Forrestzoe

I have read around a quite a bit on the cell phones (Mobal/Telestial)...guess I don't understand it all. I am traveling to France and Italy. Do I have to purchase separate sim cards for each country or would say the basic 49.00 Telestial phone with prepaid card do fine for me. The need is basically to check in on my parents who are watching our children. Thanks for any thoughts...I don't know what I would do without all the fodorite feedback and suggestions! Thanks!

AnnMarie_C

We use the Mobal phone--there's only one sim card and it comes with the phone so once you receive your phone you're good to go. Somewhere on the Mobal.com website is a list of the countries where your phone can be used--I know it works in Italy and France but check the website to see where else you may use it.

We use ours to call home, check messages, etc.

Forrestzoe

Thank you!

gracejoan3

Just remember that the Mobal telephone number is an Estonian number. This means that all your calls to or from this number are via Estonia.

lvktravel

I got the Mobal phone two years ago and it is a UK number. No problems using the phone, worked out fine.

AnnMarie_C

Our cell number is also a UK number.

gracejoan3

My Mobal from 2 yrs ago is an Estonia number.

I have since bought the RoamSimple quad phone(unlocked) and I buy the SIM for where I will be ($9). Taking it to Paris in a couple weeks. I have a France phone number, so all calls to and from me are within France..not UK, Estonia or elsewhere.

I also take my laptop..so I am well covered....

gracejoan3

I have to correct my last post...I have the Mobal, the Range Roamer and the Roam Simple phones!! The Mobal has a UK number, the Range Roamer has an Estonian number. I used each of them on a couple trips. I decided that the best way to go is with an unlocked quad phone. The phone is $40...the SIM is $9 for an all Europe, or for a single country. I get a France SIM, as that is where I really travel extensively. So..all my calls are TO/From a France telephone number..not one from the UK or Estonia, or wherever. France friends, restaurants etc. much prefer to call me at a France number than calling me with a UK or Estonian number!! Some would just not bother to return a call!!

Many options for you to choose....we all have our preferences, for different reasons..

Enjoy.......

travelchat

I have the Mobal phone at a cost of $99 - covers 170 countries - because I need 24/7 access to family members, both outgoing and incoming when I travel. It has a UK number. I've used the phone in Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Poland so far. The reception on this phone is amazing. There is no monthly charge and you pay only for minutes. It's not the cheapest, but it's dependable and that's of paramount importance for me.

Clarin

Another vote for the Mobal. I bought the $99 phone (2 years ago) so I could use it in US too - tho only use it @ airport before & after trips abroad. It has a UK number, and as travelchat noted, there are no monthly fees, as you pay per minute.

Debs

We have the Mobal $49 phone w/UK phone #. No vm and not able to use from US. One SIM card and you're good to go in over 170 countries. This basic version fits our needs. Excellent call quality and very fast connection times. Once you buy it, you own it without additional monthly fees. Calls rounded up to nearest minute once call is completed. Cheaper models are available, but this provides peace of mind and has been dependable when needed.

ciaony

Anyone know where I can get my European cell phones unlocked here in NYC?

Linda431

Are you sure they're locked? My impression (mistaken probably) was that only U.S. carriers locked their phones.

Pete_R

As a rule if a phone is bought from a network it will be locked, this is true everywhere (inc. Europe.)