Blackberry or I Phone for India trip?
Nov 22nd, 2009, 11:38 AM
#1
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Blackberry or I Phone for India trip?
Hi,
I'm going to India for ten days early next year -- my first time in Asia. (Excited.)
When I travel in Europe I take a simpleT-Mobile 4 band cell phone that the company unlocks -- but for this trip I'd like to be able to access my email from everywhere without hunting down a cyber cafe. So I decided to upgrade.
I like the look of the I Phone but wonder if ATT has as good coverage as Verizon abroad -- specifically in India.
Does anyone have experience with either a (American-based) Blackberry or I Phone in India and Hong Kong? (I have a short stopover there.) Any preferences, or things I should think about?
Thank you for any advice!
I'm going to India for ten days early next year -- my first time in Asia. (Excited.)
When I travel in Europe I take a simpleT-Mobile 4 band cell phone that the company unlocks -- but for this trip I'd like to be able to access my email from everywhere without hunting down a cyber cafe. So I decided to upgrade.
I like the look of the I Phone but wonder if ATT has as good coverage as Verizon abroad -- specifically in India.
Does anyone have experience with either a (American-based) Blackberry or I Phone in India and Hong Kong? (I have a short stopover there.) Any preferences, or things I should think about?
Thank you for any advice!
Nov 22nd, 2009, 02:15 PM
#2
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Neither ATT or Verizon have "coverage" in India. What will happen is you will be paying the international roaming rate for your US based carrier which is expensive. You can buy prepaid Sims in India and Hong Kong which will save you a lot of money but you must unlock your IPhone and Blackberry.
In Hong Kong you can buy prepaid Sim card with 3G data service which will enable you to use the Internet and access your email from either your Blackberry or IPhone. http://www.three.com.hk/website/appm...10594&lang=eng
I am not sure if India will have the same thing but you will have to look for the prepaid services with data capability and not just for phone use.
In Hong Kong you can buy prepaid Sim card with 3G data service which will enable you to use the Internet and access your email from either your Blackberry or IPhone. http://www.three.com.hk/website/appm...10594&lang=eng
I am not sure if India will have the same thing but you will have to look for the prepaid services with data capability and not just for phone use.
Nov 22nd, 2009, 05:03 PM
#3
India has excellent cell coverage all over the country, although more remote areas have very slow or non-existent data service.
I'm not sure about Verizon, but t-Mobile offers the international Blackberry roaming plan for $19 a month. I only pay for the period I am out of the country.
This enables me to send and receive unlimited emails. I set my BB so all incoming calls go directly into my voicemail, where I tell people to send me an email.
They also have an unlimited BB data plan for $24 a month.You can browse the web, and download your emails that way.
If you will be contacting people who also have Blackberries, you can use the Blackberry instant messaging service for free. You need to get their BB PIN number before you go.
If you use an Indian SIM card, your blackberry services will obviously not work, as they are tied to your US sim card.
if you will be contacting
I'm not sure about Verizon, but t-Mobile offers the international Blackberry roaming plan for $19 a month. I only pay for the period I am out of the country.
This enables me to send and receive unlimited emails. I set my BB so all incoming calls go directly into my voicemail, where I tell people to send me an email.
They also have an unlimited BB data plan for $24 a month.You can browse the web, and download your emails that way.
If you will be contacting people who also have Blackberries, you can use the Blackberry instant messaging service for free. You need to get their BB PIN number before you go.
If you use an Indian SIM card, your blackberry services will obviously not work, as they are tied to your US sim card.
if you will be contacting
Nov 23rd, 2009, 12:32 PM
#5
oops! that last incomplete sentence was part of an earlier paragraph. It disappeared, and I didn't see it at the bottom.
BTW- I usually take two phones to India. I use an old, unlocked cell phone with quad bands ( I think it is the 900 you need in India), and my BB. I get an india prepaid SIM card for the old phone so I can make cheap calls locally (taxis, hotels, etc) and use my BB for emails to & from home. If you do plan to get a SIM card, take a visa size photo with you, as india requires registration for SIM cards.
I've used AirTel and Vodaphone. Both are similar prices, and very easy to find lots of offices in any city.
BTW- I usually take two phones to India. I use an old, unlocked cell phone with quad bands ( I think it is the 900 you need in India), and my BB. I get an india prepaid SIM card for the old phone so I can make cheap calls locally (taxis, hotels, etc) and use my BB for emails to & from home. If you do plan to get a SIM card, take a visa size photo with you, as india requires registration for SIM cards.
I've used AirTel and Vodaphone. Both are similar prices, and very easy to find lots of offices in any city.
Dec 16th, 2009, 05:24 PM
#6
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Thank you, lcuy! I have gotten a T-mobile G1, like an I-phone, and sure enough, TMobile looks like the major India carrier. I'll take my old quad band for locals...and one of those flattering passport pictures. 
I really appreciate your help!
I really appreciate your help!
Jan 9th, 2010, 10:38 AM
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A last note about this -- I'm exchanging my G1 Android for a Blackberry at TMobile. I just discovered the flat rate data access plan is for Blackberry only.
Also, apparently G1 owners who don't turn off their data roaming before they leave can accidentally incur big bills as their phone blithely plays on the internet as they travel, without their knowlege.
Thank you again Lcuy -- and I wanted to pass this along!
Also, apparently G1 owners who don't turn off their data roaming before they leave can accidentally incur big bills as their phone blithely plays on the internet as they travel, without their knowlege.
Thank you again Lcuy -- and I wanted to pass this along!
Sep 5th, 2011, 08:24 PM
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Just wanted to thank everybody -- Lcuy, RHKKMK, Hanuman, Marion and the inimitable Dogster, for your advice last year. I did have a great trip...astonishing...and wrote a trip report that I didn't actually post. I intend to do so this week, if late is ok.
Your help, encouragement and advice meant so much!
Your help, encouragement and advice meant so much!
Sep 6th, 2011, 04:49 AM
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For your further info, if you wish to use your Verizon I-phone for internet purposes only, you can put the phone on airplane mode and receive internet service wherever there is wi-fi service. Verizon will loan you, free of charge, a temporary phone with sim card that you can use while in India. Any phone fees for calls would be your responsibility.
