I've posted a number of times about options for using a phone in Europe for calling, texting, and data. The latest development, which I think was announced today, concerns T-Mobile U.S. dramatically cutting fees so that using a U.S. phone account really makes more sense than other options, such as buying a local SIM overseas (what I usually do for data) or using one of the travel phone companies. T-Mobile to offer free unlimited international data, texts. The trend has been moving this way for some time now with other carriers besides T-Mobile. It will be interesting to see how AT&T and others respond to this latest move. As I've said here before, I look forward to the day when no one has to think twice about using the cell phone they use at home the same way when traveling. This development is one step closer.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2069 posts
New friends from Denmark living in the US introduced us to Viber. They use it to text and talk to family back home at no charge. I downloaded the free app onto my iPhone and texted and spoke a few times last month with friends in Barcelona. I am as far from tech savvy as a person can get, but mention this as our experience so far has been fine; i.e., no bill has yet arrived.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
Good to know...thanks for posting. It will be interesting to see how the legacy carriers respond. In the meantime, I'll continue using Skype for free video on Wi-Fi and KakaoTalk for free calling, texting, sending photos, whatever on Wi-Fi. I'll still have my device available for incoming/outgoing roaming calls (but only as a last resort), and I'll still always leave data off when roaming unless I end up with a plan like this one.
Posted by
2539 posts
A most positive development by T-Mobile and certainly worth tossing into the mix when considering which carrier to use. Edit: Phone calls are $.20/minute.
Posted by
OP
Tuscaloosa, AL
1152 posts
I already use T-Mobile so this development is great for me. Twenty cents a minute with no extra fees and zero extra cost for data or text messages. It really is somewhat unbelievable based on all the gyrations I've had to do on previous trips (using wifi calling, getting local SIMs, signing up for international plans, etc.) I'd like to take a trip now just to use my phone without constantly worrying about how much it is costing or how much data I'm using. (Okay, yeah, there are other reasons I want to travel, too.) True, data is only at slower speeds. You can pay more for a faster connection, but I use data mostly for email and very basic web searching so the slower connection won't be much of a hardship for me. You have to sign up for one of T-Mobile's plans to get these rates, but there is no contract requirement so you can leave without penalty after your trip. T-Mobile's biggest drawback being used as a phone company here is that its coverage isn't as wide as AT&T or Verizon. That isn't a problem if it works where you live and work, as it generally does for me.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32345 posts
Hopefully the Canadian networks will smarten up and start offering deals like this. The CEO's of the "big three" are paid millions every year in salary and bonuses, so clearly they can afford to give their customers a better deal.