A group of friends will be visiting different European countries and meeting in Hungary. We need an inexpensive and reliable and easily available way (and quick) to communicate by cell phones. Any ideas? Different members of group arriving at various times and countries. Need the cell phones to coordinate (attending soccer tournament) and communicate also to USA. Prefer not to buy -- too expensive. Thanks!

First, why do you assume that buying would be too expensive? The basic rental for a cellphone for one week is about the same as the cost of buying a decent phone.

There are several prepaid options that allow you to roam about most of Europe at very low cost. Also, consider a feature of CallbackWorld.com called PIN2DEST. They provide toll-free access numbers in many countries of Europe and around the world. By calling one of these access numbers from a public or hotel phone and dialing a PIN your call can be forwarded to any phone chosen. So, you could have just a few key people with cell phones and the rest having a list of access numbers and PINs to contact the key people.

Otherwise you could get several unlocked multi-band GSM phones and prepaid SIMs from UM or another international carrier and just call each other as needed.

You don't say how long you and your friends will be in Europe, but I assume it's for a couple of weeks. Since you guys will be traveling to so many countries, an international SIM card (like UM) would be your best bet.

As for the phone, a good quad band GSM phone isn't that expensive and will last for years. If you don't want to buy new, buy used (like on ebay), but make sure your phone is unlocked and will work on the GSM bands used in Europe--900/1800. (In the States, we use 850/1900.)


Khalisha
Zengo Wireless

Please tell us a detailed list of countries. Basically all the international SIMs have coverage all over Europe but rates may be an issue (no free incoming calls, or expensive rates in some countries). As to buying, DRN is right - GSM mobile phones are so cheap these days that renting slightly make sense....