What phone/service for use in the UK, Europe and Australia
 

Hello.
I live in the western US and travel to the UK, Europe and Australia about 2 weeks each month. I would appreciate suggestions on what phone/service provider would be cost efficient to use the phone for voice and data.

Currently, I do not have a contract with any cell phone provider.

I don't consider myself a heavy user but would enjoy access to my email and phone service while traveling.

Cheers!

You need a simply dualband phone (900/1800 Mhz) for UK, EU and AU. If you want you can buy a tri/quadband for both use, national (USA) and international.

About the service... well, maybe a international simcard http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/international.html

Thanks AndreA.

Newbie question. Once I decide on a carrier do I just insert a pre-paid sim card into the phone to use it?

Thanks.

Yes, you can already use it:D

it's perfect the new update: congratulations (to Effendi too):D

Thank you both.

Does anyone have suggestions for what phone and carrier but serve my needs?

Cheers!

Outside North America you will need an unlocked 900/1800 band GSM phone. For use within NA you will need also the 850/1900 bands. My suggestion is to get a quadband phone. Then you can use it in NA with an inexpensive SIM from T-Mobile or AT&T.

You can buy used phones on eBay (with all the risks that entails) or you can buy new from places like http://www.puremobile.com/ A phone like the Motorola V3 is quadband, popular and relatively inexpensive. The V180/V188 is even cheaper. If you don't need a built-in camera, bluetooth, etc. then there's no need to pay for it.

As for carriers that depends on your usage patterns. Cards like Mobal and UM are more expensive than country-specific cards but are more convenient (same number everywhere, no need to swap SIMs, etc.)

Thanks Bylo.

If I get a plan say with T-Mobile will any phone I get with them be locked?
Would this prevent me from using any of the pre-paid GSM cards?

Thanks.

Yes. The phone will be locked to the carrier say tmobile or AT&T. However, both of them will provide the unlock code (if requested) after 90 days of service in good standing. I unlocked 2 phones each from AT&T and Tmobile last year.

You are correct. You will need to unlock the phone to use another carrier's sim in it.