Roming and Mobile Data in Europe

ripit · 04-05-2007, 23:13

Hi Ken. I didn't realize that Mobal allowed data. That is a good suggestion. The only problem is that I don't have another unlocked int'l gsm phone, so I'd have to buy one. I guess I can get one pretty cheap on eBay.

I am not sure if I explained the Vodafone option correctly - not the Verizon rental, but actually getting a pre-activated vodafone SIM and using that in my PDA. On the Vodaphone website it says that pre-paid users can activate the Passport feature. As I understand it, this gives you mobile data while roaming @ 10GBP/MB, which is comparable to the data rate for Mobal. As long as you use a partner network this also gives you free incoming calls, less a connect fee of 75p and outgoing calls are 75p per minute. So incoming calls would cost about $1.50 flat and out going calls would be about $1.50 per minute, but if I use CBW it is about $.40/min from a UK cellular to US or western europe landline. So it would cost $1.50 every time I receive a call, vs. free with UM and outgoing calls using CBW would be $.40 per min using Vodafone vs. $.29 for UM. Pretty close.... Plus using the Vodafone SIM I would not need a separate phone and SIM for voice, I could use my PDA with the Vodafone SIM for both voice and data.

Does this look right to you? Can anyone see any potential problems with this solution? I see several Vodafone SIMs on ebay that are pre-activated with roaming enabled.

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ripit (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 7 Join Date: 04 May 2007 Country:	04-05-2007, 23:13 Hi Ken. I didn't realize that Mobal allowed data. That is a good suggestion. The only problem is that I don't have another unlocked int'l gsm phone, so I'd have to buy one. I guess I can get one pretty cheap on eBay. I am not sure if I explained the Vodafone option correctly - not the Verizon rental, but actually getting a pre-activated vodafone SIM and using that in my PDA. On the Vodaphone website it says that pre-paid users can activate the Passport feature. As I understand it, this gives you mobile data while roaming @ 10GBP/MB, which is comparable to the data rate for Mobal. As long as you use a partner network this also gives you free incoming calls, less a connect fee of 75p and outgoing calls are 75p per minute. So incoming calls would cost about $1.50 flat and out going calls would be about $1.50 per minute, but if I use CBW it is about $.40/min from a UK cellular to US or western europe landline. So it would cost $1.50 every time I receive a call, vs. free with UM and outgoing calls using CBW would be $.40 per min using Vodafone vs. $.29 for UM. Pretty close.... Plus using the Vodafone SIM I would not need a separate phone and SIM for voice, I could use my PDA with the Vodafone SIM for both voice and data. Does this look right to you? Can anyone see any potential problems with this solution? I see several Vodafone SIMs on ebay that are pre-activated with roaming enabled.