OK, that link to the PDF did the trick. I loaded a stock quote page and it loaded about 500 KB and I got to pay about a euro for it. ;)

Thanks for the find.

What is odd is that the SIM has APNs for Vodaphone and I assumed since Poste Mobile was a MVNO using the Vodaphone network, it would work that way. But in fact, creating a manual APN with the settings in that link did the trick.

OK, I will just use this for voice from now on. :)

Including maybe some in other Euro countries, since even roaming, the rates seem to be better than some other countries. But I guess people in other countries would not like calling a foreign mobile number.

OK, I just tried to book a taxi for early morning flight out of Florence.

They wanted my number.

I gave them the Poste Mobile number.

They refused that number because they consider it an international number?

It starts with +39, the right country code.

But they don't want to pay to call a cellular phone?

They claim the 10 digits following the country code makes it an international number.

It's incredible this thing about taxi. They don't know postemobile so this is the problem. Every italian's sim has 10 numbers!:???:

You just found an idiot... all Italian mobile numbers have 10 digits, as Fedeprovenza said. They just heard you speaking English so they thought you had a foreign number. BTW never tell an Italian your number with the international prefix, they have no idea about what it is... just say 377.xxxxxxx

Actually, it was the B&B guy who arranged the taxi for me.

In the end, he gave them HIS mobile phone number to get them to arrange the taxi.

What is odd is that earlier in the day, I had to call a taxi to get to the B&B after I returned my rental car. So I was able to call the Florence radio taxi co (055 42 42) and they sent a taxi without demanding a callback number.

The morning I left, it was getting a bit late (supposedly the taxi would be there 5 minutes before 5 AM) so I called the radio taxi again, thinking the reserved taxi wasn't showing up and was about to order another taxi when the reserved taxi showed up.

But again, they wouldn't have asked for a phone number, they would have sent one right out.

Then in Paris, I had to stay overnight before returning to the US (another story) and the hotel had Orange Wifi which I wanted to use. They also required a mobile phone number before you could purchase time. You had to input a mobile number or else the web page wouldn't process.

So I tried entering +39 but it didn't like it so I started with 039. Orange offered to text me the login and password but I didn't go that route.

I remembered in Madrid, I had a similar problem, the taxi company wanting a phone number before it would let me reserve a taxi early in the morning. Problem was, I didn't have a mobile number and I was staying at an apt. so I had to fend for myself.

I think I ended up giving the taxi company the number for the apt. landlord, without asking his permission. But really had no choice and I wondered if a taxi would show up.

Fortunately it did.

Well we'll see if I'm able to use this in Stockholm next month. Actually I don't think I will need a taxi. They have a express train to the airport and I booked a hotel right by the train station.

basic Wind sim 10Euro
 

I am unable to find what the prices are if I only buy a Wind sim for 10Euro. I realise I only get a credit of 5Euro.

What is the cost to make a call, receive a call, send a text message and receive a text message? We are only going to be in Italy for a week and we need to be able to call each other. It looks like 5Euro would be enough for us.

Does anybody know if a Wind sim can be bought at the airport in Rome (FCO)?

Thanks

Here are all the rates for Wind:
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/italia/wind.html

I suppose there's no Wind shop at FCO, but I'm not much updated about it...

The link supplied talks about different plans, Super Senza Scatto, Wind12, or Wind4, and they have a set-up fee ranging from € 4.80 to 7.00. Does this mean I have to pay to sign up for one of the plans as well as the set-up of the sim? I don't plan on making very many calls, so I prefer not to sign up for any plan.

Only Wind4 has a monthly fee (€4.80), Wind12 and Super Senza Scatto have no monthly fees at all. The 7€ activation fees are for the options such as Pieno Wind, which are not compulsory, but are surely convenient for Italians or people spending much time here.

BTW in any case you HAVE to choose one of the plans listed in that page. But they are all prepaid offers, pay as you go, they are no subscriptions.

Go with SuperSenzaScatto, it's the best options, with "Call Your Country" option to call the US for cheaper. It's free if you ask the dealer to active it on the new card.

Does this apply to other EU-countries (schengen) as well? I was thinking about the code fiscale.
Read somewhere that just a passport will do but there will be a little bit more paperwork to do, true?

The "codice fiscale" is just for Italy. I don't think something similar exists in other EU countries, at least for registering a mobile number.

What i mean is does other EU residents outside italy need to get a code fiscale too or is just the passport good enough?

EVERYONE in the World needs a codice fiscale if he/she wants to buy an Italian card. It doesn't matter EU or non-EU.

ok...thx for the quick answers

Northern Italy 24-07-08 for three weeks
 

I and my wife will be in northern Italy for three weeks starting 24th July. We will be staying in Bologna, Venezia, Verona, near Asti, and Milano, and we will also be exploring the Emiglia-Romagna, Veneto, and Piemonte regions.

We plan to bring two phones -- one HTC Hermes with 3g (2100 included)/GPRS/EDGE and one very basic Nokia. We will also bring a "Option GT Max 3.6" PC card. We will likely use data for browsing and for a bit of blogging. So we will want three SIMs. The two phones should probably be on the same network. The Nokia will probably have very low usage; just a few short calls, mostly calling to and from the other. Probably not more than 60 minutes total. Most calling will be on the Hermes, mostly to book tours, restaurants, check-in with hotels, etc.

From reading earlier posts, I am leaning towards 3, for their 3g network (which at least claims to operate in all the towns in which we are staying, as well as Parma). Second choice is Wind. I am wondering the following:

1. can I use my phones and PC card on 3's network (and roam to TIM)?

2. what will happen in the countryside -- I understand we can roam on TIM -- apparently that doesn't always apply to data? When I roam TIM data, is EDGE or 3g available?

3. Is the following page still accurate? Attempting to read 3's Italian page, I'm having trouble finding these exact plans.

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/italia/h3g.html

4. any summer specials that cover this period?

5. any other reasons to worry about 3?

Any thoughts? Grazie mille!

Kevin

Hmm. After reading the following (a bit old, but still accurate?), I'm rethinking a bit.

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/glob...view-t711.html

Maybe use Nokia as primary phone, on Wind, and use 3g HTC and PC on 3 ITA when doing data. Accept that we'll pay a few bucks for calls between the phones.

This way I avoid nuisance for calls when "on border between UMTS & GSM areas."

Thanks again for the site and other info!

Kevin

Hi Kevin,
I would NOT use 3, honestly. First of all, you cannot use 3 on your Nokia if it's not a 3G phone. Second, when there's no 3 network you roam on TIM, with no extra fee for voice calls, but WITH quite an expensive extra fee for data. And since you plan to use it for data it can be very dangerous for your credit.

I'd go with Wind which has 3G coverage in all the mentioned towns (3,5G too in some bigger places), plus GPRS (and maybe EDGE) in the other places in the countryside that you are going to visit.

Question for Effendi: So Wind or Poste Mobile?
 

Hi Effendi,

I'm new to this forum and I've read this thread and I have a few questions for you. I've followed the instructions on this website to get a CF. I'll be Italy for about a week traversing between Treviso to Portogruaro and Venice and maybe Rome in mid-August. I don't require the use of data plans as I only need the voice and SMS options.

1)Would I be better off choosing Poste Mobile since it cost 15Euros and gives me 15Euro Credit as well? Would I be right to choose the "Con Tutti" Option as there is no set-up fee for each call and it will only cost me 16 Eu Cents per minute?

2) Effendi, can you comment, I've just read from some of the posts that it can be quite difficult to get Pre-paid Poste Mobile? Will it be difficult to get it activated as it needs at least about 24hrs or so?

3) How would you compare Poste Mobile to Wind Super Senza?

Your advice will be much appreciated

Steve

from Singapore

In Italy MVNO are not convenient, except some particular (and often time-limited) promotional options for on-net calling.

With Wind you will have guarantee of full services of a real mobile operator. Furthermore super senza scatto is debited 1/1, postemobile debit 30/30. Now, Wind offers "Summer collection 5", a special sim pack that gives you 5€/month for 6 months of free calls (you will get at minumum 1 month).

wind Super Senza Scatto--->17 eurocent/minute. billing 1/1
Postemobile. Con tutti------->16 eurocent/minute. billing 30/30
Sms with both--->12 eurocent

Super Senza Scatto is better, go with Wind and you should have no problems. Post offices can be very crowded and often close very early, expecially in summer. And workers there are not used to tourists and mobile cards... better to go to a Wind shop.

i've to add sim postemobile costs 15 euro, 5 more than wind one:)

Thanks for Answering My Questions
 

Hi Fedeprovenza, Effendi and Mpattera,

I just want to express my sincere thanks and admiration for taking the time out to answer my questions. I think you guys have taught me a great deal and have definitely steered me towards getting a WIND Pre-Paid SIM Card Pack.

Ok This is what I will do, I'll reach Treviso on 18th August and will be Italy till 24th August

1) I'll go get A WIND Pre-Paid SIM card. Any WIND offers currently? Mpattera mentioned a Summer Collection 5? I'm sorry, can anyone please help me elaborate on what's that exactly? Otherwise, what I saw on this website says I should get WIND's "My Personal SIM" pack which costs 10 Euros(5 Eu credit)? Is it easier to get the SIM card at the Treviso Airport or the Treviso Train station as I need to take a train to Portogruaro, or should I buy it in Portogruaro?

2)I do not understand debiting method. What does Billing 1/1 and 30/30 mean? Super Senza Scatto billing being 1/1.

3) I reside in Singapore so when I buy the SIM Card from the seller I should take Effendi's advice and get the seller to create a "Call My Country" option for free right?

4)Friends, you think I'll have to wait a full 24hrs for my pre-paid SIM to be activated? Can I check my credit in English?

As I'm not really familiar with Italy's mobile network, I really hope you guys can help out and it's really much appreciated

A Million thanks!

Steve

This refers to the number of seconds per billing unit, with the first number being the initial unit and the second being subsequent units (it's common for them to be different). For example:

60/60 - Billed in round minutes. If you place a one-second call, you pay for a full minute. If you make a call that's one minute and one second long, you pay for two minutes. This is the most common billing method in the USA, for instance.

1/1 - Per-second billing. Your call price is calculated by the exact number of seconds, right from the beginning. If you make a one-second call, you only pay for one second. Make a 61-second call, you pay for 61 seconds (although both will obviously be rounded up to the nearest currency unit). This is the most common billing unit in Poland, for instance.

60/1 - Here, you pay for the first minute in full, no matter how long the call is, but if the call is longer than a minute, the call price is calculated by the number of seconds. If the call is one second, you pay for 60 seconds. If it's 61 seconds long, you pay for 61. This billing method is near ubiquitous in Germany. It's fine for longer calls, but a pain if you call a wrong number.

60/10 - Similar to above, except that after the first minute the price is rounded to the nearest 10 seconds.

10/10 - Billed to the nearest 10 seconds, no matter how long the call.

30/10 - Pay for the first half-minute in full, after that it's rounded to the nearest 10 seconds.

Etc. etc. Hope you get the idea...

normally sim is already activate. You can change language calling 4242 (free from Italy)

or *124*4242# free from abroad

somebody on howardforums told me that they "walked off the plane in Rome, went to the baggage claim and there was a WIND booth right there. They give you a free SIM on the spot with 5 euro credit. All you need to show is your passport. The codice fiscale business they will take care of for you. They didn't even mention it." Can anyone here confirm if this is true or not??? I thought it cost at least 10 Euro for a 5 euro credit SIM. I'm going on a cruise on Oct 13 that starts in Rome, so would like to pick up 2 sim cards for 2 family members with unlocked phones so we can keep in contact with each other if we go on separate excursions

Free Wind Card
 

We switched to Wind last October and picked up a free Wind card with 5 euro of time on it at a phone shop in the new shopping center in Pescara. They only asked for a copy of my passport and didn't ask for my codice fiscale. I've had no problem recharging on their website with my Canadian Visa card.

I've no idea about this offer at Fiumicino airport, it could be some sort of promotion by Wind for foreigners. BTW 10€ is also not such a high cost for a prepaid card, but free is of course better. The codice fiscale is not a problem if you find a dealer who speaks English and knows what to do with foreigners, otherwise it's better to have one.

So while the "free" Wind card has 5 Euro credit on it, I read earlier in this thread that the default Wind plan is 8 Euro/month so you have to add 3 Euro to it in order for it to activate. I may be getting the details all wrong but could someone please enlighten me? Sounds like it will be easy for me to pick up a sim card when I arrive in Rome (I've already created my codice fiscale online) but then with all the prepaid Wind plan choices I'm left quite confused as to my actual costs...

Wind
 

I think you automatically get Wind 12 but I'am sure you can specify when you pick up your sim card. Wind 12 has no monthly charge, just your usage. The 5 free euro won't go very far so you should put a bit more in to start and it is always handy to have a recharge card with you in case you run out in some out of the way place with no tobacco shop.

My plan is to use it for text messaging primarily between 2 unlocked phones, so if we are both in Italy can someone tell me how much it would be? What if we are both roaming outside of Italy? The only calls I plan to make are to the shuttles we've reserved from the airport or the port, just in case they are not there. I think in that case it is € 0.12/min on Wind 12? Frankly I'm confused by all the different Wind options, hopefully someone here can suggest the good ones

Sms
wind4 (5 euro/month)---15 cent
wind12-----------------15 cent
wind SSS---------------12 cent
The same cost for sms you send from Italy to another mobile phone (italian or foreign).

Calls
wind 12 (billing 30/30) has 16 cent of set-up fee while windSSS (billing 1/1) hasnt' it, so I think it's better for you the last tarif. If you call for long time it's better wind12

Wind
 

I agree but it really dosen't make any difference for the little you want to use it.
Cell phones in Italy are the preferred method of communication. We don't have a regular phone in our house rather my wife and I both have cell phones (she's with TIM). I think you will find you may use your cell phone more than you think. We also use ours for calls back to Canada as the .30/min is what a local cell phone call would cost here in Calgary.

Looks like Wind SSS is the best deal, lowest rates and no set-up fees. Any downside with SSS?

Just to confuse you they have options you can add to your plan such as 300 minutes free (monthly charge) between wind phones, internet access etc.. You can't go wrong with just about any deal when compared to the scalping we suffer here in Canada. Whatever way you go you've got 12 months to use up your credit and you can maintain your number by adding a few euros every 12 months.

Wind SSS has higher per minute rates, but no set-up fee and per second billing.
Wind 12 has lower per minute rates, but with set-up fee and 30 seconds billing.
It's all listed here:
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/italia/wind.html

You choose what's better for you. For me SSS is surely better.

Cheapest Card for Local & International SMS
 

Hi All,
Visiting Italy soon, I need your help on the following:
1- Is the Wind 6 SMS the cheapest for Local & International messaging (SMS)? If the rate is 0.06 cents for Local SMS, what is it for International SMS?
2- Where can I find a Wind reseller in Rome?
Thanks

1. wind6 is concerned ONLY sms to italian mobiles (but wind6 doesn't work abroad), not to foreign mobiles. For international sms (-->sending sms from Italy to foreign mobiles) it depends what is your tariff (if you have SSS you pay 12 eurocent, while if you have Wind12 you pay 15 eurocent).
2.there are a lof of shop wind in Rome, I think in the airport too

Hey all, I want to set up my Sony Ericsson w580i phone's WAP settings so that it's ready for Wind once I get my SIM card. Are there settings listed somewhere so I can pre-program my phone? Thanks.

In the above quote, does this mean that with SSS each call is €0.17/min, but then on Wind12 you pay €0.16 for each call and ALSO €0.12/min???