I will be traveling through Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Was looking into getting a phone from Cello Mobile (http://www.cellomobileusa.com/International_Phones.htm) .. Anyone ever use them???? They say they utilize the VodaPhone networks. They give you a UK cell Phone #

Hi Rob,

A. Check the per minute rates
B. How much do they want as a deposit on the phone?
C. If the phone is for emergency only, you might want to buy the $49 phone form www.mobal.com.

Ira,

Incoming phone calls are free.. I can get a phone card to call from the US to the UK cell # for 10 cent/min. Outgoing calls to US are 69cents/min. Text messages are 25 cents to send, 15 to receive. Not sure about the deposit. I will have my 23 y/o daughter with me who will want to talk to her finance daily... not to mention my ex who will want to talk to her
Rental is only $25 for first week then dollar a day. Plus $1/day insurance ($36 for my total trip). If I get a 200 min phone card and limit them to 3-4 texts a day I think I make out better then buying phone and paying their rates. What do you think?

I attempted to rent a cello mobile phone. I paid the fee, they delivered a broken phone. They refuse to refund and are quite snotty about it. I have filed a complaint with the BBB, my credit card company and the state attorney general. DON'T get one from Cello Mobile!!

check into a mobal phone. They give you a phone with a UK number. Incoming calls and texts are free. Outgoing to us from UK was 1 something a minute. Outgoing texts were .80 each. They charge you for the phone and it comes with a sim card ready to use. You are only charged once you make calls. We got the phone for 99 dollars and that included 40dollars worth of talk time. I have yet to receive a bill. I doubt we used the whole 40 but who knows. I can use the phone again on later trips. Check their website. It should be mobal.com They delivered the phone fed ex and it came with all the adapters needed. I am pretty sure it works all through europe. We went to the UK.