TravelCell phone report; if you have someone at home call your phone, be prepared for a surprise.
Jun 30th, 2003, 08:50 AM
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TravelCell phone report; if you have someone at home call your phone, be prepared for a surprise.
Hello everyone,
I'm not sure whether anyone else has done a report on their experiences with using TravelCell and the phone, but I thought I'd share my experiences.
I was able to use the free rental offer that was posted on Frommer's web site, which made the phone rental free for the entire time I was away. In this case, it was 6 days.
TravelCell sent the phone via FedEx when they said they would, and instructions for use were very clear. There was also a return package to send the phone back at the end of the trip.
The phone was on the Orange network.
All incoming calls were free, and reception was excellent within the UK, but calls coming from the US were a bit scratchy and tended to occasionally cut off.
I would call my wife on the phone and have her call me back, however, I would NOT recommend this. My phone company passed on a 22 cent PER MINUTE additional charge that was in addition to the 10 cents per minute I was paying through the calling plan. I did check after the fact, and all of the major phone companies in the U.S. do this.
From now on, I'll be sure to have them call a friend's house or a phone outside the hotel.
Thanks!
I'm not sure whether anyone else has done a report on their experiences with using TravelCell and the phone, but I thought I'd share my experiences.
I was able to use the free rental offer that was posted on Frommer's web site, which made the phone rental free for the entire time I was away. In this case, it was 6 days.
TravelCell sent the phone via FedEx when they said they would, and instructions for use were very clear. There was also a return package to send the phone back at the end of the trip.
The phone was on the Orange network.
All incoming calls were free, and reception was excellent within the UK, but calls coming from the US were a bit scratchy and tended to occasionally cut off.
I would call my wife on the phone and have her call me back, however, I would NOT recommend this. My phone company passed on a 22 cent PER MINUTE additional charge that was in addition to the 10 cents per minute I was paying through the calling plan. I did check after the fact, and all of the major phone companies in the U.S. do this.
From now on, I'll be sure to have them call a friend's house or a phone outside the hotel.
Thanks!
Jun 30th, 2003, 10:11 AM
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There is one semi exception to the above...
If you use 1016868 calls to the UK are normally 7.9 cents/minute but calls to UK cell phones are 13 cents a minute Because receiving calls for free means the caller pays more. Some of the services charge as much as 40 cents a minute to call a mobile in the UK
If you use 1016868 calls to the UK are normally 7.9 cents/minute but calls to UK cell phones are 13 cents a minute Because receiving calls for free means the caller pays more. Some of the services charge as much as 40 cents a minute to call a mobile in the UK
Oct 14th, 2003, 05:41 AM
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I have used walkie-talkies - - they are a great way for two cars to stay together. There have been numerous threads on this subject, focusing in particular on the (il)legal frequencies used by walkie-talkies sold in (the US)/Europe. My experience was with walkie-talkies purchased in Germany, used (legally) in France as well )I think).
Best wishes,
Rex
Best wishes,
Rex
Oct 14th, 2003, 05:50 AM
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It is customary for all phone companies (even Germany and UK) to charge extra fees to call a mobile phone. In Germany, for example, it costs roughly 5 cents/min to call local, but 20-25 cents/min to call a German Mobile phone.
This is because mobile phones use a different "area code" than land lines (call it super-long distance), and since incoming calls are free, those who call the mobile phones must subsidize this.
GOOD NEWS, though: the U.S. dial around 10-10-987 does NOT charge extra to call a mobile.
there is a 39 cent connection fee, but afterwards, it's only 3 cents per minute to land line and mobile phones.
from their website www.1010987.com
"NO extra surcharges for calls to cell
phones or other mobile devices!"
My friends and family use it all the time to call to Germany.
This is because mobile phones use a different "area code" than land lines (call it super-long distance), and since incoming calls are free, those who call the mobile phones must subsidize this.
GOOD NEWS, though: the U.S. dial around 10-10-987 does NOT charge extra to call a mobile.
there is a 39 cent connection fee, but afterwards, it's only 3 cents per minute to land line and mobile phones.
from their website www.1010987.com
"NO extra surcharges for calls to cell
phones or other mobile devices!"
My friends and family use it all the time to call to Germany.
