Does anyone have any experience using a World Phone in Europe (Spain, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy)? If I stick with my current US cell phone provider it is necessary for me to purchase a Blackberry in order to have ability to use European sim chips. I am not interested in the Blackberry addiction. Even though the minutes are high on the World Phone it actually sounds like it might be the simplest solution. I need a sure fire method to connect with cousin that will be meeting us along the way. Since I keep a loose schedule it might be difficult to set a designated meeting place.What do you think?
Posted by
Las Vegas, NV, USA
190 posts
I guess I'm just lucky with my cell provider (T-Mobile). All I have is an inexpensive quad-band phone and have used it for three years overseas with no problems. I don't understand about the European sim card thing; I don't make any changes with my phone. I guess the call is routed through the States, but the cost is minimal. (Well, the cost is minimal unless you are calling in Russia!) I don't know if this has helped you at all, but perhaps you could do a bit more checking.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
We bought one and it worked just fine with no problems.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1003 posts
Yes Jo, you are just lucky. Only T-Mobile and Cingular (now AT&T I guess) will work overseas. So for all of us with other companies, we have to seek other alternatives. I'm going over to Europe for 6 weeks in about 6 weeks and I still haven't decided which SIM to get. Mobal is really expensive and I think there are other cheaper alternatives - we discussed them in some other threads here so have a search and compare your options :)
Posted by
San Francisco, CA, USA
97 posts
You can buy an unlocked quad-band phone on eBay for $40 or so, then pop in any SIM you choose. I have an Explorer global roaming SIM from Telestial -- the price was better for a 5-country trip than getting individual SIM cards for each country.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Isn't it interesting to note that Verizon will work in the USA, Mexico, Canada even "China" but not Europe???
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Check out www.brightroam.com...they can offer you country SIM cards, a global SIM card, or a card and an unlocked phone. They only bill you for the minutes you spend, and oyou get a UK phone number....cheap to dial from Canada or the U.S. If you use one of the Verizon world phones, I don't think you'll be able to use it back home....since Verizon service in North America is CDMA, not GSM (which is the service that uses SIM cards)
Posted by
Trussville, Al
187 posts
This topic is discussed alot on the TripAdvisor London Forum. Go to TripAdvisor & put in a major city you will be visiting in any European country & see what the folks have to say about cell phone rental/Sim cards. You most likely will be able to come up with a solution.