with a local calling number in the country you're in) but as long as you're in the UK, this is the neatest and easiest solution. Also T Mobile UK rates within the UK are very competitive.
Aug 12th, 2008, 05:07 AM
#4
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BTW, if calling a triggering number to make calls for 3p/minute is a problem, then T Mobile UK also offers several bundles for calls to the USA and Canada which start at £5 for 125 minutes of calling time..according to my math that's 4p/minute...the only problem is they have limited validity periods which you might not use up before leaving London.....
Aug 12th, 2008, 09:31 AM
#5
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Mobal calls to USA and Canada from the UK are $1.50/minute. If you're absolutely sure you won't do much calling, it's not a bad deal. I think it's better to buy an unlocked gsm quadband phone on ebay and an international sim from one of the suppliers at
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html
but it's your call. The sims run about $50 or $60, with free incoming calls in the UK and outbound calling rates of about 50 US cents per minute. The phone will run from $50 to $75. If you decide to buy a phone, you can look up reviews at
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html
but it's your call. The sims run about $50 or $60, with free incoming calls in the UK and outbound calling rates of about 50 US cents per minute. The phone will run from $50 to $75. If you decide to buy a phone, you can look up reviews at
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/
Aug 12th, 2008, 10:58 AM
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In all due respect, did you read my post?
You want to compare $1.50/minute to call the USA to 3p/minute?
And $50 for a sim pack to $0?
Things evolve...2 years ago, the hottest recommendation for UK mobiles was Virgin Mobile...they had 20p/minute to call the USA (and Canada) and it seemed a bargain.
Noe 3p/minute (BTW without a callback but yes with a triggering number).
And as noted, if getting the phone number is a prime concern, T Mobile UK sim card packs are available on ebay for less than $6 shipping to the USA included...it won't have any time on it but upon arrival in London hop into most any chemist, grocery chain, petrol station and top up with the top up card...takes approximately 25 seconds.
But I agree, it's each person's own call. International cards absolutely have their place...if you are going to many different countries I might opt for an international card (United Mobile, GT-sim) but for the UK alone, right now, by far and there isn't a close second, the T Mobile UK deal is by far the best.
You want to compare $1.50/minute to call the USA to 3p/minute?
And $50 for a sim pack to $0?
Things evolve...2 years ago, the hottest recommendation for UK mobiles was Virgin Mobile...they had 20p/minute to call the USA (and Canada) and it seemed a bargain.
Noe 3p/minute (BTW without a callback but yes with a triggering number).
And as noted, if getting the phone number is a prime concern, T Mobile UK sim card packs are available on ebay for less than $6 shipping to the USA included...it won't have any time on it but upon arrival in London hop into most any chemist, grocery chain, petrol station and top up with the top up card...takes approximately 25 seconds.
But I agree, it's each person's own call. International cards absolutely have their place...if you are going to many different countries I might opt for an international card (United Mobile, GT-sim) but for the UK alone, right now, by far and there isn't a close second, the T Mobile UK deal is by far the best.
Aug 12th, 2008, 01:26 PM
#7
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Thanks everyone,
I don't have to have the number before I depart, so I can grab the phone there. xyz, I hope my brain can process all that information before I leave, but it's a couple of months away, so I have an outside chance
OP = Odd Person?
OP = Odious Prat?
Wait! Other Poster! (I hope.)
Thanks again.
I don't have to have the number before I depart, so I can grab the phone there. xyz, I hope my brain can process all that information before I leave, but it's a couple of months away, so I have an outside chance
OP = Odd Person?
OP = Odious Prat?
Wait! Other Poster! (I hope.)
Thanks again.
Aug 12th, 2008, 01:50 PM
#9
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You have already got good advice. Do not touch that mobal sim with a 10 ft pole! It's ridiculously expensive. The only advantage to it is that the number does not expire, so? You can cheaply keep-alive any other sim you purchase with a quick sms or gprs use for less then 30p every 6 - 9 months. With all the options out there, I can't believe anyone actually uses Mobal at those rates.
