Blackberry's

Pam, the first question that comes to mind, is WHICH network your Blackberry is on? If you're with Verizon, Sprint or other CDMA carriers, it won't work on the GSM networks in Europe (unless you're using the 8830, which has both technologies).

If you could provide more specific information, it would help.

Cheers!

Pam- I haven't used it yet, but I am departing tomorrow. I hope it works!

I have the 8830 Global Smartphone. In order to use it in Italy I had to get the international SIM card (apparently this should have been included in my original purchase, but wasn't). Then they had to do some sort of set up at the Verizon store. No matter what, you need to inquire as to what data plan you have. The plan that I have allows for unlimited text/data without a roaming free, but some plans DO have a roaming fee. As for using the 8830 as a phone, I was told that it would be $1.29/min in Italy. I hope that helps!

I took my "Crackberry" with me to Paris earlier this year. I use AT&T and my Blackberry worked fine. I could call and receive calls, and send and receive emails. The best part was there was no extra charge for my emails.

We took our 8700c Blackberries with us two years ago, Italy, Greece and Turkey. We have AT&T, we just enabled international data on both and had no problems at all. Since then we've switched to iPhones (change of job and my "crackberry" turned back into a blackberry so I didn't need those features anymore) and haven't had any problems with them either. When we looked at Verizon a few years ago they didn't offer international, so you may want to give them a call to make sure everything will work for you.

I have T-Mobile Blackberry 8700. If you have T-mobile just enable international roaming (no monthly fee just 1$/minute phone use) If you want to use email there is an additional fee.

I'm in Italy right now and brought my Blackberry. There is NO mobile service that I can link to. I have been able to jump on to non-secure WI-FI networks at some of the hotels/B&B's we've stayed in (as I'm doing right now). It's useful for checking email if you can access it via the Blackberry, but don't count on cell service.

regarding the post about no mobile service in Italy:

In 2005 and 2007 I took my cell phone to Italy. In 2005, the mobile service I picked up was Vodaphone and it worked great. In 2007, there were other mobile services that I picked up: TIM and WIND, maybe one other. I couldn't get calls to go through half the time with those services. I would have to walk around until I picked up Vodaphone to make calls. I don't really understand how it all works, but it seemed to make a huge difference which service I picked up.

In my previous post I forgot to note that my Blackberry is a Pearl.

Derik, I'm assuming your Blackberry is with either Verizon or Sprint? Most of Europe has EXCELLENT cell coverage, so if you're on a compatible (GSM) network, you should have no trouble getting a signal.

I always travel with a quad-band GSM cell, and have never had a problem with signal strength in most places, including some of the "out of the way" locations.

One caveat for those travelling with Blackberrys or I-Phones. Be sure to check with your provider regarding data costs (ie: surfing the web, E-mail, etc.), so that you don't risk the possibility of a huge bill when you return home. There was a post here on the Helpline several months ago regarding someone that travellled with an I-Phone, and had a $3K bill waiting for him!

Cheers!

Ken said, "There was a post here on the Helpline several months ago regarding someone that travellled with an I-Phone, and had a $3K bill waiting for him!"

Maybe this is a good place for me to say, again, that just as it's a good idea to leave the laptop at home and enjoy an Internet-free vacation, so also it may be a good idea to take a vacation from yakking on the cell phone all the time when you're overseas.

I recommend just a 2-minute call home, to report that you're OK, once a week, to one key family member who can pass the word on to others in the family. Save the long hour-by-hour trip descriptions for when you get home, not just to save phone money, but also to make your vacation time special.

Remember that through 99.999999% of human history, when people were 6,000 miles from home they didn't have instant communication with their friends and family. YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

Calling from anywhere in Europe on a cell is expensive. I don't call. But for work purposes, I need to be able to get emails and be in touch. That's the only way I can take numerous vacations.. If I just "forgot" about work, I'd probably lose most of the money I make so I can take those numerous vacations.

Sure, i could go work for someone else but then I wouldn't have the money or the time to take my numerous vacations.

I just bought an ASUS EEE to be able to do work, but an international Blackberry may be all I need--especially since I won't have to look for hotspots.

In the U.S., my carrier, Verizon, offers an unlimited international data plan for $20/month above what I pay now. And, I can turn it on and off depending on whether or not I'm traveling overseas.

Just signed up for verizon global travel program. Since I have a bb they shipped me the world edition bb. Hoping it works next week in Florence/Tuscany. Plan details: No rental fee or security deposit...$9.99 to ship bb to me (2day shipping,includes return label)...$1.29/min incoming/outgoing...$0.50 incoming text...$0.05 outgoing txt....unlimited data plan is $64.99/month, but prorated for actual use days...keep same #...$199 charge if not deactivated/returned in 30 days.

This is a short term program benefit. I think VZ is doing it since they don't have GSM phones. Crossing fingers that data works reliably so don't have to lug laptop on day trips. Activating Monday and hoping that goes smoothly. Very interested to hear if anyone else has used this program and whether data was reliable and accessable.

Thank you all for your helpful responses. It's nice to have this resource for questions about our travel.

Pam

Ken...
You're correct. Apparently my cell phone plan just doesn't work over here. My wife's phone works fine. We got the International plan for a month before we left the states.

Pam - currently using an 8830 Blackberry with an Italian SIM card... works fine. I am on the TIM network.

Ciao,
Ron

Ron,

just to satisfy my curiousity, are you still paying for your (Verizon?) CDMA plan at the same time you're using the GSM portion of your 8830 Blackberry in Europe? Also, what are the costs for voice and/or data for the TIM cell plan? Also, how do you format text here in bold?

I was in Rome in April/May but just used roaming with my home carrier (Rogers). My costs were quite reasonable, as I only made occasional voice calls, and used SMS most of the time (however, the sent texts DO add up at 60¢ each!). I haven't made the leap to "data phones" yet (Blackberry, Treo, etc.), but might consider it when the new I-Phone 3G is released here on July 11th.

Cheers!

Thank you all for this information...we'll keep researching and hopefully find something that will work perfect for us
Pam

Ken,

I will try and answer your questions... I am NOT using Verizon here... and have never used Verizon Italy - too expensive. When I first came I had all the bells and whistles but I dropped the email, data, instant msg, and web portions as my final "escape" from my previous life of "Blackberry Bondage!"

Calling rates vary here with TIM. We have purchased a SIM card and recharge through ATM's or pick up a recharge at the grocery store, tabachi shops, TIM stores, etc. Pay as You Go offers us the most flexibility and good rates.

We pay (all prices in Euros PER minute):

.12 cents to talk to another TIM customer

.15 cents to talk to a landline or non-TIM customers in Italy

.60 - .65 cents a minute to call the US (rate depends on who/where)

Per text we pay .12 cents to TIM; .15 cents to non-TIM per message (incoming are free on our SIM card).

We have had two of our three SIM cards (3 phones!) for about 4-5 years and features do change - we just never saw the need to update based on how we use our phones.

I've used data or "smartphones" for years in business but the cost here (for the data functions) was not justified by how I would use it... so I dropped it. You can get monthly plans and contract pans with providers over here but most folks do not. The cell phone business is FAR ahead of the States - you do not get tied to a company by your phone.... you want to change, just go buy a new SIM card and you're in business... so that helps to keep local prices down.

Data is MORE expensive here as most Italians DO NOT subscribe, thus it's seen more as a luxury. But as you'll see - everyone - including two nuns I bumped into yesterday, has a cell phone!

Hope that helps!

Ciao,
Ron

Ron,

Thanks for the info (and the PM). I wasn't referring to using Verizon in Italy (as they use CDMA techology so that side of the phone won't function there), but assumed since you had an 8830 it must have been on Verizon or Sprint when you lived in the U.S.

I might eventually try the PAYG cards with TIM or others, since I have an unlocked phone. However, I'd have to do some serious number crunching as I usually travel in two - four countries when I get to Europe. That means I'd be paying roaming charges when I left the country where the SIM was purchased. It's so easy to roam with my home carrier, as the rates stay the same regardless of which country I'm in or which carrier my phone is connected to (the roaming rates are higher in eastern European countries though). Having a Euro SIM would also subject my family to paying long distance if they did need to contact me, so that's another thing I need to think about.

I most definitely agree with your comment about Cell technology in Europe being ahead of North America (I include Canada in that, as we're just getting 3G in this area this summer). I noticed that when I was in Italy in 2006. I suppose given that Europe has a relatively high population in a somewhat concentrated area makes it more cost effective to install towers, so that's understandable. It's about $500K to install a Tower, and given the size of the U.S. & Canada it makes good business sense to only put towers in areas with higher population (and more subscribers).

The rates you quoted seem similar to the U.K. carriers (which I have looked at). I know the E.U. is pressuring the Euro cell networks to lower roaming charges, but I gather that issue is not settled yet?

I don't use a "Crackberry" at this point, but most people I know that use them for business don't like being tied to the "electronic leash". I completely understand your reluctance to be tied to "Blackberry Bondage"!

Cheers!

Ken - you're correct... I have a Sprint 8830 I used in the States (Course I also had a Verizon Treo at the same time (for a few months anyway). Yes, my company surely wanted to find me!

Living here, we have VONAGE at the apartment so all our friends and family call us on our (404)#... which used to be our home phone number in Atlanta. For our kids VONAGE has been a godsend allowing instant access. If we're traveling they can leave a message which will show up on our email. So we can always check in at an internet cafe' or hotel to check messages. Calls for them and us are FREE as we pay less than $20 a month for the service. ($14.95 + junk fees/taxes).

Also, regarding the EU and phones... They just passed new legislation which cut the rates in half between all EU countries - so we all rejoiced over that. It still depends on who your provider is, where you're at, and who/where you are calling to determine your rates... but it's sure cheaper than it was before!

I do not most miss the electronic leash - especially when I'm sitting in a small cafe' in the sun watching the world go by!

Ciao,
Ron

Ron, thanks for the reply. I can certainly appreciate sitting at a cafe in Rome and watching the world go by, without being annoyed by a Crackberry!

I was in Rome in April (stayed in the Trastevere area this time, prior to taking the RS South Italy tour), and hearing your comments sure makes me wish I was back there!

Ciao!