Unlocked phone and getting SIM card in Europe
Apr 18th, 2009, 05:42 PM
#21
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I just bought my SIM card in Zurich, about a month ago, using SwissCom. I was in Europe for two weeks. That SwissCom card was good in Switzerland, Germany, and Amsterdam. I've done it before, and yes, the same SIM card worked in all places.
That said, I've not used them in France (Italy, yes, on a previous trip). The cost of the calls depends on whether you are calling from the country where you got the SIM card or from another country... and also, the person you are calling... same country or different one. Calls within the SIM country are the cheapest.
SwissCom "called" me back after every single call, so I always knew how many francs I had left on my phone.
There may be cheaper SIM card companies, but I like being assured that my phone will work in every country I am visiting.
That said, I've not used them in France (Italy, yes, on a previous trip). The cost of the calls depends on whether you are calling from the country where you got the SIM card or from another country... and also, the person you are calling... same country or different one. Calls within the SIM country are the cheapest.
SwissCom "called" me back after every single call, so I always knew how many francs I had left on my phone.
There may be cheaper SIM card companies, but I like being assured that my phone will work in every country I am visiting.
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:23 PM
#22
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T-Mo UK is still giving away <B>free pay-as-you-go SIMs</B>, which they will deliver to your hotel: http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/free-...-go-sim-cards/
The only downside here is that you won't know your phone number(s) until you get the chips.
If you have a SmartPhone or PDA and want internet in the UK, see http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/m...on-your-phone/
The only downside here is that you won't know your phone number(s) until you get the chips.
If you have a SmartPhone or PDA and want internet in the UK, see http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/m...on-your-phone/
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:36 PM
#23
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There is so much information about SIM cards it was very difficult for me to decide on one last year but went with United Mobile. www.united-mobile.com I ordered the card online, had it before we left home and was able to try it out and give the number to family,etc. It worked in Germany and France just fine and is supposed to work worldwide, I believe. I am adding time to it soon for an upcoming September trip so we can use it again.
I think a call has to be made either every 6 months or 9 to keep it from expiring but the initial card fee is eliminated and it is nice to keep the same number. You might want to check UM
out with all the others recommended to you. I think I put 75 euros on it to start and that was the card fee plus call time and called home every day for two weeks and still have about 8 euros. Hope you find the perfect card for your needs.
left.
I think a call has to be made either every 6 months or 9 to keep it from expiring but the initial card fee is eliminated and it is nice to keep the same number. You might want to check UM
out with all the others recommended to you. I think I put 75 euros on it to start and that was the card fee plus call time and called home every day for two weeks and still have about 8 euros. Hope you find the perfect card for your needs.
left.
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:41 PM
#24
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For the most part, any European sim card will work within all the countries of the eu (for purposes of this discussion, Switzerland is considered eu even though it really isn't)...the roaming rates within the eu have been capped (by roaming we mean using the card outside its country of origin)..most of the UK carriers quote these capped rates at 24p/minute to make calls and 19p/minute to receive calls but the UK£ has fluctuated widely against the euro. That being said, calls to outside the eu using any of these cards, in general, are very very expensive. A way around this is to use a local calling card (although I would suppose if you use a calling card, you would probably be better off calling from a pay phone, although I have found frankly that throughout the world as now almost every 10 year old kid walks around with his or her own mobile phone, pay phones are becoming rarer!
That was where the international cards came in. For the past four or five years, United Mobile was the best because you got free incoming calls all through almost all of central and western Europe and a good part of eastern Europe but with the coming of the eu caps, the international cards become more enticing only to people outside the eu..it was just as easy to use your own eu card throughout the eu. And therefore, so went a carrier like O9, based in Iceland but a carrier which I had a lot of luck with pairing it with some ld call back services. Since Yackie Mobile tied itself to o(, it is now the late Yackie Mobile.
There are still some international cards that are working, many based in the Isle of Man, E kit passport still works. the problem these cards faced was cheapskapes like me (guilty as charged) would only use the free reception of calls and did not make very many outgoing calls (as noted, I used callback services for calls from many European countries to the USA) and the idea of the free reception of the calls was to entice you to make outgoing calls with these cards; not that they were terribly expensive as compared to roaming cards but I did better with enlinea and callbackworld, much better. Obviously others did the same and the market really has evaporated.
United Mobile went down within the past week. Nobody knows if they are expired or simply in a deep coma (I suspect the former)...what the eu director of communications, a lady named Reddings would like to see within Europe is the same thing that happened in the USA. I remember when I got my first cell phone, I had a very restricted local calling area and paid dearly for long distance calls within the USA and also to roam outside my local calling area. Then suddenly sprint dropped the ld and roaming charges making the USA all one big market and within a year, it was almost universal that within the USA, you don't pay ld charges with a cell phone and can receive calls throughout the country according to your plan...Redding makes it no secret that what she would like to see is that the eu be one big region for mobile phones and there be free reception of calls throughout the eu. Whether she will get there in the near future is doubtful but roaming rates have fallen within the eu and with it, I'm afraid, it's meant the demise of the international cards as the need for them became more restricted to people outside Europe.
But at the same time, to protect their revenue stream, what the large conglomerates in Europe have done (companies like Vodafone, T Mobile, O2) have raised drastically their rates to call outside the eu.
To take it one step further, the late UM as well as some of the Isle of Man international carriers, have been working on a dual sim card which would give its holders 2 numbers, a US number and a British number (+1/+44)...UM has apparently passed away before it got a chance to introduce the card (although they did do some beta testing)...the isle of man cards claim the birth of their baby is imminent.
Ah ha, technology just marches on eh.
That was where the international cards came in. For the past four or five years, United Mobile was the best because you got free incoming calls all through almost all of central and western Europe and a good part of eastern Europe but with the coming of the eu caps, the international cards become more enticing only to people outside the eu..it was just as easy to use your own eu card throughout the eu. And therefore, so went a carrier like O9, based in Iceland but a carrier which I had a lot of luck with pairing it with some ld call back services. Since Yackie Mobile tied itself to o(, it is now the late Yackie Mobile.
There are still some international cards that are working, many based in the Isle of Man, E kit passport still works. the problem these cards faced was cheapskapes like me (guilty as charged) would only use the free reception of calls and did not make very many outgoing calls (as noted, I used callback services for calls from many European countries to the USA) and the idea of the free reception of the calls was to entice you to make outgoing calls with these cards; not that they were terribly expensive as compared to roaming cards but I did better with enlinea and callbackworld, much better. Obviously others did the same and the market really has evaporated.
United Mobile went down within the past week. Nobody knows if they are expired or simply in a deep coma (I suspect the former)...what the eu director of communications, a lady named Reddings would like to see within Europe is the same thing that happened in the USA. I remember when I got my first cell phone, I had a very restricted local calling area and paid dearly for long distance calls within the USA and also to roam outside my local calling area. Then suddenly sprint dropped the ld and roaming charges making the USA all one big market and within a year, it was almost universal that within the USA, you don't pay ld charges with a cell phone and can receive calls throughout the country according to your plan...Redding makes it no secret that what she would like to see is that the eu be one big region for mobile phones and there be free reception of calls throughout the eu. Whether she will get there in the near future is doubtful but roaming rates have fallen within the eu and with it, I'm afraid, it's meant the demise of the international cards as the need for them became more restricted to people outside Europe.
But at the same time, to protect their revenue stream, what the large conglomerates in Europe have done (companies like Vodafone, T Mobile, O2) have raised drastically their rates to call outside the eu.
To take it one step further, the late UM as well as some of the Isle of Man international carriers, have been working on a dual sim card which would give its holders 2 numbers, a US number and a British number (+1/+44)...UM has apparently passed away before it got a chance to introduce the card (although they did do some beta testing)...the isle of man cards claim the birth of their baby is imminent.
Ah ha, technology just marches on eh.
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:43 PM
#25
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violet dear...
Read the thread carefully. It is widely reported that United Mobile passed away within the past week. Do not top up the card at this time, repeat do not top up the card at this time (you might wish to look into e-kit passport on ebay..$20 for the sim and $10 credit.....
Read the thread carefully. It is widely reported that United Mobile passed away within the past week. Do not top up the card at this time, repeat do not top up the card at this time (you might wish to look into e-kit passport on ebay..$20 for the sim and $10 credit.....
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:47 PM
#26
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Robespierre..
The competition is so fierce, O2 will now send free sim cards (up to 4) to your hotel (O2 UK has some interesting add ons..for example for 10 quid you can buy a package which will give you free reception of calls throughout the eu for 1 month and cheap calls (cheaper than the eu caps) and they also have some add ons for cheap calls to the USA (at about 10p/minute but nowhere as cheap as Talk Mobile or T Mobile when it is paired with Yourcallworld..) As noted, the competition in the UK is so fierce they are almost all giving cards away (although with no credit) and that's also reflected in the prices for British sim cards on ebay (as noted if it's important to know your number in advance, for less than $5 shipping included you can have a UK sim card, no credit but you know your number.
The competition is so fierce, O2 will now send free sim cards (up to 4) to your hotel (O2 UK has some interesting add ons..for example for 10 quid you can buy a package which will give you free reception of calls throughout the eu for 1 month and cheap calls (cheaper than the eu caps) and they also have some add ons for cheap calls to the USA (at about 10p/minute but nowhere as cheap as Talk Mobile or T Mobile when it is paired with Yourcallworld..) As noted, the competition in the UK is so fierce they are almost all giving cards away (although with no credit) and that's also reflected in the prices for British sim cards on ebay (as noted if it's important to know your number in advance, for less than $5 shipping included you can have a UK sim card, no credit but you know your number.
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:53 PM
#27
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Aghh..I had no luck with United Mobile..used up my $$$$ in no time.
Anyway, if I am just wanting to make calls to the US from the UK, Germany and Italy, what do you recommend.
Incoming calls are not important. I have an unlocked older phone and my current phone is ATT.
Anyway, if I am just wanting to make calls to the US from the UK, Germany and Italy, what do you recommend.
Incoming calls are not important. I have an unlocked older phone and my current phone is ATT.
Apr 18th, 2009, 07:04 PM
#28
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The 3 countries you mention are relatively cheap for sim cards so it would not be out of the question to pick up a UK sim card, to follow logls' advice on Germany and upon arrival in Italy spring for an Italian card (TIM is very cheap!)....in Italy, perhaps no sim card but a long distance card and use pay phones or get the Italina sim (most come with €5 and cost €10) with a long distance card meaning you would make a local Italy call and then follow with the ld card..unfortunately my experience in the UK, before the cheap calls to the US hit, is that some carriers block the access numbers to the long distance cards...
Apr 18th, 2009, 07:07 PM
#29
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Well...my head IS spinning. So, UM is out. I wasn't able to use the website either a few days ago. We will not be at any hotel long enough to wait for delivery of a SIM card. We're leaving soon, so might not have enough time to check out the EBay suggestion. Perhaps a general supermarket Sim purchase in Munich will have to suffice. I won't need to call the U.S., I'll be online for messages. I need to coordinate meeting times within Europe with other traveling friends in Denmark, France and Germany. I am appreciative of everyone's input.
Apr 19th, 2009, 12:00 AM
#30
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> Perhaps a general supermarket Sim purchase in Munich will have to suffice.
You can get a SIM at "Plus" stores called Pluskom. Card is 5€, comes with 5€, calls are 9ct/min all German phones. Network is T-Mobile. Incoming in EU is 26ct. I'd get a cheap calling card with it to call the US.
SIMs are found at the register, you sometimes have to ask the cashier.
You can get a JaMobil SIm at REWE (T-Monile), an Alditalk SIM at Aldi (E-Plus), a Fonic SIM at Lidl (o2) and...
Alditalk at least can be recharged with common E-Plus vouchers available everywhere.
You will have to register the SIMs over the internet or by calling from another phone, they don't come activated.
I'd buy the 5€ solomo SIM today and hope it reaches you in time. If not, you have lost 5€.
You can get a SIM at "Plus" stores called Pluskom. Card is 5€, comes with 5€, calls are 9ct/min all German phones. Network is T-Mobile. Incoming in EU is 26ct. I'd get a cheap calling card with it to call the US.
SIMs are found at the register, you sometimes have to ask the cashier.
You can get a JaMobil SIm at REWE (T-Monile), an Alditalk SIM at Aldi (E-Plus), a Fonic SIM at Lidl (o2) and...
Alditalk at least can be recharged with common E-Plus vouchers available everywhere.
You will have to register the SIMs over the internet or by calling from another phone, they don't come activated.
I'd buy the 5€ solomo SIM today and hope it reaches you in time. If not, you have lost 5€.
Apr 19th, 2009, 12:41 AM
#31
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> Perhaps a general supermarket Sim purchase in Munich will have to suffice.
You can get a SIM at "Plus" stores called Pluskom. Card is 5€, comes with 5€, calls are 9ct/min all German phones. Network is T-Mobile. Incoming in EU is 26ct. I'd also get a calling card to call the US.
SIMs are found at the register, you sometimes have to ask the cashier.
You can get a JaMobil SIm at REWE (T-Monile), an Alditalk SIM at Aldi (E-Plus), a Fonic SIM at Lidl (o2) and...
Alditalk at least can be recharged with common E-Plus vouchers available everywhere.
You will have to register the SIMs over the internet or by calling from another phone, they don't come activated.
I'd buy the 5€ solomo SIM today and hope it reaches you in time. If not, you have lost 5€.
You can get a SIM at "Plus" stores called Pluskom. Card is 5€, comes with 5€, calls are 9ct/min all German phones. Network is T-Mobile. Incoming in EU is 26ct. I'd also get a calling card to call the US.
SIMs are found at the register, you sometimes have to ask the cashier.
You can get a JaMobil SIm at REWE (T-Monile), an Alditalk SIM at Aldi (E-Plus), a Fonic SIM at Lidl (o2) and...
Alditalk at least can be recharged with common E-Plus vouchers available everywhere.
You will have to register the SIMs over the internet or by calling from another phone, they don't come activated.
I'd buy the 5€ solomo SIM today and hope it reaches you in time. If not, you have lost 5€.
Apr 19th, 2009, 01:19 AM
#32
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I wonder why, logos, ebay is flooded with very very cheap UK sim card offers (as noted for less than $5 shipping included you can get a British sim card) but yet it would be so nice if I could get my hands on a solomo sim card for the same price.
Apr 19th, 2009, 02:19 AM
#34
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You can get an Avantaje SIM at
http://www.karttel.de/prepaid-karten
or at ebay #230324972701, SIM costs 6€, but shipping to the US will cost 9.10€
With Avantaje, calls to German landlines are 4ct/min, to US costs 15ct/min plus a 9ct setup fee.
Not as good as solomo, but the same parent company (Vistream) and available for shipping to the US and paypal accepted.
http://www.karttel.de/prepaid-karten
or at ebay #230324972701, SIM costs 6€, but shipping to the US will cost 9.10€
With Avantaje, calls to German landlines are 4ct/min, to US costs 15ct/min plus a 9ct setup fee.
Not as good as solomo, but the same parent company (Vistream) and available for shipping to the US and paypal accepted.
Apr 19th, 2009, 02:28 AM
#35
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One thing to note for your itinerary. You CANNOT, to my knowledge, buy a SIM card in Denmark without a CPR number, which is the equivalent of a Social Security number. This includes pre-paid cards. Perhaps a European passport might work, though.
So, if your first stop is Denmark and you were planning on buying the card upon arrival, then be forewarned. As others have stated, though, you can use either the international cards or one purchased in another European country, but I just wouldn't plan on being able to buy one in Denmark.
So, if your first stop is Denmark and you were planning on buying the card upon arrival, then be forewarned. As others have stated, though, you can use either the international cards or one purchased in another European country, but I just wouldn't plan on being able to buy one in Denmark.
Apr 19th, 2009, 09:33 AM
#36
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xyz123--- thanks for the heads up. So now looks like I need lots of advice on which card to get also. I will check out all the recommendations. I am grateful for all the knowledge found here. United Mobile
Apr 19th, 2009, 11:17 AM
#38
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violetduck, I'm still favouring the Solomo. Up to now, they've been growing constantly and are a company located in Germany, not in some offshore territory and are using the infrastructure of one of the big 4 providers (E-Plus).
Incoming in exotic places like Japan is 5ct/min, in south Korea it is free.
Who knows??, but today it looks like they're a lot more stable than the rest. Liechtenstein, UK offshore and Iceland SIMs are down, German SIMs are still there ;-)
But in any case, I wouldn't put too much money on the cards.
Incoming in exotic places like Japan is 5ct/min, in south Korea it is free.
Who knows??, but today it looks like they're a lot more stable than the rest. Liechtenstein, UK offshore and Iceland SIMs are down, German SIMs are still there ;-)
But in any case, I wouldn't put too much money on the cards.
Apr 19th, 2009, 11:37 AM
#39
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My only problems with solomo is
1. Lack of ability to set voice menus to English. All the international cards allow that.
2. Can you top up outside of Germany with a non German credit card?
3. Inability to order it outside Germany.
Other than those, it's seems to be a good deal. Of course, those might be deal killers!
1. Lack of ability to set voice menus to English. All the international cards allow that.
2. Can you top up outside of Germany with a non German credit card?
3. Inability to order it outside Germany.
Other than those, it's seems to be a good deal. Of course, those might be deal killers!
Apr 19th, 2009, 11:49 AM
#40
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>2. Can you top up outside of Germany with a non German credit card?
It works with a Luxemburgian card. I set the recharge to be automatically as soon as the balance gets below 5€.
>3. Inability to order it outside Germany.
You can order in France, Belgiun, Austria a few other EU countries and Switzerland.
>1.
Well, you need to learn a few basic German words, it's not like it's Chinese
But as I said, who knows. It worked for a few years now, but I do believe I can trust a German company more than all those others that offer "international cards". Customer service is very "German". (Whatever you may think that may mean ;-) ). At 5€ per card I just have bought 5 of them.
It works with a Luxemburgian card. I set the recharge to be automatically as soon as the balance gets below 5€.
>3. Inability to order it outside Germany.
You can order in France, Belgiun, Austria a few other EU countries and Switzerland.
>1.
Well, you need to learn a few basic German words, it's not like it's Chinese
But as I said, who knows. It worked for a few years now, but I do believe I can trust a German company more than all those others that offer "international cards". Customer service is very "German". (Whatever you may think that may mean ;-) ). At 5€ per card I just have bought 5 of them.
