Cell Phones and Internet Cafes
 

I am spending the summer in Cairo studying Arabic. I do not have a laptop to bring or a cell. How easy is internet access? What is the cheapest/most reliable place to get a cell? Is it necessary?

By all means you are going to want to buy a "mobile" (don't call them "cell" phones here - no one will know what you are talking about). Everyone carries one and they actually are pretty important for communications here. They can be bought fairly cheaply. Or, I have one you can rent from me for the summer if you want. You need to get a sim card and put your own time in it, but if you don't want to buy one of your own, it's an idea. If you do want to buy your own phone here, I found the best deal was at the Nokia Stores. They sometimes sell a budget phone with a line for something like $50. I don't know if they will have a deal like that running when you arrive, but it might be worth looking into.

Internet access is super easy. We most all have DSL access and Internet cafe's are pretty accessible and cheap. If your flat does not have DSL access already you can use the dial up access which is labeled as "free", however you do pay for it in your phone bill, as time on the phone, so it isn't totally free. If you do decide to bring a laptop, wireless cafes are everywhere, or you can hook up in your dorm room or flat easily.

Bring Cotton clothes!

You really can't live in Cairo without a mobile even for a summer. There are no yellow pages. Besides. as a student, you'll never be at home.

You should buy one that takes a prepard card.




I'd also recommend a prepaid card.

Sunshine, That isn't exactly true. There is a Yellow Pages here. It just isn't as accessible as in the states and isn't quite as reliable as in the states. Here when you take an address and rent space, you receive a phone number with an address. In the states you take your phone number with you, within limits. So if a business has moved addresses they will have a new phone number and no system in place to probably give you the new number.
Still it is much simpler to carry a mobile and have a means to be reached and reach others easily. It is probably less expensive here than in the states too.

Debbie, But that's only for businesses, yes?

Hati, only the person who dials the phone call pays for the call-- not like in the US where both callers call. So it's cheaper. So people often dial & let it ring & hang up. You'll find out who called on the Missed Call feature.

Aren't the Yellow Pages only for business everywhere? Or did things change back home and Yellow Pages covers residential now too?

Sorry. I meant, there are no White Pages.

Bump

Sorry, I've been out of town. Thanks for all of your replies. My son leaves for Cairo in two days. When we lived in Egypt 30 years ago phones were not generally available. We only made two calls in four years! Times have changed.