Renting cell phones
 

Does anyone have information on how/where to rent a cell phone in Italy? I would like to rent one so I can keep in contact easily with my family in California. <BR>Thank you.

Go to Voicestream.com or call 877.666.4246. They have a program where you rent the phone in US for $49 per month and then pay for calls you make in Italy. Works well. You get your number before you leave States so you can give to people. Also has voice mail. They provide a fed-ex envelope to mail back on your return to US.

www.worldcell.com or www.autoeurope.com are just two of the numerous available companies that come readily to mind. <BR> <BR>I also recently posted my own positive experience with BUYing a "pre-paid" phone in Italy - - it was $80 with $25 in pre-paid time on it - - (I will bring that message back to the top for you) - - especially since I am more than willing to sell or "rent" the phone to you, if you wish. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex Bickers <BR>

I will check out voicestream. <BR> <BR>Rex, <BR>How much would you sell the phone for? I assume I get whatever time is left on the phone? How much would you rent it for?? <BR>I checked out autoeurope and they seemed pretty expensive ($60.00/week plus $30.00 activation fee and I think the calls were pricey) <BR>Thanks

Yes, of course, you can have any time left on it (a little over $10, as I recall). I also happen to have bought a Telecom Italia phone card (for use at pay phones) - - it's only 5000 ITL ($2.50 USD), and I will throw that in for free. <BR> <BR>As for my asking price, it is only worth what someone would like to pay me for it. $55? - - and as for "rental", I am inclined to say that the price to ship it to you is the same - - with a promise to buy it back from you for $30? <BR> <BR>Please feel free to write to me directly - - or perhaps this would best be handled on e-Bay - - that provides certain assurances to seller and buyer both. <BR>

Bob, <BR>Voicestream quoted me $8.00/day for phone rental; $2.10/min incoming and outgoing, $1.90 for local calls. Plus $1.00/day insurance. Maybe you got some sort of deal for $49.

My husband & I rented a cell phone (my travel agent recommended this company) when we went to Spain & Paris 3 weeks ago. It was through UniverCell and their customer service # is 1-800-765-2355. It came with 2 charged batteries, a 220v charger, hands free kit & leather case included. The rental fee is $24.99 for the first week and $19.99 for additional weeks. Incoming calls are a flat rate of 99 cents per minute and $1.75 for outgoing calls. We were very pleased with this company. When we returned from our trip, we put the phone in the pre-paid padded envelope they enclosed & dropped it in a UPS drop box. <BR> Hope this helps.

Try www.smartcoms.com, they rent phones for use overseas. <BR>

Just returned last night from Italy & returned our cell phone this AM. We rented our car from AutoEurope and got a free cell phone for use in Italy. They mail it to you before you leave on your trip. You do have to pay(with credit card) a $600.00 deposit...this is for any calls you make. It was easy. Our credit card is suppose to be credited with any money remaining.

Teener: Re my post on Voicestream. Check again. I have used them 3 or 4 times and rate was always the same deal. Just used them in July 01 for the $49.00 per month plus calls. If they changed their program I will also change my vendor on next trip. The UniverCell deal above looked good to me if Voicestream has flaked out.

Rex, <BR>You earlier mentioned that the phone you bought was only good in Italy. I seems to me that all you would have to do is buy a new prepaid sim card for your phone to make calls in France,or wherever. <BR>p.s. did you sell your phone?

I just called VoiceStream who is my cellphone carrier. If you have a phone such as certain Ericksons and Nokias you can pay a certain minimal fee and have it set up for international calling, and then just have your account set for international calling in your service plan for the month you are away. Otherwise, you can rent a phone for $49.00 (8 days - 30 days) and then pay $2.40 per minute to call the States, $1.40 per minute to receive a call, and they offer some special discounts for other things such as car rental, hotel, etc. I am staying with my own company.

TTT

<BR>-- UP

To Bill: <BR> <BR>You would think that might be true, but I don't know to what extent the phone is pre-programmed to only recognize Telecom Italia (or whatever Italian company is selling the air time). <BR> <BR>And no, I did not sell it. The timing of the inquiry from "teener" happened to coincide almost exactly with the state Department announcement urging particular caution in Italy. She/they canceled their trip - - or so I last heard. I have not tried e-mailing back, after the message that this what she/they planned to do. <BR>

"teener" ultimately did contact me by e-mail, and ultimately did buy it.<BR><BR>She was very happy with it, and even offered to send it back to me. As I have no particular use for it, I didn't ask her to send it back to me.<BR><BR>But perhaps someone has a use for it.<BR>

If you have a cell that works in Italy, then it can work all over Europe too.<BR>If you are using Omnitel or TIM (should be the same for Wind, Blue, etc), all you have to do is go to that store and give them your credit card number as security. This releases your phone.<BR>I have never had to change my cards to make phone calls.<BR>My card is my personal phone book and and would not be happy to change it.

I made the first response to this post back in October. Just used Voicestream again for trip to Germany and it worked fine, as usual. Same $49 for one month plus calls. Renting works well for me as I only need this for trips to Europe. I imagine that as cell phones progress this will no longer be as necessary and it will be more economical to just get the one phone to do all. For now, the Voicestream rental has always arrived on time and phones have done as they were advertised.

to the top, for tom...<BR>

and again...<BR>