Blackberry in Italy

If your carrier is Verizon:

For 64.99/month, you received unlimited data/email and the ability to use the phone overseas. Calls are very expensive. (I believe $1.99/minute).

But no need to unlock....starting in March, you'll be able to download Skype to your Blackberry and use it to make calls. Costs will be pennies per minute. (You need to open a Skype account.)

Since you now have the global data plan, you can receive blackberry text messages, at your blackberry email address, for no additional charge. (It's included in the data plan.) If you're in Italy prior to March, this will be much cheaper than always phoning home.

Also be aware, that if you use the global plan less than a month, and cancel, they will pro-rate it and only charge you for days you use it.

If your carrier is Sprint.....I can't help.

Thanks Frank, actually the rate is for a continuation of my current voice plan with no roaming. As I use about 30-45 minutes a day, if I went with the roaming charges instead @ 1.09/min- just for the business days I'll be there it would run about $250! Now that's expensive! Nice thing about this is no forwarding of the phone to either a skype-in or italian number. Jst dropping a hint for those of us that don't get to fully escape ;-)

Are you on a corporate plan or a personal plan with Verizon because this is a new one on me.....

I don't even see it offered on VZW's website.

You might want to double check...VZW does have an international plan for $64.99 but that's unlimited data and the ability to make and receive calls overseas. The rate can be as low as 99 cents/minute.

But if this is something new...educate me. I need to know.

1) The OP has a Blackberry Tour which is a quad band phone. (The 8830 is nearly three years old and has been discontinued).

2) The OP wants to keep his phone number so a European SIM won't work.

3) If used for business, the international calling plan is a business expense and can be deducted. I personally don't think $2.16/day is expensive for access to unlimited data, emails, and Blackberry text messages. If anyone needs to get in touch with me, they send me a text message. I can then call them back using a prepaid calling card on a regular phone or on Skype via wifi. No need to mess with buying SIM cards and making sure everyone I deal with has the new phone number.

http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Global_Travel/index.html

Thanks Frank,
I did check again- the trained ape at the V-store was incorrect as you surmised. I did sign up for the data plan- cheap enough for that. and I did do the global dialing as well, that dropped it from 1.29/min to .99/min. I will be loading skype in/out as well. Already use skype a lot, just will load the account with some cash.

hey dan if Fring is available for a blackberry i suggest you download it. If you and others have skype you can call off your phone for free.

I have an android(google) phone and do it all the time to stay in touch with friends all over the world. until there is a godo skype app for all systems Fring is the way to go.

Frank, I have an unlocked BB Bold from AT&T. I'm going to Italy mid March and don't know if I should rent a phone, buy a sim card for my BB, etc. You mentioned using Skype. How does that work?

As I stated in your PM to me....I don't have ATT and don't know if they allow Skype on their Blackberries.

I've used it on my ipod touch (via wifi) and will soon use it on my next Verizon blackberry.

However, if your phone is unlocked, you'd probably be better off getting a sim card.

I'm sure others here will have more than enough info and links for you. In a myriad of colors.