impacked

My husband wants to take his Iphone to India. I think he's crazy because when ever we travel international we despite getting the "international plan" we always come home to a huge bill. We follow the directions and turn off Data Roaming etc. But, we always end up on the phone with AT&T (our phone service) disputing our huge bill.

I thought we should take an old phone (or buys a cheap one there) and getting a sim card. It was suggested we could get a sim card there (or the Iphone) and my husband could get his text's etc.

Please, forgive my Ignorance but if he do take an iphone and get a sim card there can pay a one time fee for the sim card? Will we have the same # and can we receive & send texts?
I told him I would spend my money on shopping and he can spend his on his Iphone bill (which I really don't want him to have to do.)

Thank you so much for helping me understand. ANd, any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

uhoh_busted

If you buy a sim card there (assuming your iPhone is unlocked...which must be done before you leave) you will get a new number for that card. We plan to use an old unlocked phone that we always use for travel this way. I am also taking my iPhone, but keeping the digital service turned off. Probably in airplane mode. I will use it for wifi. Did this in May in Belize and it worked fine. I talked with At&t about a minimal international serviceplan and decided that I will not get it. If in an emergency I need to use it to phone home, I will pay $2.50 per minute. I don't plan an emergency, but I am thinking that would be the least of my worries if one should occur.

impacked

Thank you. So, let's say my iphone is unlocked and I get a sim card there....I don't pay a fee to AT&T but only for the sim card. I will get a new number but can I use it for text message and wifi?

wally34949

I always take my iPhone but I keep it on Airplane mode when I travel internationally. Everyone has wifi now.

I'd pick up a cheap phone in India.

Hanuman

I don't know India that well but when you buy a new SIM card for your iPhone make sure it includes "data" and preferably 3G or 4G. Buy a prepaid SIM and enough Mbs for your need and you will be able to enjoy the full benefit of your phone like map and navigation etc.

WIFI at hotels or INNs are notoriously slow and often the 3G or 4G from the phone service provider will offer quicker internet speed or access.

impacked

Thank you...think I've talked him into leaving the iphone at home and pick up a cell there.

obione980

Buying a sim card in India is a very bureaucratic procedure - slow to activate, need for verifiable address etc - the usual Indian bureaucratic maze. If you have someone (an Indian citizen) who can buy one for you - that's the way to go. Our Indian Travel Agent gets one for us. Service is quite good, broad coverage - cheap to use too.

obione980

impacked - just realised you're from the US. Your phone must be a gsm phone to get service in India. The number attaches to the sim card - not the actual phone - and much of the stuff you have saved is on the sim, not in the phone - so you'll need to know the numbers of people you wish to call. Calls to the US will be International, and require International codes (USA is '1'). Calls from the USA to your Indian number will require the US International exit code - '011' plus the code for India '91'.

crosscheck

We did both - took the iPhone and got an Indian SIM for another unlocked phone. Got the Verizon $25 intl. data plan for the iPhone, which gives you 100mg of data for texting, receiving email, surfing the internet, Facetime, etc., but doesn't include calls. As noted above, there is wifi EVERYWHERE, so the 100mg was more than sufficient.

Also got an Indian SIM, which we put in an unlocked Blackberry - used for super cheap calls, both domestic and international.

thursdaysd

You could also buy an international SIM before you go, try:

ekit.com
telestial.com

crosscheck

Correction: MB

Hanuman

100mg of ..... can be good!

lcuy

T-Mobile plans now offer free UNLIMITED data in most countries. Email, internet, texts free!... Phone calls, both local and long dist are $.20/min.

They warned us that the speeds may not be 4G or 5G, but so far it has been very fast in Japan, Thailand, and Cambodia.

As I've always used wifi on trips in the past, I am really enjoying the luxury of using my phone's GPS while out and about in Siem Reap.

PS I made them send me an email confirming the details of these features, as it really seemed too good to be true!