Anyone know/use this telestial cell phone? in Italy?
 

We are traveling through Italy and will either buy a calling card, cheap phone, or this:
http://www.telestial.com/promotions/may/packlite.php

Any ideas?

I hope to know more about this in Oct. when I take my Telestial (just bought online in last 15 minutes!) to France with me!

The phone is OK, and you can't beat the price. Drawbacks are a) the calling rate is high, and b) the phone can't be used in the US.

An alternative is to buy an unlocked gsm phone, either a quad band or a European style triband ($50 and up on ebay, $100 and up from http://www.store.motorola.com/mot/en...irect/motorola
or tigerdirect.com), and a sim you can use in Italy. Search this forum for information on how to buy a local sim in Italy. International sims are listed and discussed at
www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html

Unless one subscribes to T-Mobile or AT&amp;T, they can't use a GSM phone in the US anyway - so the lack of US frequencies on the Telestial phone isn't an issue. And if they <u>do</u> subscribe to T-Mobile or AT&amp;T, their current phone will probably work in Europe anyway.

The advantage of Telestial's package is that you get an <u>unlocked</u> Europe phone that you can use with local SIMs (bundled with a relatively few minutes of airtime on their SIM) - without the risk and uncertainty of eBay or the hassle of getting a phone unlocked.

If I were starting from scratch choosing a cellular carrier for both the US and Europe, I'd sign up on T-Mobile with wirefly.com and opt for the Dash. It's like a Blackberry - only free. Click here: tinyurl.com/yvlusv

That looks like a great deal, Robespierre. Obviously, the charger will only work in the US. Would I be able to buy an international converter to use when I travel to France? Thanks for all your great advice. I am a newbie with all this.

Most phones sold today throughout the world have what are called dual voltage chargers (as do most electronic products)...that means they will work on 120 volts as found in North America and 220 volts as found in Europe...what will be different are the plugs...since it is a European model phone chances are it will come with a charge with European plugs...if you wish to charge the phone up in the USA before you leave you will need a plug adapter available for not too much at many electronic shops.

Are we sure the Telestial phone is <b>unlocked</b>?

HI,
I was going to get the Mobal phone but the Telestial looks like a better deal. Opinions? Thanks

telestial's website states phone is unlocked.

<b><font color="blue">TELESTIAL'S WEB SITE SAYS THE PHONE IS UNLOCKED!</font></b>

Here: http://www.telestial.com/gsm_phones.php

Thanks! $49 for a brand new unlocked 900/1800 phone is not a bad deal, even if you never use their service.