Cellphone use in Ireland?
 

I have Sprint as a Cellphone carrier here in NJ, and have heard the cellphones don't work in Ireland.

I have heard Verizon has a cheap plan here (US), where you can buy a phone with a SIM card that is not activated. When you travel to Europe, you can call Verizon, and they will activate the SIM card for International use. Supposedly, you only get charged when the card is activated.

Does anyone know anything about the best way to use a cellphone in Ireland? What carriers offer US/Europe use, and which is the cheapest way to do this? We're leaving for Ireland from JFK on July 18.

Would appreciate any info.
Go raibh maith agat!

Tesco mobile is generally considered the best way to go for an Irish mobile(cell)phone. A phone will cost €25 plus €10 top up to give €20 effective credit and calls back to the USA at €0.02 per minute. Stores con be found in many Irish towns and cities including Dublin and Ennis or Limerick (for Shannon)

http://www.tescomobile.ie/

Tony:

Thanks for that info. I bought a mobile for use in European travel years ago and have bought SIMs when I got there, but the rates were never even close to that low. Last time there (last March), I never got around to buying one so I didn't even try to research. Great information.

BTW saoi, check the cost per minute on that verizon plan. It's probably ridiculously hi.

Tesco used to operate on the O2 Ireland network, but has now signed with Hutchinson for 3g coverage hence the new cheap rate long range calls. If you have a European network compatible phone then you just need a SIM. Beware of getting these off ebay as they might be the pre change versions.

Thanks, Tony.

I checked out the Tesco site......seems complicated. Also saw some not so good things about the Tesco company online.

But, if that's the only game in town......

Thanks.
Saoi

Not the only game in town by any means. 02, Vodaphone Meteor and 3 (Hutchinson) are alternatives but my own experience plus the views of visitors on TripAdvisor and IrelandYes forums is that Tesco is now the best. There had been problems with a US company refusing to accept calls from the Hutchinson and O2 networks but I don't know the fine detail on this. Nothing complicated about putting a sim card into an unlocked phone.