LMML 14/32 From Malta, joined Jan 2001, 2560 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (11 years 10 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 577 times:
I have a mobile phone which I will be taking with me on holiday. It is more cost effective for me to purchase a local sim card and talk time, than use my own roaming service. What is the best British network?
Ikarus From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 3524 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (11 years 10 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 567 times:
Buy a (used) prepay phone. Or buy a sim-card for Orange or Virgin or something for roughly 25 pounds. Orange is supposed to be best and cheapest for calling abroad, even as Pay as You Talk phone.
N863DA From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 48 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (11 years 10 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 566 times:
Assuming it's as most other cellphones, your cellphone will be what is called, 'SIM Locked' - meaning that it only works on one network and if you put in a SIM-card from an alternative network, it will say 'SIM LOCK', or something similar.
I can't say what network is better... I am only visiting here. My Powertel (US) - now Voicestream - phone is currently using Orange (1800MHz) but depending on signal strength, it's probably easier just to roam on your existing carrier's SIM card and phone - as it will pick up any network available, assuming that your carrier has a roaming agreement with the UK companies.
Also, check that your phone is a 900/1800MHz GSM phone. Assuming it's not a North American GSM phone, you won't have any problems, but most US GSM & iDEN phones will not work in Europe (both systems can use SIM cards).
Just be sure that your phone is not SIM-locked as you could be up a creek without a paddle if it is. (Call your service provider and ask if you are not sure.)
Also, bear in mind that your phone will most likely 'reset' itself to default factory-set options if you replace the SIM-card.
NJTurnpike From United States of America, joined May 2000, 580 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (11 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 558 times:
If you're a frequent visitor to the UK, try using a prepay phone from One2One. I take my little One2One Nokia over every time. Only cost me 40 pounds last year, and that included 10 pounds of airtime. Very convenient, and unused minutes don't expire for 365 days. One problem that has just cropped up is that the company have changed their prepay agreement. If you don't use your phone once in an 180 day period, the line will be cut off and used for other customers. As we try and visit at least 3 or 4 times a year, it shouldn't be a problem.
I toyed with the idea of getting roaming to work in the US with my UK One2One phone number and my US work-provided Nextel I1000i, but as the company would be footed with my rogue roaming bill, I decided against it...
Eg777er From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 1829 posts, RR: 13 Reply 9, posted (11 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 551 times:
I would recommend buying a Virgin Mobile SIM card for UKP 12.50, from any Virgin Megastore or Ourprice.
This will give you UKP 10 worth of calls - which should last a couple of weeks for 'emergency' usage.
Visit their website at www.virgin.com/mobile.
However, if you don't have a GSM 1800 phone (i.e. dual or tri band) then forget it. Ditto if you have a SIM-locked phone - why not try and get your provider to 'unlock' it - they might do it for free.
LMML 14/32 From Malta, joined Jan 2001, 2560 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (11 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 542 times:
I have a Virgin Sim Card with some prepaid time which came with the phone. But I will need another sim card for another phone. I heard that Orange have the best rates, and someone said that too here. I wonder why I was advised to stay away from BTCellnet.
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