TIMS for tourist transfer

You don't have to re-program the sims. All modern phones use the same small sized SIMs and can automatically update the connection settings when you insert a new one. Ask your sister in law when did she get her mobile.

The only big problem people speak about on the Internet is Apple's iMessage trying to send texts to US servers when customers insert a foreign SIM. I think it's some security setting. Unfortunately TIM's plan for tourists does not include texting and the price per message sent to US is very expensive.

Dario, I’m ok with no texts, I think I can just disable IMessages on my iPhone. I do need access to data and the ability to make calls within Italy. Can you clarify if the TIM for Tourists includes calls to and from the USA. Thanks!

Scroll down this page https://www.tim.it/tim-tourist-en (The real price is 30 €, 20 for the plan and 10 for the SIM)

Incoming calls and texts from anywhere are always free&included in Italy.

Foreign customers should always ask the salesmen to turn all VAS services off on their new Italian SIM. This way you won't run the risk of paying "unsolicited services" (i.e. porno and online betting) with phone credit. SIMs with zero credit stop working even if there are minutes and data left.

I didn’t know the Value Added Services included porn. I thought it was mostly newsfeed, horoscope, sports scores, weather, stock prices, etc.

Ray, for texting to US (and also Italy) you could use whatsapp. Actually Italians don’t use regular texting, only WhatsApp. Make sure the people you text to sign up.

Neither did I, it's a friend of mine that clicked on the wrong ads-banner...

Thanks Dario and Roberto. We are fortunate that each of you participate on this forum and always give good advice.

Thanks for all the feed back..one other question are the tims transferable from phone to phone? Tia

jennifer,

A bit of clarification.....

I assume you're referring to SIM (subscriber identity module), and not TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile) which is an Italian cellular network.

"Are there different ones for iPhone vs androids?"

That will depend on which iPhone or which Android phone you're using. Since they were invented, SIM cards have been issued in four different sizes - full size, mini, micro and nano. The newer iPhones are designed for the nano version. It is possible to cut larger cards down to a smaller size, but that's best done by someone with a proper cutting tool so the card isn't damaged in the process.

"Are they able to transfer to a different phone?"

I don't know if that's possible? If both phones accept the same size of SIM card, it should be possible to transfer from one phone to another. However, when tourists purchase a SIM card in Italy, it's necessary to provide a Passport to "register" the phone number to a particular person (I believe that's an anti-terrorism measure). Transferring SIM's from one person to another would seem to defeat the purpose of registering the cards. Hopefully one of the others can provide a definitive answer on that question.

I bought a TIMS phone several years ago in Italy. Since then I have swapped out the the Sim card with. Sim specific to Portugal and another swap with a Sim for Denmark and then back to Italy. Other than a passport to purchase the phone in Italy no other ID needed.

If you don’t need cell service on departure day then just leave it for her. She may need to get some help setting it up or worse case it doesn’t work and she needs to get her own. Am I missing something here?