Using a cell phone internationally...

K

krystleNYC

New Member
HI hi! :)

The past 2 times i came to IBZ i left my phone at home (and it was great!) but this year we plan to meet up with some friends so I will be needing a phone.
How does one get their phone to work over seas?
I have a nokia phone that uses a sim card but I'm not sure what the deal is

any info would be lovely, thx! :)

*smile*
 
Your phone should automatically pick up a local network as soon as you arrive (Mine usually does anyway)
 
do US phones work in Europe???

you need a tirband or quadband phone or somethin?

when i went to NYC a few years, my phone didn't work.:?

sorry i'm not technical, can any boffins help here??
 
do Not Do It - I Learned The Hard Way

buy A Spanish Sim For Next To Nowt, Or Even Better A Spanish Cheapass Payg.
 
Grego is right - there are some differences in frequencies for US GSM networks (Cingular, T-Mobile) and international ones. You will need to have at least a tri-band GSM phone (850/900/1800). Check your phone's specs to be sure.

Also, make sure that your carrier has international roaming and that it has Spanish operators among its roaming partners. Of course, you'll pay through the nose for calls, but text messages shouldn't be too bad.

Alternatively, you can do what Phil suggested and pick up a local pay-as-you-go sim card. Movistar (Telefonica), Amena and Vodaphone are the main operators on the island. With this option, you'll still need to check to make sure your phone is tri-band.
 
North American phones are crap anywhere else, so no your phone won't work in Europe,

As others have suggested, get a pay as you go phone when you arrive.
 
utagaura said:
North American phones are crap anywhere else, so no your phone won't work in Europe.
Click to expand...
Not true... it depends on the model. As noted above, a tri-band (or quad-band) GSM phone bought in N. America will work abroad.
 
As stated above it depends on the phone. I have a Quad GSM phone and a couple of years ago I bought an Amena sim card. Probably one of the cheapest ways to call (I bought it through telestial.com cause I wanted the card before I traveled, but you can buy them there no prob). Right now Amena's deal is free incoming and .30 Eur (36 cents) outgoing calls with SMS going at .15 Eur. In comparison, through Cingular, after purchasing the international world traveler thing, receiving and outgoing calls are 99 cents. The only upside with cingular is that people just call your US number to call you. Otherwise you just have to memorize a different number, and remember the international code.

Good luck.

PS... (as an example to avoid a problem) Sprint phones are not GSM phones, they are CDMA. Even if you sign up for international roaming, the network in Spain will not recognize the phone. Depends on your carrier and phone model.
 
As everyone said, you have to have a GSDM phone. Secondly, if you're planning on roaming with your American carrier then I'm only certain that Tmobile works in Europe. Cingular/AT&T may as well, but I'm not 100% positive. As for slipping in a Spanish SIM into your American phone...that will only work if your phone is unlocked. If you bought it from your wireless provider, then it is mostly likely locked into their network and won't respond to a SIM with a different carrier. If the name of your carrier is printed on your phone, then you're guaranteed you have a locked phone. Corporate America's way of forcing you to buy a new phone when you switch providers.
 
Oh ya... forgot about that locked phone thing. Important point.

I've only ever bought phones direct from the manufacturer... Yes, you save a few dollars on the hardware if you buy from the carriers, but the whole concept of buying an intentionally crippled piece of hardware is offensive!!
 
sorry for bringing this up from the dead, but what frequencey does the cell providers in spain use?

also can anyoen name the cell fone companies on the island?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top