Latest posts for the topic "Using a phone abroad for a long period."

Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:06:11 GMT

Hey guys,

In Jan i will be going to Verbier for 10 weeks :mrgreen: !! However, being away for a long time i will need to keep in contact with home and friends etc. I rang my network provider and it seems they cannot do anything for me as im stuck in a bloody contract !

Does/has anyone been away for a long time and used a phone and knows whats the best option for me ?

Cheers,
Gum.

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:16:01 GMT

When my son went travelling he bought a sim card for the countries he was in

try this

http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=LSIM-CH01

will you have use of a computer then the other way is skype

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:18:19 GMT

Who are you with? Most operators have bundles that you can add on for data and or calls.

Is your handset unlocked? You can get different sim cards that are cheaper international calls.

Do you have a smartphone? If so there is an app for significantly cheaper calls

Or, get to an internet cafe it pub with WiFi and hook up Skype or webcam

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:18:52 GMT

Dupe post removed :)

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:23:18 GMT

It was featured on the gadget show this week. For iPhone, Android, blackberry.

http://www.rebtel.com/

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:25:31 GMT

Iceman wrote:Who are you with? Most operators have bundles that you can add on for data and or calls.

Is your handset unlocked? You can get different sim cards that are cheaper international calls.

Do you have a smartphone? If so there is an app for significantly cheaper calls

Or, get to an internet cafe it pub with WiFi and hook up Skype or webcam

T-mobile, i rang them today and they couldnt do anything for me really...customer service for you eh ?

Im sure there is a unlocked handset around the house i can take with me as i will simply be using it for calls and texts, things like Facebook, e-mails i can simply go to a internet cafe.

And yes i do have a smart phone, i have a Blackberry Tourch, if you could find that app that would be usful !

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:35:56 GMT

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:39:29 GMT

That does seem like a fantastic idea..

However the only thing im worried about using that app is that because ill have to take my smartphone i will still recieve e-mails which will probably end up costing me a bomb, and the amount of times iv accidently pressed the internet button without knowing it could end up costing me a fortune ! (luckily i have unlimited internet in the UK)

I think its going to be cheaper to buy a sim out there and take a unlocked phone ??

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:54:00 GMT

Be careful with smart phone abroad. There's been loads of stories in the news this week about people taking smart phones abroad and getting huge phone bills afterwards. Problem is that they tend to do software updates or update the apps, without telling you, so unknown to you they're connecting to the internet. Next thing you know you get a bill for hundreds of pounds.

Allie

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:57:04 GMT

I am with t mobile, they do a bundle for data. On my phone you can turn data off so even if you accidently browse or any app tries to connect there will be no internet usage

Ask our good friend Google if there is something similar on yours, I imagine there is.

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:28:06 GMT

The cheapest options are Lebara Mobile Classic http://www.lebara.ch/ and yallo prepaid https://www.yallo.ch/kp/dyn/web/pub/home/home.do both use the Sunrise network (second biggest provider) so coverage should be OK.

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:33:07 GMT

As long as you stick to using your phone in a wifi zone you will be fine. You can surf the net and make calls and text all for free with wifi....

What phone have you got?

Only other option I'd say is buy a foreign pay n go sim and top up as you need. This way you don't rack up an large bills and cam control exactly what your using.

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:35:16 GMT

Lot if posts here saying the same thing :)

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:21:58 GMT

Turn off your Data and use Wifi only.
Buy a local pay as you go phone to make local calls.
Also friends and family can call you on it without you having to pay the UK -> CH piece.
Use Skype to call home.

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:26:02 GMT

Yep, my sister in law took her blackberry to Israel for a week and arrived home to a GBP700 or so phone bill.
She didnt know about switching off data until now. Big ooops

Apparently if you remove you sim and put in a phone that cant recieve emails etc it wont be that bad.

I will call T mobile and only ask for incoming calls on my one.

Holidays cost enough without having your trousers pulled down for taking your phone abroad.

Re:Using a phone abroad for a long period.

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:51:31 GMT

Wifi only, download whatsapp and viber and make sure all youre contacts have got them as well. That way you keep in touch for free.
Or skype on mobile.
But turn data roaming off.