Dummies Guide to Cell Phones in Europe
#1
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Dummies Guide to Cell Phones in Europe
Please take pity on me. There are 108 responses to a recent thread on cellphone use in Europe and I don't understand most of the posts.
Here's the situation:
I don't have a cellphone and barely know how to use one, so all that information is Greek to me.
SO has one and wants to take it to France or buy a 'temporary' one there.
It will only be used for the rare call to Canada to check on elderly mom or (god forbid) emergency calls from Canada.
I don't know what SIM is.
What's his best option for best service/least expense? Please explain to me in words of one syllable because I am cellphonally-challenged.
Ta.
Here's the situation:
I don't have a cellphone and barely know how to use one, so all that information is Greek to me.
SO has one and wants to take it to France or buy a 'temporary' one there.
It will only be used for the rare call to Canada to check on elderly mom or (god forbid) emergency calls from Canada.
I don't know what SIM is.
What's his best option for best service/least expense? Please explain to me in words of one syllable because I am cellphonally-challenged.
Ta.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
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If you happen to rent a car through www.autoeurope.com, they're currently offering a free one week phone rental.
Also, do they have t-mobile in Canada? My T-Mobile Blackberry is supposedly ready to work in Europe out-of-the box. I have not confirmed this yet.
Also, do they have t-mobile in Canada? My T-Mobile Blackberry is supposedly ready to work in Europe out-of-the box. I have not confirmed this yet.
#3
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Hi john,
Is autoeurope a reliable rental company with competitive rates? That might kill two birds (poor birds!) with one stone. I assume they'd give you the free week and then let you pay for the rest of the time you need.
I've decided that since I've done all the work of planning this trip, I'm going to give all the cellphone info to SO and let him figure it out!
Is autoeurope a reliable rental company with competitive rates? That might kill two birds (poor birds!) with one stone. I assume they'd give you the free week and then let you pay for the rest of the time you need.
I've decided that since I've done all the work of planning this trip, I'm going to give all the cellphone info to SO and let him figure it out!
#4
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If you're planning to subscribe in Canada soon, I suggest that you sign up with T-Mobile. Then you just take your phone (be sure the one you get is quad-band) with you and it all plays without any mess.
#6
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Rogers/Fido is the service in Canada that allows you to use your phone in Europe. Make sure you have a quad-band phone and tell them where you will be in Europe. When I went to France last year, as soon as I turned my phone on after landing I got a text message from Fido saying that I was activated and had no trouble using it. I too wanted the ability to just call home and be reachable for emergencies.Hope this helps.
#10
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Just thought it would be simpler, since you've confessed up front your inexperience whereas SO has some experience. You said you didn't understand most of the posts on previous (and detailed) threads, so did SO read these? It might save folks from having to repeat to you what SO might be able to follow just fine.
#11
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I'm going to give him all the information on here and let him sort through it. Unfortunately, he has only slightly more experience than I do -- bought a phone, bought a plan. That's it. He didn't have one last time we went to Europe.
#13
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I used my Fido phone in Europe too, after asking Fido for it to be enabled. You need a tri-band or quad-band GSM-enabled phone. The downside is that it's so expensive - $2/minute to call or receive calls.
#14
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I will be in ... from .. too. Will be making calls to... for ... hours/minutes a day. Looking for (cheap/convenient)...
Would buy phone (and card) for ... max. Will (will not) be travelling to other countries. Want to keep bill below ... $,€,Pound,Peso.
Would buy phone (and card) for ... max. Will (will not) be travelling to other countries. Want to keep bill below ... $,€,Pound,Peso.