I'll bump this since I have the similar question: If somebody calls my TMO (D1 -- Xtra Classic, I believe) number while I am in the Netherlands (for example). Will I just pay the Eurotariff of 24 cents/min? Even if the call comes from the US?

For my trip starting next week I have to tell people "from this date that date call this number but from this date to this other date call 011-49-...") Even with the 24 cents, it'd be cheaper for me to have them just use the German number the whole trip (I'm in the EU the whole trip). TIA.

It doesn't matter where the call comes from! It's a nonsense idea - what rate would be applicable if the call came without or with invalid caller ID?
You'll pay nothing in the SIM's "home country", (at most, it's operator-dependent) 24 cents + "home country's" VAT in the rest of the EU and appriopriate roaming rate elsewhere.

The only interestng question is what happens in non eu European countries such as Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden.....according to the tariff sheet of most, they are included in the euro tariffs...yet Virgin Mobile UK excludes at least Switzerland (I didn't check Denmark or Sweden!)

Sweden and Denmark are in the EU (but not in the Euro). Switzerland (along with Norway and Iceland and Lichtenstein) is in the EFTA (European Free Trade Assoc.). Picking nits here, but its one of the things I do best (along with drinking *good* beer) :)

I'm not up on all these things there was something I remember that differentiated Norway from Sweden and Denmark in terms of the eu...my mistake on those two mea culpa mea culpa.....

No mea culpa required, not trying to be a dickhead, just explaining why Switzerland was excluded.

Its hard keeping up with this stuff -- soon we might see Alba and Vlaanderen and Euskadi as EU members :)

I have always thought that if the US keeps making it difficult for Canada to do business with the US, that Canada should join the EU too. That might be interesting. :)

Alba = Scotland, I suppose? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alba) :-)

BTW, roaming eurotariffs don't have to be restricted territorially to 27 member states, Gibraltar and 4 French overseas territories. Some operators extended them to other countries. E.g. in Poland Play included EFTA, Greenland and Faroe Islands. AFAIR, some German operator included Croatia.

Anyway, the most painful for travellers case of non-eurotariff country is the Switzeland due to its location as "island" inside the EU. Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia are also of some meaning when travelling to Balkan EU members....