Another sim card question: Wind sim card in Italy
Jul 26th, 2010, 08:32 PM
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Another sim card question: Wind sim card in Italy
I am really confused about the different Voice Tariffs like Wind5, Wind9, Wind12 etc. because their website does not say how much I need to pay for the sim card.
Do I just walk into a Wind store in Italy and tell them that I want a sim card for Wind9, for example, and they will activate it at the store for me and I can start using it? If that's true then it is like "pay as you go". Do I not have to BUY the sim card first?
If what I thought is true, then why would anyone go to Cellular Abroad and pay 59 plus shipping to buy a similar type of sim card (with similar rates)??
I am fairly ignorant in this - any help is much appreciated. Thanks.
Do I just walk into a Wind store in Italy and tell them that I want a sim card for Wind9, for example, and they will activate it at the store for me and I can start using it? If that's true then it is like "pay as you go". Do I not have to BUY the sim card first?
If what I thought is true, then why would anyone go to Cellular Abroad and pay 59 plus shipping to buy a similar type of sim card (with similar rates)??
I am fairly ignorant in this - any help is much appreciated. Thanks.
Jul 26th, 2010, 10:58 PM
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There is a statement just above the list of tariffs -- for example, "La SIM Wind 9 costa 10 euro e contiene 5 euro di traffico incluso." SIM costs 10€ and comes with 5€ of traffic (airtime.)
I have used Vodafone and TIM SIMs. The process was roughly what you envisioned. The process took about 20mins of paper work this and that, and they needed to see my passport. Depending on where you find the store, the sales person might speak very little English, but they usually can figure out what you are looking for. I always seemed to hit the store when there were mobs of people in the waiting line.
Why do anyone pay lot more for a SIM? Perhaps they don't know the local options, don't want to be bothered with the process in Italy, or their usage model actually favors getting a SIM beforehand even at a higher price.
My Vodafone SIM came locked, so I had to use the scratch off code on the plastic card that came with the SIM. My TIM SIM came unlocked. I don't know about WIND SIMs. I am referreing to SIM locks and not the network locks that the carriers put on the subsidized phones to prevent people from using their phones on someone else's network.
I have used Vodafone and TIM SIMs. The process was roughly what you envisioned. The process took about 20mins of paper work this and that, and they needed to see my passport. Depending on where you find the store, the sales person might speak very little English, but they usually can figure out what you are looking for. I always seemed to hit the store when there were mobs of people in the waiting line.
Why do anyone pay lot more for a SIM? Perhaps they don't know the local options, don't want to be bothered with the process in Italy, or their usage model actually favors getting a SIM beforehand even at a higher price.
My Vodafone SIM came locked, so I had to use the scratch off code on the plastic card that came with the SIM. My TIM SIM came unlocked. I don't know about WIND SIMs. I am referreing to SIM locks and not the network locks that the carriers put on the subsidized phones to prevent people from using their phones on someone else's network.
Jul 27th, 2010, 12:52 AM
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John
I have frequently commented on the fact that the Three network offers the best deal on a top up SIM card. I will post details of the deal later.
The only warning is that your phone has to work under UMTS. However, a plus is that on many such phones you can download Skype mobile which you can use on the Three network paying a small data connection charge. More details later.
I have frequently commented on the fact that the Three network offers the best deal on a top up SIM card. I will post details of the deal later.
The only warning is that your phone has to work under UMTS. However, a plus is that on many such phones you can download Skype mobile which you can use on the Three network paying a small data connection charge. More details later.
