Hello,

I've tried to sort through the information on this, but I've only ended up more and more confused.

My husband and I will be traveling to Scotland in October. We have a 1-year-old, and want our family to be able to reach us quickly in case of emergency. We're looking into carrying a cell phone for that reason.

So to clarify, what I'm looking for is a phone to carry on which my family can call me. If this were a US number, it would be better. I do NOT plan to make outgoing calls with this phone (except, God forbid, in case of emergency and no access to other phones).

My phone is not capable of International service and my provider (Sprint) referred me to brightroam.com. Are there better options? Or should I go with this?

Thanks!!

You just want a phone on which your family can call you? Most supermarkets will have phones at around £10 - add a £5 top up and you would be sorted.
Tesco currently has some phones on Orange for around £18 that include £10 calling credit.

Go to Tesco or any Carphone Warehouse near or in every tube station in London, buy a T-Mobile Samsung E1150i for about 14 quid and a T-Mobile Sim Pak. Tell the retail specialist to top it off the sim with 20 quid. Then I call the USA via www.yourcallworld.com, and pay 3p a minute. They can call you anytime, anywhere. If you want them to call you all the time for cheap, they can use Skype. You can purchase your phone ahead of time online and pick it up at the store of your choice in London and only spend a couple of minutes in the store.

I agree with the other posters that the cheapest and most convenient way of getting a phone is waiting until you are over there and buying a disposable one. The number will be a UK one but that shouldn't be a problem for your family. (They just have to dial a couple of exra digits and if it is an emergency they won't mind.)The only problem is that you won't have the number to tell them in advance.

If you do have a GMS phone with international frequencies (look for 900 and 1800) you can bring your existing phone and get a SIM card whilst there.

Long time ago before cells became so cheap I got a cell through mobal.com. I just reactivate my account when I go back over. It costs about $1 a minute so I just use that phone for emergencies.

Are the incoming mobile calls in the UK free just as they are on the continent?

Thanks!

"Are the incoming mobile calls in the UK free just as they are on the continent?"
Yes.

Free yes, but whoever calls you from the US is paying a bunch on that end.

Buying British PAYG card will be the cheapest way to get in touch with your family. Try out such operators like: NowMobile, Vectone Mobile, Lycamobile or GT mobile. Their rates for calling USA is between 1p and 4p for a minute (landline or mobile)