mattian

As I now know from my previous thread, my Verizon iPhone will not work in Spain. I recognize the need to purchase (or rent?) a cell phone for minimal usage in checking back with family and business in the US. Incidentally, I will have an Android Tablet so using the hotels' wifi for emails should be taken care of. Our first stop is Madrid, then on to Granada, Sevilla, and ending in Barcelona. Recommendations for buying a phone in Madrid near where we are staying at the Westin Palace? Appreciate any feedback.

Robert2533

You can check with On Spanish Time (www.onspanishtime.com). They can give you the number before you leave home so people can call you if they need to.

You can also have the phone delivered to you at the Westin, and be there when you check in.

i_am_kane

I have a "cheap" Verizon global cell phone. It cost $52, and there was a $50 rebate. The SIM card was already installed. When I left the U.S., I bought a $4.95 international plan for one month. Per minute cost was 99 cents.

I have used it in Spain, France, Belgium and Italy. Did you shop in a Verizon store and get sales help? $2 is buying it for nothing, if they still offer this product.

Robert2533

Verizon global cell phone is not a local mobile phone, where all incoming calls are free from anywhere in the world. Besides, in today's world, there are many options, calling cards and Skype being two when you use a smart phone.

ribeirasacra

Just wait until you arrive. Phones with SIM cards can be purchased as cheap as 20€ with a small amount of call time. Phone shops are on almost every corner. Movistar has the best coverage.

knoxvillecouple

Mattian

Check my recent response to your other post. I believe that your iPhone will work through Verizon. At least check it out before spending any more money than you have to.

Robert2533

The following is from www.lodgephoto.com>

"Verizon uses a system called CDMA, and Sprint uses both CDMA and another proprietary system called iDEN, originally developed for Nextel. However, Verizon in particular has figured out that it is losing a lot of nice profitable international traffic as a result, and now has phones that support both US CDMA and international GSM frequencies. Verizon calls these “Global Phones“. The line-up changes every couple of months as new phones are released, but the Blackberry: Bold 9930, Torch 9850; Motorola Droid 3, Droid 2 Global; and HTC: Droid Incredible 2,Trophy are all CDMA/GSM world phones available at the time of writing.

The most significant new Global Phone for Verizon and Sprint is the iPhone 4S, which is the first Apple iPhone that works on both CDMA and GSM networks. Verizon iPhone 4 and iPad 2 customers are out of luck — both are CDMA-only and will not work in Europe."

mattian

Knoxvillecouple is correct! I checked with Verizon and the iPhone 4S is viable in Spain with an activated SIM card. The rate to call the US is either $1.29 or $0.99 per minute depending on whether you take the Global Rate Plan. This seems like the best option. Just remember to turn of Data Roaming. Thanks to all for your help.

ekscrunchy

Can someone explain to me why this would be better than just buying an unlocked phone in the US (or wherever you live) that can be used in any country with the appropriate SIM card?

Paying $1 a minute seems very pricey to me....

knoxvillecouple

I can think of a couple of reasons why it might make sense - if you already own a global phone you don't have to buy another unlocked phone and appropriate SIM cards, and if you only plan on using the phone for "emergency" reasons (meaning you may not use it at all but rather rely on wifi email for non-emergency situations) the per-minute cost is really not that important.

ekscrunchy

That makes sense.

I was asking because, after a lifetime of trips with no cell phone, I finally bought a new Nokia global phone this week. I selected one of the two least expensive phones, but the store had about 20 for sale.

It cost $59, so not a big investment. I hope I can figure out how to work it when I get to Italy.

Robert2533

You'll have to have your Verizon iPhone 4s unlocked by Verizon before you can use another sim card in it.

CathyM

Will Verizon allow an iPhone to be unlocked? What about AT&T?

Just a comment on the ipad2 - if you have AT&T you are able to buy a micro sim card and use in Spain. The only place I've had luck purchasing a limited use micro sim card in Spain is the Orange booth at El Cortes Ingles.

lincasanova

the inexpensive basic model phones called "pack" form they sell EVERYWHERE for 19E or even less are an easy way to solve this problem. Incoming calls will be FREE.. even from overseas.

amandarawrrr

Agree... wait til you get there. While studying abroad I had an Orange phone that, as others have stated, was a simple flip phone and cost 19 or 20 euro. Who will you be calling and for how long? 15-20 euros of saldo (phone credit) should be plenty for two weeks if I remember correctly. Longer phone calls cost less per minute. Plus, if you will be returning to Spain within a year, you can reactivate your phone and buy more saldo to use then.

In addition, there are some ways to milk your saldo. Texting costs less, and incoming phone calls cost you nothing. If you're calling to see where someone is or to let someone know you've arrived, you can "toque" them - let the phone ring twice and then hang up. No sense in wasting euros on a short phone call when you can toque for free! But this is assuming you'll be communicating with other people with cell phones in the country. Not sure if you're buying a cell phone to make international calls. In that case, still buy a phone but buy very little saldo and have your family/friends call you. Or even cheaper... use Skype on your iPad. That's free.

Good luck and have fun.

amandarawrrr

OH, and if you need suggestions on what to do and see, my semester abroad was in fact spent in Granada, and I spent time in the other three cities you'll be visiting as well... pretty jealous. Would love to help you and live vicariously through you

jan47ete

I think we bought our phone from brightroam and then buy cards for the place/s we are going. We may have gotten the phone free the first time we cought a card ut my husband deals with that. Only then pay for usage.

ekscrunchy

OK, so now I've bought that Nokia unlocked global phone that I mentioned above ($59 at J&R in NYC).

Will I have free incoming calls, just like as if I had bought on site in Madrid or Rome?

Those cheap "pack" phones that you are discussing that can be purchased in Spain--would those be useable in other countries as well, with another SiM card?

jomagpie

Just get the Skype app on your iPhone and you can use it as a regular phone when there's WIFI. I bought a $15 credit and it goes a long way. If your family and business have GMAIL as well, you can use the Talkatone app. My bf and I used these two when we were in Budapest & Krakow and were fine. Didn't incur any data/phone charges (turn these off before you land). Free WIFI can be found in most hotels, Starbucks, and a few restaurants/bars (just ask for the password), etc.

mattian

Verizon will unlock the iPhone at either a Verizon store or walk you through it when you call customer service. AT&T is already unlocked I believe. Perhaps someone can comment on that. With my need to make just a few calls I will probably do that rather than purchase a low priced global phone and sim card upon arrival.

amandarawrrr...thanks for your kind offer!
ekscrunchy... the sim card should allow the free incoming calls. And your phone will be useable in other countries after purchasing a sim card for that country.