Difficulty For An American In Moscow?

TheSquid · 11-07-2006, 21:59

So, while I'm resurrecting this, I figure giving an update now that I'm back from Russia might help others in the future. I brought an Ericsson T39mc with me.

1) They would not sell me a SIM card to any operator at Domodedovo Airport, International Arrivals Hall.
2) MegaFon in ТК "Тук Тук" on Пр. Вернадского would not sell me a SIM card without a registration stamp on my migration card, despite the fact that I had a document stating that my passport was currently not in my possession so that it could get said stamp.
3) BeeLine in the same place (downstairs) selled me a SIM card the same day. But the tarriff was terrible and I bought a new SIM card at...
4) DIXIS at Охотный Ряд did sell me a MegaFon SIM card (100руб) with no problems once I had the registration stamp on my migration card. The fact that my passport was issued by the New Orleans passport agency made for some interesting conversation. The agent ended up writing that my passport was issued by Полиция Нового Орлеана (the police of New Orleans). The very official-sounding address I gave them ended up on the registration form too.
5) Recharging of a MegaFon-Moscow-based mobile in St. Petersburg (MegaFon-Cevero-Zapad territory) was possible. Someone else with a MegaFon-Moscow card bought a 500руб payment card in SPB and used it with no problems.
6) I could never get my MegaFon voicemail to work, but that was probably my fault of not understanding the Russian instructions telling me how to set it up.

Any other questions, I'll be happy to answer; just let me know.

	(#16)
TheSquid (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 8 Join Date: 15 Mar 2006 Location: Near Charlotte NC US	11-07-2006, 21:59 So, while I'm resurrecting this, I figure giving an update now that I'm back from Russia might help others in the future. I brought an Ericsson T39mc with me. 1) They would not sell me a SIM card to any operator at Domodedovo Airport, International Arrivals Hall. 2) MegaFon in ТК "Тук Тук" on Пр. Вернадского would not sell me a SIM card without a registration stamp on my migration card, despite the fact that I had a document stating that my passport was currently not in my possession so that it could get said stamp. 3) BeeLine in the same place (downstairs) selled me a SIM card the same day. But the tarriff was terrible and I bought a new SIM card at... 4) DIXIS at Охотный Ряд did sell me a MegaFon SIM card (100руб) with no problems once I had the registration stamp on my migration card. The fact that my passport was issued by the New Orleans passport agency made for some interesting conversation. The agent ended up writing that my passport was issued by Полиция Нового Орлеана (the police of New Orleans). The very official-sounding address I gave them ended up on the registration form too. 5) Recharging of a MegaFon-Moscow-based mobile in St. Petersburg (MegaFon-Cevero-Zapad territory) was possible. Someone else with a MegaFon-Moscow card bought a 500руб payment card in SPB and used it with no problems. 6) I could never get my MegaFon voicemail to work, but that was probably my fault of not understanding the Russian instructions telling me how to set it up. Any other questions, I'll be happy to answer; just let me know.