Greece HSPA (prepaid and postpaid offers)

Evan · 31-03-2011, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldeneyed

When you say these plans for computers does that mean it cannot be used in a phone at all? And if you can use it in a phone, can you switch from one type of plan to another and keep the same SIM card? Thanks.

The WIND plans #1 to #4 are all add-ons that work with the normal SIM cards. As "normal" I mean a SIM card that offers voice and texts too and you can use it with a phone or with an USB modem. All those plans can be used in a phone or in a computer, Wind doesn't have a special limitation on which device you should use them. However, the small plans of 40-100MB/month are not useful for computer usage. Also you can switch from one type of plan to another when the plan period is over but I don't think that you can combine different plans at the same time.

The only exception (and an important one) are the available data plans for computers which are offered with a special data SIM card. The "special" SIM cards offer only data, not voice or SMS. Those plans are the Cosmote #2, Vodafone #4 and Wind #5. Those special plans could work in a phone as well but keep in mind that you will only have data, not voice/texts on your phone.

In general, most operators in Greece and elsewhere, offer two distinct data plans for (a) phones (b) computers, and they explicitly prohibit the usage of a phone data plan in a computer. However, in most cases they do not prohibit the opposite (because the computer data plans are more expensive and offer more data), therefore you can use a computer data plan in a phone.

goldeneyed · 01-04-2011, 02:23

Perfect that's great to know! It's simpler than I thought then. Here in North America it's a whole lot more complicated hehe.

timmfive · 03-04-2011, 10:22

Just an update to my "Q" data speed issues. (outlined here: link)

I wrote the Q customer service as per Evans post. After a week the informed me of the difference between 3G and GPRS speeds. I replied saying I am aware of this difference but that I am currently in a 3G area. No reply.

I also tried calling the customer support line a few times, but when I select the option for English, the menu reverts to an infinite loop in Greek.

So I went (once again) to the WIND store. This time my trusted WIND agent informs me that "Q doesn't support 3G anymore". (!!!??!). Not sure why he sold me the credit last time, but I guess he learned something new. I explained that I used to get 3G speeds with Q, but seemed like ~March 1st it stopped... he just kept saying that "Q doesn't have 3G anymore".

Regardless, the unadvertised unlimited Q data plan that I had last year has ended. And their 500M for €5 is also offered by parent company WIND. Whether Q are throttling data back to GPRS speeds or throttling my account in specific... doesn't matter. I've had enough messing around. So I just got a WIND SIM, new number, new account, and have 3G speeds back.

Bottom line: don't bother with Q anymore. Go with WIND. 500MB for €5.
(but things seem to change alot in Greece so stay tuned!)

tariq · 05-04-2011, 10:40

@Evan - or anyone else who knows.

I see all the operators have the "500MB". Is it still valid for any operator? I arrive to Greece on 20.4 for 2 weeks to sail between the islands and I was hoping to use the offer.

I would appreciate any suggestion on what to choose (i'll be using my ipad most probably).

T.

dognaldo · 06-04-2011, 14:07

Hi,
I am from Brazil and will go to Greece for 3 weeks in July (1 week in Athens and 2 weeks in the islands).
Is there a Cosmote or Wind store where i can buy a prepaid data sim for my usb key in Athenas Internacional Airport (ATH) ? I will use same sim in my tablet and netbook.
Thanks.

Evan · 07-04-2011, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmfive

Bottom line: don't bother with Q anymore. Go with WIND. 500MB for €5.
(but things seem to change alot in Greece so stay tuned!)

Keep in mind that the "500MB for 5€" is just an offer that was originally valid until 31 March. Few days ago, it was extended until 30 April 2011.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tariq

@Evan - or anyone else who knows.

I see all the operators have the "500MB". Is it still valid for any operator? I arrive to Greece on 20.4 for 2 weeks to sail between the islands and I was hoping to use the offer.

I would appreciate any suggestion on what to choose (i'll be using my ipad most probably).

You mean the "500MB for 5€" offer that all four operators had? This offer ended on 31 March for Cosmote and Vodafone but Wind extended it for one more month.

What to choose depends on which operator has the best coverage on the places you plan to visit and second, on how much data you estimate you will consume. You can have a look on the links of my signature and let us know if you have additional questions.

A quick suggestion could be the "COSMOTE Internet On The Go me karta" plan but I don't know if they have Micro-SIMs with that plan for your iPad.
COSMOTE: Mobile Internet on your computer

Quote:

Originally Posted by dognaldo

Hi,
I am from Brazil and will go to Greece for 3 weeks in July (1 week in Athens and 2 weeks in the islands).
Is there a Cosmote or Wind store where i can buy a prepaid data sim for my usb key in Athenas Internacional Airport (ATH) ? I will use same sim in my tablet and netbook.
Thanks.

For Cosmote, there is a Germanos store at the Arrivals Level of the airport. Wind doesn't have an airport store but if you plan to be in Athens for 1 week, you can look for shops in the center of Athens.

OldBawley · **Rhodes Dummy want to buy. -** 09-04-2011, 17:30

Rhodes town. Wind shop. Friendly salesman. Want to buy a prepaid broadband stick and a 30 days start. Sailing the small islands of the Dodecanese, i now it wil be inpossible to find the Airtime Renewal Scratch Cards, so i decide to take two 30 € cards with me, in order to charge up on the way. The salesman explanes that ading a new card only charges the data amount, NOT the days.
he schows it to me on his ( Greek ) monitor. So only activate new scratch card after the other is expired.
Problem no cards availeble on Rhodes, kiosk vendor explains that those cards are not available. Greeks charge with some kiosk electronic thingy. Not possible in a deserted bay on a small island.
Cosmothe and vodaphone : Only charge up in store. No store.

jdoug · **Best iPhone data plan for 10 day visit -** 10-04-2011, 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan

A quick suggestion could be the "COSMOTE Internet On The Go me karta" plan .

Is this plan good for iPhone?

I'm looking for a data plan for an iPhone 3GS for 10 days. Voice would be a plus but I don't really need it. I would like to not have to worry about how much data I use.

Since SMS requires special application (I assume we're talking PC) then I guess no SMS support for iPhone?

dognaldo · 11-04-2011, 14:28

For Cosmote, there is a Germanos store at the Arrivals Level of the airport. Wind doesn't have an airport store but if you plan to be in Athens for 1 week, you can look for shops in the center of Athens.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for your reply.
I will departure to islands on the same day of arrival. I arrive at Athens
airport 13:00 and go to port of Piraeus for embarkation 23:00.

I have two options; buy a COSMOTE sim at Germano store (airport) and request an immediate register or search a Wind store near metro station in Athens center.

In the port of Piraeus is there any WIND store?

In your opinion what is the best alternative; WIND Mobile Broadband karta me or COSMOTE Internet On The Go karta me ?

Thanks,

	(#2)
goldeneyed (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 7 Join Date: 26 Jul 2009 Country:	01-04-2011, 02:23 Perfect that's great to know! It's simpler than I thought then. Here in North America it's a whole lot more complicated hehe.

	(#3)
timmfive (Offline) Junior Member Amateur Member Posts: 14 Join Date: 12 Oct 2010 Country:	03-04-2011, 10:22 Just an update to my "Q" data speed issues. (outlined here: link) I wrote the Q customer service as per Evans post. After a week the informed me of the difference between 3G and GPRS speeds. I replied saying I am aware of this difference but that I am currently in a 3G area. No reply. I also tried calling the customer support line a few times, but when I select the option for English, the menu reverts to an infinite loop in Greek. So I went (once again) to the WIND store. This time my trusted WIND agent informs me that "Q doesn't support 3G anymore". (!!!??!). Not sure why he sold me the credit last time, but I guess he learned something new. I explained that I used to get 3G speeds with Q, but seemed like ~March 1st it stopped... he just kept saying that "Q doesn't have 3G anymore". Regardless, the unadvertised unlimited Q data plan that I had last year has ended. And their 500M for €5 is also offered by parent company WIND. Whether Q are throttling data back to GPRS speeds or throttling my account in specific... doesn't matter. I've had enough messing around. So I just got a WIND SIM, new number, new account, and have 3G speeds back. Bottom line: don't bother with Q anymore. Go with WIND. 500MB for €5. (but things seem to change alot in Greece so stay tuned!)

	(#4)
tariq (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 1 Join Date: 05 Apr 2011 Country:	05-04-2011, 10:40 @Evan - or anyone else who knows. I see all the operators have the "500MB". Is it still valid for any operator? I arrive to Greece on 20.4 for 2 weeks to sail between the islands and I was hoping to use the offer. I would appreciate any suggestion on what to choose (i'll be using my ipad most probably). T.

	(#5)
dognaldo (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 3 Join Date: 06 Apr 2011 Country:	06-04-2011, 14:07 Hi, I am from Brazil and will go to Greece for 3 weeks in July (1 week in Athens and 2 weeks in the islands). Is there a Cosmote or Wind store where i can buy a prepaid data sim for my usb key in Athenas Internacional Airport (ATH) ? I will use same sim in my tablet and netbook. Thanks.

	(#7)
OldBawley (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 1 Join Date: 09 Apr 2011 Country:	Rhodes Dummy want to buy. - 09-04-2011, 17:30 Rhodes town. Wind shop. Friendly salesman. Want to buy a prepaid broadband stick and a 30 days start. Sailing the small islands of the Dodecanese, i now it wil be inpossible to find the Airtime Renewal Scratch Cards, so i decide to take two 30 € cards with me, in order to charge up on the way. The salesman explanes that ading a new card only charges the data amount, NOT the days. he schows it to me on his ( Greek ) monitor. So only activate new scratch card after the other is expired. Problem no cards availeble on Rhodes, kiosk vendor explains that those cards are not available. Greeks charge with some kiosk electronic thingy. Not possible in a deserted bay on a small island. Cosmothe and vodaphone : Only charge up in store. No store.

	(#9)
dognaldo (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 3 Join Date: 06 Apr 2011 Country:	11-04-2011, 14:28 For Cosmote, there is a Germanos store at the Arrivals Level of the airport. Wind doesn't have an airport store but if you plan to be in Athens for 1 week, you can look for shops in the center of Athens.[/QUOTE] Thanks for your reply. I will departure to islands on the same day of arrival. I arrive at Athens airport 13:00 and go to port of Piraeus for embarkation 23:00. I have two options; buy a COSMOTE sim at Germano store (airport) and request an immediate register or search a Wind store near metro station in Athens center. In the port of Piraeus is there any WIND store? In your opinion what is the best alternative; WIND Mobile Broadband karta me or COSMOTE Internet On The Go karta me ? Thanks,