SmartPhone Europe to USA
Apr 15th, 2014, 04:32 AM
#1
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SmartPhone Europe to USA
Help!! I am leaving on a Cruise out of Venice in 3 weeks and I keep getting the wrong information regarding the use of my Apple iPhone. The cruise goes to Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, and Spain. Ends in Barcelona. I would like to make "some" phone calls (not heavy use), and especially use texting and/or wifi for internet.
Suggestions for the best route to go? I have AT&T provider service now.
Thanks Fodorites!!!
Suggestions for the best route to go? I have AT&T provider service now.
Thanks Fodorites!!!
Apr 15th, 2014, 06:00 AM
#2
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Your carrier, AT&T has plans for various international needs for this type of "many countries-some calls" type of usage. Is this where you looked? http://www.att.com/att/global/?
The "best" inevitably elicits many different responses. "Best" means different things to different people: best coverage, best price, best ease of use, best for calling inside country, best for receiving calls from families, so on and on.
The "best" inevitably elicits many different responses. "Best" means different things to different people: best coverage, best price, best ease of use, best for calling inside country, best for receiving calls from families, so on and on.
Apr 15th, 2014, 01:25 PM
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From whom do you keep getting " the wrong information?" AT&T? Your cruise line? Apple?
Any answer that does not sound a lot like what Greg writes is probably wrong unless it involves changing your SIM card. It is a jungle out there.
The only infallible rule is that it will cost you A LOT more to text or use your phone for Internet access than it will at home.
Any answer that does not sound a lot like what Greg writes is probably wrong unless it involves changing your SIM card. It is a jungle out there.
The only infallible rule is that it will cost you A LOT more to text or use your phone for Internet access than it will at home.
Apr 16th, 2014, 01:52 AM
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Can you get your iPhone unlocked for use abroad? If so, and if you have time in Venice to get an Italian SIM card, they have some plans or options that are very useful for tourists who will be roaming around Europe.
The SIM card will cost you 10 euros, and will have 5 euros of initial credit. You will want to activate two free options: TIM International New (for use within Italy) and either TIM in Viaggio Full or TIM in Viaggio Pass.
TIM international New is available only to foreigners and you have to show proof that you have an international taxpayer number; when I activated it, they accepted my US passport as proof, but to be safe, I'd bring along a Social Security card. This plan will allow you to call the US and a number of other countries for 20 (euro) cents a minute, with a 16-cent connection charge. The full description in English can be seen here:
http://www.international.tim.it/en
For use within other countries, one of the TIM in Viaggio options would be your best choice. If you will be using the internet infrequently, the TIM in Viaggio Full plan would be best. It charges you 16 cents per minute for calls to the US or to other covered countries in Europe and elsewhere, or even less to other countries, with a 16-cent connection charge. For internet, it charges you €3 per day ONLY on days when you actually connect to data services. For use that day, you get 25 megabytes, which is enough for checking email, and light mapping and browsing.
If you'll be using 3G internet 3 times a week or more, the TIM in Viaggio Pass plan will be more cost-effective. This costs €10 per week, charged when you first use the phone outside of Italy. It gives you 250 phone calls and 250 text messages to anywhere in Europe or the US, plus 500 mb of data, all to be used within a week of when you first use it outside of Italy. It can be reactivated for another week by sending an SMS with the message TIMINVIAGGIOPASS ON to the toll-free number 40916. (Do this when the plan is about to expire, because it cancels the plan that's already in effect.) To reactivate the plan, you'd need to have 10 euros of credit on your SIM card, so you might want to add enough credit to the card when you buy it to cover use outside of Italy.
NOTE: TIM in Viaggio Pass isn't valid in Turkey. TIM in Viaggio Full can be used in Turkey, but the cost of a call is €1 per minute, with a €1 connection charge. An SMS from Turkey will cost 50 cents. For internet use in Turkey, you'll get only 5 mb at a cost of €5, on days you actually use it. If you have TIM in Viaggio Pass activated, the TIM in Viaggio Full rates will automatically be effective during your time in Turkey.
If you'll be spending more than a few days in Italy, you might be interested in the TIM Welcome plan, which costs 20 euros, and gives you talk time for calls FROM Italy TO Italian numbers, USA numbers, and a number of other countries, plus 2 GB of internet for use within Italy. You can read the details here:
http://www.international.tim.it/en/tim-welcome
The SIM card will cost you 10 euros, and will have 5 euros of initial credit. You will want to activate two free options: TIM International New (for use within Italy) and either TIM in Viaggio Full or TIM in Viaggio Pass.
TIM international New is available only to foreigners and you have to show proof that you have an international taxpayer number; when I activated it, they accepted my US passport as proof, but to be safe, I'd bring along a Social Security card. This plan will allow you to call the US and a number of other countries for 20 (euro) cents a minute, with a 16-cent connection charge. The full description in English can be seen here:
http://www.international.tim.it/en
For use within other countries, one of the TIM in Viaggio options would be your best choice. If you will be using the internet infrequently, the TIM in Viaggio Full plan would be best. It charges you 16 cents per minute for calls to the US or to other covered countries in Europe and elsewhere, or even less to other countries, with a 16-cent connection charge. For internet, it charges you €3 per day ONLY on days when you actually connect to data services. For use that day, you get 25 megabytes, which is enough for checking email, and light mapping and browsing.
If you'll be using 3G internet 3 times a week or more, the TIM in Viaggio Pass plan will be more cost-effective. This costs €10 per week, charged when you first use the phone outside of Italy. It gives you 250 phone calls and 250 text messages to anywhere in Europe or the US, plus 500 mb of data, all to be used within a week of when you first use it outside of Italy. It can be reactivated for another week by sending an SMS with the message TIMINVIAGGIOPASS ON to the toll-free number 40916. (Do this when the plan is about to expire, because it cancels the plan that's already in effect.) To reactivate the plan, you'd need to have 10 euros of credit on your SIM card, so you might want to add enough credit to the card when you buy it to cover use outside of Italy.
NOTE: TIM in Viaggio Pass isn't valid in Turkey. TIM in Viaggio Full can be used in Turkey, but the cost of a call is €1 per minute, with a €1 connection charge. An SMS from Turkey will cost 50 cents. For internet use in Turkey, you'll get only 5 mb at a cost of €5, on days you actually use it. If you have TIM in Viaggio Pass activated, the TIM in Viaggio Full rates will automatically be effective during your time in Turkey.
If you'll be spending more than a few days in Italy, you might be interested in the TIM Welcome plan, which costs 20 euros, and gives you talk time for calls FROM Italy TO Italian numbers, USA numbers, and a number of other countries, plus 2 GB of internet for use within Italy. You can read the details here:
http://www.international.tim.it/en/tim-welcome
Apr 16th, 2014, 11:54 AM
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You could install Skype and a free texting app and do your calls and texts when you have a WIFI connection. You'd need to put a few dollars on a Skype account to call phones rather than other Skype users but this would be the cheapest way to accomplish what you want.
Apr 16th, 2014, 03:14 PM
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my goodness, When we have gone to Europe in the past (last trip 5 years ago), we simply contacted AT&T and they included Europe in our plan for the time we were gone. China, same thing. Some of these solutions seem so complicated. Is that because you are using the internet and not just phone?
Apr 16th, 2014, 03:24 PM
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Look at the ATT website for the authoritative answer to your question.
http://www.att.com/att/global/
It gives options for voice, data, and texting. Shipboard service is a separate plan. Since the OP will be aboard the ship every day and going ashore in multiple countries, purchasing a one-month international plan from their existing mobile provider will be the easiest. You set it up before you leave home and there is no need to unlock or shop for SIMs. The price may even be reasonable, if you buy the minimum minutes/data and use it judiciously.
http://www.att.com/att/global/
It gives options for voice, data, and texting. Shipboard service is a separate plan. Since the OP will be aboard the ship every day and going ashore in multiple countries, purchasing a one-month international plan from their existing mobile provider will be the easiest. You set it up before you leave home and there is no need to unlock or shop for SIMs. The price may even be reasonable, if you buy the minimum minutes/data and use it judiciously.
