Long term cell phone question

Ed, Here's a few thoughts on some of the options you could consider..... 1.) Global Phone with new SIM cards in each country - that would work but keep in mind that your number, calling plan and top-up details would change with each new SIM. It may be difficult for the tour managers to know what number you're using at any time. Also, if the tour managers are using phones based in one country, they would probably have to make a long distance call, depending on which country your SIM is based in. 2.) Buy a PAYG Phone and use different SIM cards - much the same as the previous option. 3.) Travel Phone and/or SIM - you could also buy Global Phone (E-Bay?) and use that with a travel SIM, or just buy a phone & SIM from one of the travel phone firms. The advantage of buying your own phone, is that you'd be able to choose a brand and model that you're comfortable with. Have a look at the websites for Roam Simple, Cellular Abroad, Call In Europe, EuroBuzz, Telestial, Mobal or TruPhone for detailed information and rates. The advantages of this approach: > Rates would be fairly consistent regardless of which country you're in (although could be higher in some countries, depending on which firm you choose to buy from). > Billing is post-paid (charged to a credit card) so no worries about topping-up. > These firms typically use U.K.-based numbers, so your number would be the same for the whole tour. The tour managers wouldn't have any problem knowing where to reach you. As you plan on using Skype for calls back home, I'm assuming you don't plan on using a Smartphone? The aspect of data charges raises other questions. Happy travels!

Dear Ed: Sometimes it is not easy to find an appropriate store with what you need when you need it. Sometimes they are out of stock. Often the clerks are very busy, and you might have to wait, but if you are on a tight schedule that brings a lot of stress. That's what happened to me. So on an impulse, I purchased a World Sim card, but haven't had a chance to use it, but the rates look good and it might work for you? www.worldsim.com Hope to hear back with a good report from you.
Good Luck! Have a wonderful trip!

Ed, you could just buy a SIM in London and keep topping it up wherever you are. Phone firms like Vodafone and Orange are in lots of countries and can be topped up almost anywhere. I bought a SIM from Orange when I was in Spain and they said it was good for 10 months. It cost 9 euro and had 9 euro credit on it, but I could add time at almost any convenience store, Orange store, or other places. You should be able to add time, and your number would not change. The rate at which you use your minutes might change depending on where you are, but intra-Europe roaming isn't costly.

Ed, I agree with Nancy's recommendation. Since you're starting in London, get a SIM (and pay-as-you-go phone if necessary) there and buy a bunch of prepaid vouchers before leaving the U.K. The phone will let you roam all over Europe and the rates are capped by law. If you run out of vouchers, get a friend in the U.K. to buy you some and send you the code or buy them over eBay U.K., which is what I do. This way you'll have one number that will work for your whole tour. Look at the web pages for British mobile phone companies to see what the costs will be. European cell companies expect their customers to travel in other countries, so they make it easy to get it to work, such as sending text messages to explain your options as soon as the phone is turned on in another country.

Just to add to Paul's and Nancy's replies, which I agree with. A friend of mine has had a T-Mobile UK SIM for several years, which he uses whenever he's in Europe (UK and elsewhere). It's very convenient because he can refill on-line, and it only has to be used every 6 months or so to keep it active (if he's not in Europe at the time, he just sends a text). They have "boosters" available which reduce the cost of roaming in Europe, and of calling back to the US. Some details about their international use here (won't hotlink on this forum due to ? in the URL): http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/help-and-support/index?page=home&cat=INTERNATIONAL_USE&pcateg=HELPANDADVICE So, I'd get a UK SIM (plans there are very competitive; T-Mobile is only one option), and then roam with it in other countries, using whatever deals the carrier offers. For details (and I mean details) of the available carriers and plans in the UK, go here: http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/uk.php. And check out the forums as well; if you can handle the technical talk, the people there can answer all sorts of questions.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far! I'll check all those out. I'm very interested in having the same number for the entire tour, so I don't have to make sure the production office has a new one each week when we travel. Please keep the info coming! Ed