Hi everyone,

My wife and I have smartphones (Apples) that we would like to use in Spain (calls only, no data). What can we do to avoid the very expensive Cdn roaming charges? We've been told to use SIM cards, buy "disposable" phones, purchase time, all things we don't know about

Thanks,
Mike

I've read that disposable phones for tourists are sold in Spain. However, you can also get a suitable phone before you leave home and then just get a SIM card when you get to Spain and put some credit on it. If you each want a phone, ask if there's a plan that lets you call a "favorite" number free. If you want to call home, ask if there's a plan for international calls.

If you want to look for a cheap phone before you leave home, look on Amazon or EBay for an "unlocked GSM quadband" cell phone. Amazon has a number of phones under $30, and even a few under $20. With today's exchange rates, I don't think you'll find anything at a similar price in Europe. Read the reviews to see if anyone has actually used the phone in Europe. This one, for example, looks like a good choice:

http://www.amazon.com/BLU-Quadband-U...nd+cell+phones

Apparently the phone's default language is Spanish, but it can be changed to English.

It you had T-Mobile as a service provider, there wouldn't be an issue with using your iPhones in Spain, or elsewhere just the way they are. There are no data or messaging charges when traveling in the EU and phone calls are $0.20/minute, local or calls back home. It you have an iPhone 4S or newer, you can get free calling from within a WiFi zone anywhere you travel.

go to any phone shop and you will find some sort of offer SIM with basic phone can cost as little as 30€ with some call time included.
here is what you can get.
http://www.movistar.es/particulares/...viles-tarjeta/

PS from July roaming charges in Europe are going to be lower.
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/roaming-tariffs

HI Mike - in order to give you a good answer we will need more information. Specifically, what is your current phone provider and what specific model of iPhones do you have?

Hi griz_fan,

Bell Canada and iPhone4. We plan on very limited use - no calls back home for instance.

Mike

You should check with Bell Canada regarding their roaming plans. They should offer a data plan, but sadly, the iPhone 4 does not have Wi-Fi calling, which would normally be free. You would have to upgrade to at least the iPhone 4S.

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MichaelLoughman and tedgale,

Since you're in Canada get thephone unlocked. There are dozens of places who do this in Ottawa for example... AlloAllo on Bronson is one. Then you can insert the European SIM of choice and you're good to go. The benefit of this is no extra expense buying another phone, you get to use your own phone which you are already comfortable with and you can preload apps before you leave.

Just called Bell Canada. They have a plan that costs $45 CDN that includes 60 minutes of calls and 200 texts. That is plenty for us; we won't have to take apart phones

Sounds like a reasonable plan as you can't switch to T-Mobile.

As Robert 2533 mentioned, you would need to have at least an iPhone 4S for this to work (since it is a quad band phone compatible with European mobile phone networks).
Prior to the 4S, iPhones either supported CDMA (Bell Canada, Verizon, for example) or GSM networks (used in Europe and AT&T in the US). So, your iPhone 4 isn't compatible with the GSM networks in Europe.

So, if you've been thinking of upgrading, this might be a good excuse, so you can get a quad band phone. Or, you need to decide if you need mobile data or not. If not, get some cheap phones for calls/texts while there, turn off the cellular network on your iPhone 4 and use it only on WiFi (or bring an iPod touch).

hope that helps!