![]() ![]() My question is: If I purchase an Iphone to bring with me and keep it in airplane mode, with wi fi enabled, will I still be able to receive calls on my other phone? I really only want to be able to check my email occasionally and maybe check on what is going on in the world. Incoming text messages are free and outgoing are $0.60/message It will cost me: Outgoing to a Landline: $ 1.45 / min. It will cost me Incoming calls from the US: $ 1.15 / min. I plan to forward my cell number to the new US number so if my family needs to call me, they can dial my regular number and reach me at no charge. My plan is to purchase an international sim card and use it in my inexpensive phone that has all 4 GSM bands. They should all be compatible with the Iphone if you just need it to make calls and text. Other option: shops offering lots of different SIM cards like Phoneo or The Phone House, not just the big 3 providers but also Virgin Mobile etc.īe careful that the SIM card can be used for international calls (most of them can) and how much international calls and SMS cost. Pay as you go is pretty expensive in France, compared with some countries.įor instance the French post office has a SIM card with 5€ credit (I don’t know if you can buy it in post offices though). Orange, SFR and Bouygues are the main cellphone providers in France but there are others who use the network of the 3 big ones but are often cheaper. If it works in the US, it’ll work here since it’s a hardware issue. If in doubt remove the SIM card, start the phone and try skype on the iphone at home. Skype uses wifi so I don’t think she’ll need a SIM card just to activate the phone. ![]() She can use Skype to call you on your landline (or mobile), so you don’t have to know Skype but calls from Skype to Skype are free I believe. Well, indeed Skype is cheap but she’ll have to rely on wifi and the quality of calls may be bad sometimes. So my Iphone is ready for your US carriers. The request is made through your carrier. Here in France Iphones have to be unlocked after 3 months by Apple. You have great cheap prepaid plans within the US I must say. In France, no problemo at Mac Donald’s (please eat somewhere else though), same thing in Great Britain, forget Mac Donald’s in Germany (you’ll need a German SIM card) but other places may work because the law doesn’t require a German SIM card to identify you. It’s the law there to ask for an Italian sim card so businesses don’t really have a choice. In Rome the best thing to do if you want easy wifi access is to buy a dirt cheap pay as you go phone to have an Italian SIM card. I don’t think I’m charged if the phone rings only. So I switch off my iphone in the US, except for a few minutes per day to get any SMS sent to me when it was switched off. The US carrier charges my carrier for roaming and in turn my carrier charges me. When I’m in the US it’s the same principle. I’m not American but my experience can still be useful. ![]() How to Keep Your Smartphone Safe in Paris… and What to Do if It Gets Stolen Tips for Windows, Android and Blackberry CustomersĪT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile: A comparison of international plans How to buy a SIM card in Europe for your phone Setting up your phone to avoid a billing “surprise” But how could I use it without going broke?Īfter hours of hair-pulling and squinting at fine print (and some phone time with Verizon and AT&T employees), we have compiled a list of pointers for American travelers hoping to use their iPhones in Europe. I realized that my iPhone could be handy. And if you turn on your connection, you could receive phone calls from home - which will cost you. Those, however, don’t always work with American cell phones and, if they do, require an international phone connection. I brought along my laptop, but what to do with my iPhone? Was there an economical way to use it in France and Italy? Should I pay for one of the international data packages offered by AT&T (my carrier)? Should I get a new SIM Card? Should I just leave the thing in New York?Ĭonnecting with friends and travel companions is obviously aided by sending text messages. ![]() This was a work trip, during which I visited about 90 hotels for EuroCheapo. I recently returned from two weeks in Europe, one spent in Paris and one in Venice. After all, most American phone carriers’ rates for international calling and data use can be confusing, and misunderstanding your usage or phone setup could be a very costly mistake. If you’re an American smartphone user getting ready to take a trip to Europe, you’ve likely been warned about using your phone abroad. ![]()
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