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international use
Hello -- I've been reading the forums and have another question. If I buy an unlocked phone, subscribe to a US service for domestic calls, and then buy a SIM card in another country when I'm abroad -
1. are the rates substantially cheaper?
2. and are SIM cards in Europe/Scandanavia/China/Thailand etc compatible with all of our GSM phones?
3. will I be able to receive calls at my US number while abroad using a SIM card?
4. where do you buy the SIM cards abroad?
Thanks very much
1. are the rates substantially cheaper?
2. and are SIM cards in Europe/Scandanavia/China/Thailand etc compatible with all of our GSM phones?
3. will I be able to receive calls at my US number while abroad using a SIM card?
4. where do you buy the SIM cards abroad?
Thanks very much
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vnvn said:...
Hello -- I've been reading the forums and have another question. If I buy an unlocked phone, subscribe to a US service for domestic calls, and then buy a SIM card in another country when I'm abroad -
1. are the rates substantially cheaper?
....Yes - Much cheaper than paying roaming rates using your U.S. SIM. This would only pay, tho, if you are going to be making a fair number of calls. There is usually an initial charge of about $20-$30 to pay for the SIM. After that you just pay to "recharge" it.
2. and are SIM cards in Europe/Scandanavia/China/Thailand etc compatible with all of our GSM phones?
....The SIMS are all compatible w. all GSM phones. You do, of course, need a tri-band ph
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I have another question - what about data for email - can I buy a SIM local in another country and get access to my email via my PDA? Will I have to reconfigure my email to go through that local carrier's email server or can I go to the server I'm currently using?
Any other issues w/ respect to data/email access. I'm looking at buying a TREO 600 w/ TMOBILE. I will have to get an "unlocked" version too, wont I?
Any other issues w/ respect to data/email access. I'm looking at buying a TREO 600 w/ TMOBILE. I will have to get an "unlocked" version too, wont I?
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This is from another thread:
"Re: Upgrade problem with t-mobile by Ximok Yesterday, 6:29 PM Once she has purchased her upgrade Samsung E105 through T-Mobile the customer can perform a sim subsidy unlock from Customer Care immediately.
A sim subsidy unlock requires the customer to be a post-paid customer in good standing. The 90 day wait period is no longer part of the unlock policy. Even a new customer can request a sim subsidy unlock."
In other words, it seems that if you go with T-Mobile you will not have to buy an unlocked telephone. Check with the TM agents to make sure.
"Re: Upgrade problem with t-mobile by Ximok Yesterday, 6:29 PM Once she has purchased her upgrade Samsung E105 through T-Mobile the customer can perform a sim subsidy unlock from Customer Care immediately.
A sim subsidy unlock requires the customer to be a post-paid customer in good standing. The 90 day wait period is no longer part of the unlock policy. Even a new customer can request a sim subsidy unlock."
In other words, it seems that if you go with T-Mobile you will not have to buy an unlocked telephone. Check with the TM agents to make sure.
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I thought the E-105 is a dual band phone. It won't be any good for use abroad then.
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vnvn said:
Hello -- I've been reading the forums and have another question. If I buy an unlocked phone, subscribe to a US service for domestic calls, and then buy a SIM card in another country when I'm abroad -
1. are the rates substantially cheaper?
Yes. International roaming can be quite expensive.
2. and are SIM cards in Europe/Scandanavia/China/Thailand etc compatible with all of our GSM phones?
Yes.
3. will I be able to receive calls at my US number while abroad using a SIM card?
Generally, no. The prepaid SIM card you pick up overseas will have its own phone number.
You could forward your U.S. number to your temporary overseas numbe...
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