International SIM with local SIMs

[PennMike]

Hi,
Just came across this site a few weeks ago and it has helped me a lot in cutting through some of my fog, but I must admit I'm still basically clueless when it comes to using cells internationally. (technology has passed me by I'm afraid )

I only travel a few times a year, but when I do it's usually 2-3 weeks at the same destination (for example this summer 2 1/2 weeks Prague, 1 1/2 weeks Berlin). I bought a used cell (Motorola 551 GMS- unlocked) and am hoping that was the correct first step. I gather the cheapest rates are going to be by buying local/country-specific cards. (Feel free to tell me I've already screwed up )

Two questions:

1.) Is it a good idea to get local SIMs for the best value when IN the country, but to have an international one to swap out for when travelling to/from/between the countries (or is this even possible a/o easy to do)?

2.) Where do you buy local SIMs other than at a carrier-specific cell phone store?

I waded through various forums but couldn't find the answers to my questions. Sorry if I missed the obvious and asked a typical newbie question for the millionth time.

Thanks,
Mike

PS: FWIW I will most likely not be using SMS, and will probably be using the phone only once or twice a day (maybe 5-10 min) daily.

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by PennMike

Hi,
Just came across this site a few weeks ago and it has helped me a lot in cutting through some of my fog, but I must admit I'm still basically clueless when it comes to using cells internationally. (technology has passed me by I'm afraid )

I only travel a few times a year, but when I do it's usually 2-3 weeks at the same destination (for example this summer 2 1/2 weeks Prague, 1 1/2 weeks Berlin). I bought a used cell (Motorola 551 GMS- unlocked) and am hoping that was the correct first step. I gather the cheapest rates are going to be by buying local/country-specific cards. (Feel free to tell me I've already screwed up )

Two questions:

1.) Is it a good idea to get local SIMs for the best value when IN the country, but to have an international one to swap out for when travelling to/from/between the countries (or is this even possible a/o easy to do)?

2.) Where do you buy local SIMs other than at a carrier-specific cell phone store?

I waded through various forums but couldn't find the answers to my questions. Sorry if I missed the obvious and asked a typical newbie question for the millionth time.

Thanks,
Mike

PS: FWIW I will most likely not be using SMS, and will probably be using the phone only once or twice a day (maybe 5-10 min) daily.

Welcome aboard!

Have you looked in the Europe section of the forum; there is a sticky on going to Europe.

The 551 should work fine; make sure you have adapters for the voltage/electric.

The EU is undergoing some changes and nothing is clear at this point. Teltarif.de reporting the EU has passed new legislation.

The cheapest rates for receiving calls and calling within a given country are probably found on SINGLE COUNTRY SIMs as you suggest. HOWEVER, calls to the US and other foreign destinations may be quite expensive on these cards. Also, you must consider the long-term costs if you want to keep these alive. I had 2 Malta cards and those were not good investments.

Depending on how much you call and travel between countries, an international SIM might be good. If you are just traveling between Prague and Berlin, there can only be one or two countries in between.

Can't speak for CZ, but you can pick up prepaid SIMs in DE, CH or FR in many places, including larger stores (Saturn in DE, for instance). Or you can try eBay US. Or you can try eBay.de for single country SIMs.

PERSONALLY, since I do not travel often, I now try to keep foreign SIMs inventory small. I have one for DE and one international. I am heading for DE this summer and MIGHT pick up another one for DE. Not sure yet, however. I have $50+ sunk cost in my UM international card and would like to use some of the balance up. Why spend more money?

Short and sweet answers:

0 phone is OK
1 depends; IMHO buy one local SIM in each country OR if you can get a VODA SIM with the passport option for both DE and Prague.
2 local SIMs should be available in any major town; train station, shopping districts. Know what the local carriers names and logos.

Bon voyage!

Stan

[PennMike]

Thanks Stan,
Very much appreciate the info and advice.
Only thing I am still wondering about is the feasability/ease/worth of getting both an International SIM and then seperate locals for reasons stated above. Know that I could use the international (airports, 1 or day day visits to a country, etc).
Is it done? Is it a fairly simple matter of just changing the card (or is there more involved)? Any downsides?

I hate doing something for the first time. After you've done it half of your original questions seem so simple and basic.

Mike

[Bossman]

Yes. It's as easy as just changing the cards.

Besides the obvious that you will have a different number, once you change sims, most international sims, as you are probably already aware, use a callback mechanism to make outgoing calls. Basically, you dial the number and you get a call back in a few seconds.

[snaimon]

Originally Posted by PennMike

Thanks Stan,
Very much appreciate the info and advice.
Only thing I am still wondering about is the feasability/ease/worth of getting both an International SIM and then seperate locals for reasons stated above. Know that I could use the international (airports, 1 or day day visits to a country, etc).
Is it done? Is it a fairly simple matter of just changing the card (or is there more involved)? Any downsides?

I hate doing something for the first time. After you've done it half of your original questions seem so simple and basic.

Mike

Suggest you find someone with T-MO or Cingy or other GSM provider and check out the phone before you go abroad. You can practice putting in and taking out the SIM. Also, if it doesn't work or a feature (speakerphone) does not work, you will be a bit SOL over there.

If you just want to make outbound calls at airports, they should have pay phones. Take a calling card (ATT, etc) or buy a local one. TRUE, pay phone rates may be higher.

BTW, I lost 2 SIM cards in an airport while changing them. My own fault. I was not feeling well and must have dropped my plastic bag containing the SIMs.

Stan

[Effendi]

Talking about Czech Republic there won't be a problem at all to buy a prepaid card. Once Oskar (now Vodafone) was the cheapest to buy, now they are all probably similar and usually quite cheap.
For Germany it's usually better to go with some MVNO (virtual networks) like Blauworld which has very good rates for calling abroad. You can find it in Saturn shops.

I see really no need for an international sim-card, you are just visiting 2 countries, connected to each other, and both with cheap local solutions.

[meir]

In Czech Republic you can get prepaids almost everywhere. O2, T-Mobile or Vodafone. Just take your pick. From my point of view there no big difference. It will more depends on where you are going to call. Locally or overseas.

[dsd123]

Honestly given your needs I think I would just buy an international SIM card from a place like Onesimcard.com (that's where I got mine). I go to Italy every few months and basically just have a phone for emergency service and the occasional call. Most of the time I just use phone cards from my hotel room though.

I think this would probably be the easiest thing for you to get because you wouldn't have to worry about buying a couple different cards depending on where you are, and managing them, switching them out all the time, having a bunch of different phone numbers, and adding more minutes to each one seperately. If you get an international SIM card you keep your same number no matter where you are, and you see all your minutes used on the website etc and you know it works before you leave the US so you wouldn't run into any issues with a random SIM card not working. They give you a 1800 number too which only charges you 35 cents a minute for other people to call you so that was nice because my friends always get confused dialing internationally. I'd have them just call me, and then I'd call them back on my hotel phone.

It sounds like you'll use your phone so rarely that even though this may not be the cheapest option, the convenience and reliability would be worth it for you.