nbbrown

My apologies if this has been asked - I did a search and came up empty for this particular question...

Since our last trip to Italy, we have upgraded our phones to Androids... are we able to call internationally with our current phone numbers, or do we still have to get a sim card? I'm not even sure if they're locked or unlocked... I'm sure I need to figure this out.

Also, what about texting and emailing from our phones? Are there cell towers and wifi throughout Italy? We'll be mostly in Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and through Piedmont.

We do still have our old dinosaur we used on our previous trip... I don't even remember how to get it going again.

Thank you for your help, and again, sorry if this has already been hashed out on the forums already!

kayd

Androids with service from ATT and T-Mobile, yes, you can put in a different SIM (after the phone is unlocked).
Androids using Verizon or Sprint service, no, because they do not use SIMs.

nochblad

The best option which I have frequently posted is the 3 network - tre.it

You can get a sim card for 10 euros with 5 euros of credit. Then get the data package which will enable you to use Skype for all your calls as well as Skype out if you use this.

Calls and texts are cheaper than any other network.

nbbrown

We are with US Cellular, so I guess I need to call them and find out. The tre.it site is only in Italian... I would use my existing phone but purchase the card and data package from them?

Spivonious

If you're AT&T or T-Mobile, yes they will work.

If you got the phones from the carrier, they are most likely locked to that carrier and will only work with SIM cards from that carrier. You can call the carrier to get the unlock code, but they won't give it to you unless you bought the phone at full price or the contract that you bought with the phone has expired. There are also some websites that will sell you unlock codes, but I have no experience with them, so I can't provide any more detail.

If your phone is unlocked, you can buy a cheap prepaid SIM once in Europe and simply stick it in your phone. Your number will change of course, but it will give you the cheapest service.


edit - after looking up US Cellular, it seems they use a CDMA network, so your phones will not work in Europe, where most carriers use a GSM network.

Spivonious

@kayd - all carriers use SIM cards. Sometimes they are built into the phone. The problem with Verizon and Sprint is that they use CDMA networks which aren't compatibile with GSM networks.

kayd

Thanks for the correction -- should have said they do not use a GSM SIM. I was answering in haste and not trying to be technical; the new Verizon smartphones are LTE, using a microSIM, but still incompatible with Europe.

nbbrown

Okay, just so I am clear... our phone will not work in Europe so iI will have to use our old phone and buy a sim card when we get there. Do I get our number when we buy the card? And regarding texts and internet service, will we have that option with our android? I imagine wifi is spotty, as it is here...

StanB

If you are with Verizon you need to sign up for / activate their international service and then you can call and text using your android. We just did it. I suspect the same is true of other carriers. The rates are still very high. I'd use gmail as much as possible rather than texting. There is wifi at all McDonalds...go have a coke...and usually at hotels...but it may not be free.

I learned to my dismay that I could NOT call a 800 number. I had all my airline toll free numbers but not their long distance...and it was a mess. Get the LD numbers.

kayd

If your Verizon phone will not provide service in Europe, Verizon will loan you (for up to 3 weeks, I think) one of its world phones with your regular number temporarily switched over to it (Google for verizon global travel). No fee for the loan of the phone, but high per-minute rates. It may be worth investigating: if you would be using the phone for emergencies only the price could be minimal, but the dollars would add up fast if you are likely to use the phone as you do at home.

nbbrown

I"m with US Cellular... not sure if it's the same, but I'll check into it.

ParisAmsterdam

First see if your phone is quad band GSM.

Then see about unlocking. Where I live in Canada there are all kinds of independent phone shops who'll unlock your phone for 20 bucks.

Assuming phone is good to go just pick up a SIM in Italy... I see TIM is often recommended. A SIM is about the size of your thumbnail and slides into a slot near the battery. It's what gives the phone it's number and ability to connect to the phone network.

Europeans were wedded to their phones before people were here in North America so coverage is not an issue. If you are in mountains or a remote area all bets are off though.

Did you know that places like TigerDirect.com sell unlocked quad band phones? So does NewEgg.com. Tigerdirect.ca has them as cheap as $35.

Or check your town using kijiji.com or craigslist... I've bought
2 iPhones (3 and 3GS) in the past few months for 100 and $150.

jnjfraz

If you use your old phone then you will buy a new sim card and the number will not be the same as before. Buy your sim at a Tim stores when you get there. The stores are all over and their web site lists all the stores in all the towns. A problem we have is that we can text and our friends get that text, but they do not have international plans so they can not text us. With the sim card it will cost 50cents a minutes to call USA but free for local calls. Also some USA phone companies have a plan that registers a phone to call one country cheaply. So when we had our business we would call the manager say call us and she would call our mobile and the cost was extremely cheap.

If you are traveling with your computer then just take it to a Wifi spot and skype from there... if not then and internet point will also work. Skype also has a plan that is called skype mobile. You purchase time and are then able to call cell phones in America. That cost is about 2cents a minute.

kybourbon

Open your new phone and see if it has a SIM card. If it does, take the SIM card out of your old phone and put in your new phone. You will then discover if it's locked or not. If it's locked, contact your cell service provider for the unlock code.

I paid 10€ for a TIM card in September which included 5€ talk time. If you used it in the first 24 hours there was a .20 connect fee and .50 a minute. If you waited 24 hours there was a .20 connect fee and .20 a minute.