Using smartphones in Rome, Florence and Venice
Jan 28th, 2012, 07:32 AM
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Using smartphones in Rome, Florence and Venice
Any tips for using my Android over there?
Most interested in using WIFI in those locations?
I'm sure the 'phone' part of my phone won't work, but I'd be interested in using apps that access WIFI.
Most interested in using WIFI in those locations?
I'm sure the 'phone' part of my phone won't work, but I'd be interested in using apps that access WIFI.
Jan 28th, 2012, 09:25 PM
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Is it really possible American companies are selling Android phones that aren't compatible with the phone system in the rest of the world?
This is a genuine question: surely all that isolationist nonsense went out years ago?
Accessing wifi on any consistent basis for many apps is going to be difficult in most of Italy. Easy enough to find cafes with free wifi for intermittent use of email or whatever - but simply impossible for the funky product that promised to geolocate you in the Foro Romano and give you a running commentary on the sites surrounding you.
For this - unless American marketeers really are stuck in the 20th century - you'll have no problem whatsoever accessing the web from your phone. But there's a huge risk it'll bankrupt you and your descendants unless you get a package from your service provider at home offering affordable rates on data download in Italy.
Note that if you haven't got such a contract, you don't just need to avoid accessing the web: most smartphones will go online of their own volition, and you'll be incurring debts without knowing about it. You MUST disable all outgoing access before your plane touches down in Italy: under some circumstances, even the "welcome to Italy" text that flashes up on your phone before the plane reaches the terminal will be costing you money.
This is a genuine question: surely all that isolationist nonsense went out years ago?
Accessing wifi on any consistent basis for many apps is going to be difficult in most of Italy. Easy enough to find cafes with free wifi for intermittent use of email or whatever - but simply impossible for the funky product that promised to geolocate you in the Foro Romano and give you a running commentary on the sites surrounding you.
For this - unless American marketeers really are stuck in the 20th century - you'll have no problem whatsoever accessing the web from your phone. But there's a huge risk it'll bankrupt you and your descendants unless you get a package from your service provider at home offering affordable rates on data download in Italy.
Note that if you haven't got such a contract, you don't just need to avoid accessing the web: most smartphones will go online of their own volition, and you'll be incurring debts without knowing about it. You MUST disable all outgoing access before your plane touches down in Italy: under some circumstances, even the "welcome to Italy" text that flashes up on your phone before the plane reaches the terminal will be costing you money.
Jan 28th, 2012, 09:33 PM
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What tips are you looking for?
If your phone is GSM, your voice and text part of your phone would probably work. And so is the data part. The key question is not whether it works or not. It has to do with whether you are willing to pay breathtaking phone bills if you were to use your phone as if you are at home. Search internet for horror stories about how much phone bill you can rack up if used carelessly overseas. If you don't want this, learn how to disable the portion of your phone capability you don't care to pay for.
If your phone is GSM, your voice and text part of your phone would probably work. And so is the data part. The key question is not whether it works or not. It has to do with whether you are willing to pay breathtaking phone bills if you were to use your phone as if you are at home. Search internet for horror stories about how much phone bill you can rack up if used carelessly overseas. If you don't want this, learn how to disable the portion of your phone capability you don't care to pay for.
Jan 30th, 2012, 06:55 PM
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I've had my blackberry for years due to the GSM and worltravel feature as I'm originally from Chile. When I had to upgrade last December I went with another Blackberry although I knew that the Iphone also has that capability I decided to stay BB.
My Blackberry works wonder in Chile and in our trip to Europe, 4 countries, it worked great, the BB messenger kept me connected with my husband at home and the emails and phone calls were as when home.
My Blackberry works wonder in Chile and in our trip to Europe, 4 countries, it worked great, the BB messenger kept me connected with my husband at home and the emails and phone calls were as when home.
Jan 31st, 2012, 03:49 AM
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Almost every hotel and a large percentage of bars/cafes have wifi. You may have to buy a coffee is some places to use it. This should mean that you are never more than 100 yards or so from internet access.
If you really must have internet access 24/7 you can get a sim card in Italy, but really it's not worth the hassle nor money unless you plan on spending at least a month in the country. Accept the minor inconvenience or pay through the nose!
If you really must have internet access 24/7 you can get a sim card in Italy, but really it's not worth the hassle nor money unless you plan on spending at least a month in the country. Accept the minor inconvenience or pay through the nose!
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