Stupid question re: using intl SIM card
 

My cell provider doesn't have international data available so I plan to buy a SIM card once we arrive in Paris. I have a Samsung Galaxy S9, it's unlocked, and I've set it up for international travel. Once I insert the SIM card, will all my information still be on my phone? I.e., apps, logins, email, etc.

I know it's a stupid question, but I've googled for the past two days and don't see it addressed anywhere.

Thanks!

flwrhead

Take the SIM out of your phone. Turn it on. What you have is not on the SIM.

I've done this with my iPhone and the only thing that changes is my phone number. Apps, email, etc., all work as before.

Your phone is a computer. That is what your apps and email etc are on. You could use it even if you didn't have a phone plan using Wifi for whatever is possible using Wifi.

Yes, everything will still be there.

You can use your phone without any SIM purely on WiFi if you want - for everything except calling and "regular texting."

I had the same concern when we bought SIM cards in London for our five weeks in Europe. Everything was still on the phone, we didn't 'lose' anything. We both have newish Samsung smartphones. It amazes me that nearly everyone takes a smartphone travelling but there is nothing straightforward about using them overseas with a local SIM card. You also have to provide your mobile number on bookings - airlines, car hire, trains, hotels, etc etc but you end up with a different phone number with a local SIM card. It would be better if we could all keep and use our normal SIM/numbers and costs were the same as at home, instead of astronomical because you are in another country.

By the way, it took about 3 hours before the travel SIM cards started working, by which stage I was convinced something was wrong. Not sure why the delay.

Kay

Americans, at least, can get reasonably affordable international roaming plans now with carriers like T-Mobile and Sprint.

Otherwise, if you want to know your international number ahead of time, buy a SIM before you leave for Europe. E.g. Dutch Vodafone SIM that you can buy on eBay.

Yes, it can take a few hours for a new SIM to be activated.

No worries, all your Apps and info will be there.

Thanks, everyone!
 

Thank you all so much, I told you it was a stupid question! Thank you especially to Kay, for letting me know about the delay in a new sim card being activated.

Not a stupid question at all.

One more thing: Do you still have the box your phone came in? There may be a little key in there that allows you to pop open the tray for the SIM card. Bring that with you on your trip, and also a little pill box or a tiny case to carry (and not lose) your current US SIM card.

If you buy your SIM card there, you can ask the seller to help you install it in your phone.

You will want to use the little key when you put your own SIM card back in when you land in the USA. You could also possibly use a paper clip. But these things cannot be bought in an airport store.

Don’t do what I did, arrived in Zurich with my phone leaving my Australian SIM card behind so I didn’t lose it...but the we somehow took the holder part out too. We had never taken a SIM card out before, so didn’t know this. But, we did feel mighty foolish, having queued for 30 minutes in store. No holder, no SIM card, LOL.
The stores are well used to travellers not having a clue, they have always installed the cards for us since. They will tell you what to do, how long before it is activated, etc.
Once I have the number, I message my accommodation, because I don’t know my number in advance.
I did get a text (in German) on my recent trip telling me I only had €2 left or something on a €40 plan, having not made a call, I returned to the store and the attendant there said not to worry, I had unlimited local calls. So I don’t know what that was about, just made sure I didn’t have mobile data turned on.
By the way, I asked my son exactly the same question you are asking :lol:
I like to think it’s not a stupid question.

Ditto...the SIM card is the part that connects you to a cellular network...that's all it does...everything else your phone does resides on the phone apart from the SIM.

BUT...you will have a local number, not the number associate with your US SIM.

The rest of everything does not disappear when a new SIM is inserted (otherwise you could never switch carriers at home.) When you pop the SIM into your phone, it usually works within seconds...assuming the SIM already has a local phone number working -- which the ones you buy in stores, do.

A paper clip works on iPhones to pop out the tray, but as stated, the shop will do all that for you.

Remember to turn off cellular data. (GPS does not use cellular data -- except for traffic updates and links to places -- and it is very helpful when walking around a new city.)

QUESTION: Do you still need a passport to buy SIMs, as you do in some countries?

ssander

In France (and not just France), you must present official identification to buy a SIM card. Anonymous telephones are illegal for security reasons. Obviously this is a bit ridiculous, because I went to an Orange boutique with a friend from South Africa. She didn't have her passport for buying her SIM, so I gave my identity instead. If she had been a terrorist, I would have gone to prison instead.

In France, supposedly you still do. But, Orange is somehow allowed to sell their Orange Holiday SIM on Amazon to US customers (maybe to others), and people are able to use it for two weeks without registering it with a passport. So, they can buy the SIM in advance, activate the SIM the day before they travel to France, and maybe that's all they need if their trip is only two weeks long. If you want to add credit to the SIM after two weeks, then you need to register it, but even that I understand may be able to be done online on their website.

The Orange Holiday SIM is no great bargain unless you need to call back to the US. 40 Euro and only good for 2 weeks

If you don't need to make a lot of calls beyond Europe, wait til you get to France and get a topup SIM (I think with Orange it's called a Mobicarte). 10 Euro if I recall and good for 30 days

Yes bring your passport.

Yes, the Orange Holiday SIM is expensive, and I wouldn't buy one. (I mentioned it as an example of a French SIM not requiring a passport for purchase.) But, it might work for some people. For a two week trip, it's still cheaper than $10/day for an international roaming plan, and it gives you a French phone number in advance to give to locals who need to contact you. I still prefer the Dutch Vodafone SIM, but the Orange Holiday SIM may be easier for people to set up on their own.

Even the very cheapest SIMs require an identity document for purchase.

I have yet to buy an overseas SIM on-site where I didn't have to show the original passport. Trying to remember what forms of payment are possible. I'd have cash, a debit card and a credit card on hand.

I think Andrew likes to buy his on ebay before he travels. Not an option I'd suggest for SIM newbies which many Americans are.

And yes, another option is to use your lodging or other free WiFi to connect to the internet. If using a phone for navigation be sure that you know how to save any downloaded Google Maps and not have them cut out on you midstream. Paper maps are often useful.

Try buying one in a country like the Netherlands that doesn't require registration.

I've talked a number of newbies through setting up and using the Dutch Vodafone SIM in Europe (purchased on eBay ahead of time) with good feedback. The SIM is also active for 6 months after last major activity (just send a text once every six months with credit remaining on the SIM) and you can keep using it on subsequent trips. I used mine again in Portugal in May - cost me all of 10 euros for 2GB of data, plenty for my nine day trip.

But, I like having a working phone when I land in the first country of my trip. That's one advantage of buying one ahead of time; another is that you get an EU phone number ahead of time you can give to people. Some airports have stores where you can buy SIMs, but personally I just want to get out of there and on to the first place ASAP when I land. I'm sure most people can survive without a phone (other than WiFi) for the first day until they can find a store to buy a SIM, but the Dutch Vodafone SIM worked very well for me.

Yeah, I'm going travel via Holland just so I can buy a SIM without a passport..NOT!