Prepaid SIM in Italy? - Page 15

BLC · **Filling a TIM card -** 20-08-2010, 16:30

I have the same problem with my wife's Tim card. I have a Wind card and can fill it online from Canada with a Canadian credit card. I am buying my wife a Wind card to replace her Tim!

Lucy · 06-07-2010, 15:06

Re your suggestion about using Wind: How about the other-branded and virtual operators that use the networks of the main operators. I used an MVNO in Germany last year and it was fine. Aren't they just as good and cheaper than the main companies (Wind, etc) in Italy? Dieci Tondo, Telepass, Lyca, Tiscali, Veloce COOP, ERG. They all seem to have 5euros sim cost/credit with a variety of minutes charges that seem equivalent depending if you have a set-up fee or cheaper network calls. Are any of those I mentioned better or worse?

vegemite · 07-07-2010, 02:45

Been a while since I was on here last. Looks like Wind is still the best option for going around Italy for voice and data, correct me if I am wrong? Is the Wiki up to date with activation information? I will print it out and take it with me in August.

Effendi · 07-07-2010, 09:09

Virtual Operators in Italy don't have very interesting offers. Some of them are internet based, some you can find at discount stores, but overall there's not a real bargain in using them. Quality of service is the same as with the Network Operators.
I think Wind and 3 are still the cheapest solutions. I always suggest Wind since it has quite a good coverage, cheap rates and usually a good service.

The page is updated, but consider that in Summer there are many offers too, so you can get discounts.

vegemite · 09-07-2010, 04:53

So if I find 'negazio wind' that will point me to the nearest Wind store? Or can I buy anywhere? And will the store generally speak English and be able to tell me how to activate the Wind data offer or should I bring someone who can speak Italian?

Effendi · 12-07-2010, 13:26

Vegemite I think I already wrote it about 1000 times how to activate the data options, why don't you simply read it?
No, most probably no one in the shop will speak English, but they'll probably do their best to sell you the simcard, so don't worry too much... and yes, negozio means shop, that's where you have to go.

Effendi · 26-07-2010, 11:24

Barev!

The cheapest solution to call Armenia is using a Lycamobile prepaid card.
PrePaidGSM: Lycamobile (Italy)
Calling Armenia costs € 0.18/min to landline and € 0.29/min to mobiles, plus a € 0.15 setup fee.

You can find them at Tabacchi shop with this logo:

aviators99 · 14-08-2010, 02:43

Hello,

Excellent forum!

I understand that it is much better to buy the SIM in Italy. However, I am trying to prepare an unlocked phone for my parents. I do not want them to have to deal with anything at all.

Can I:

1) Buy a Wind SIM somewhere and pick it up and have it shipped to the US?
2) Can I activate it in advance of their trip?
3) What will the actual difference in cost be? Is it per minute, or just initial cost/postage?

Thanks in advance

BLC · 20-08-2010, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by aviators99

Hello,

Excellent forum!

I understand that it is much better to buy the SIM in Italy. However, I am trying to prepare an unlocked phone for my parents. I do not want them to have to deal with anything at all.

Can I:

1) Buy a Wind SIM somewhere and pick it up and have it shipped to the US?
2) Can I activate it in advance of their trip?
3) What will the actual difference in cost be? Is it per minute, or just initial cost/postage?

Thanks in advance

Telestial or Cellular Abroad will sell you a sim card and mail it to you. More expensive than doing it in Italy.

bauruine · 23-08-2010, 09:15

Hello BLC,

my problem is that I will use the SIM immediately after the arrival. Thus it is necessary to activate Internet access from abroad.

The other is that coverage from TIM is clearly better in my driving/sailing area, than those of WIND.

Thanks.

	(#1)
BLC (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 79 Join Date: 23 Sep 2008 Location: Canada & Italy Country:	Filling a TIM card - 20-08-2010, 16:30 I have the same problem with my wife's Tim card. I have a Wind card and can fill it online from Canada with a Canadian credit card. I am buying my wife a Wind card to replace her Tim!

	(#2)
Lucy (Offline) Member Official Member Posts: 30 Join Date: 28 Jun 2009 Country:	06-07-2010, 15:06 Re your suggestion about using Wind: How about the other-branded and virtual operators that use the networks of the main operators. I used an MVNO in Germany last year and it was fine. Aren't they just as good and cheaper than the main companies (Wind, etc) in Italy? Dieci Tondo, Telepass, Lyca, Tiscali, Veloce COOP, ERG. They all seem to have 5euros sim cost/credit with a variety of minutes charges that seem equivalent depending if you have a set-up fee or cheaper network calls. Are any of those I mentioned better or worse? Last edited by Lucy; 06-07-2010 at 15:13..

	(#3)
vegemite (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 48 Join Date: 10 May 2010 Location: Australia Country:	07-07-2010, 02:45 Been a while since I was on here last. Looks like Wind is still the best option for going around Italy for voice and data, correct me if I am wrong? Is the Wiki up to date with activation information? I will print it out and take it with me in August. HTC Desire (unlocked UK version) / Nokia E71 (Wife's phone) / 3 Australia Post Paid SIM (both) Looking for data / voice SIMS for Europe in August 2010 - UK, France, Italy, Austria, Croatia and Bosnia

	(#4)
Effendi (Offline) The great Dictator! Prepaid Prophet Posts: 2,487 Join Date: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Trieste/Trst Country:	07-07-2010, 09:09 Virtual Operators in Italy don't have very interesting offers. Some of them are internet based, some you can find at discount stores, but overall there's not a real bargain in using them. Quality of service is the same as with the Network Operators. I think Wind and 3 are still the cheapest solutions. I always suggest Wind since it has quite a good coverage, cheap rates and usually a good service. The page is updated, but consider that in Summer there are many offers too, so you can get discounts. Working Prepaids: IT: Wind, Vodafone IT, UNO Mobile; SM: Prima; UK: 3, Virgin; INT: TravelSIM, Truphone. Deceased Prepaids: CZ: Oskar, Eurotel; SK: Orange; DE: E-Plus, Aldi, Simyo; GE: Geocell; AM: Armentel; PL: Heyah, Plus; LT: Tele2; LV: Amigo; EE: Elisa; UA: Kyivstar; NZ: Vodafone; INT: UM, UM+, ICQSim. GSM/3G Phones: Nokia Lumia 630 dual sim

	(#5)
vegemite (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 48 Join Date: 10 May 2010 Location: Australia Country:	09-07-2010, 04:53 So if I find 'negazio wind' that will point me to the nearest Wind store? Or can I buy anywhere? And will the store generally speak English and be able to tell me how to activate the Wind data offer or should I bring someone who can speak Italian? HTC Desire (unlocked UK version) / Nokia E71 (Wife's phone) / 3 Australia Post Paid SIM (both) Looking for data / voice SIMS for Europe in August 2010 - UK, France, Italy, Austria, Croatia and Bosnia

	(#6)
Effendi (Offline) The great Dictator! Prepaid Prophet Posts: 2,487 Join Date: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Trieste/Trst Country:	12-07-2010, 13:26 Vegemite I think I already wrote it about 1000 times how to activate the data options, why don't you simply read it? No, most probably no one in the shop will speak English, but they'll probably do their best to sell you the simcard, so don't worry too much... and yes, negozio means shop, that's where you have to go. Working Prepaids: IT: Wind, Vodafone IT, UNO Mobile; SM: Prima; UK: 3, Virgin; INT: TravelSIM, Truphone. Deceased Prepaids: CZ: Oskar, Eurotel; SK: Orange; DE: E-Plus, Aldi, Simyo; GE: Geocell; AM: Armentel; PL: Heyah, Plus; LT: Tele2; LV: Amigo; EE: Elisa; UA: Kyivstar; NZ: Vodafone; INT: UM, UM+, ICQSim. GSM/3G Phones: Nokia Lumia 630 dual sim

	(#7)
Effendi (Offline) The great Dictator! Prepaid Prophet Posts: 2,487 Join Date: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Trieste/Trst Country:	26-07-2010, 11:24 Barev! The cheapest solution to call Armenia is using a Lycamobile prepaid card. PrePaidGSM: Lycamobile (Italy) Calling Armenia costs € 0.18/min to landline and € 0.29/min to mobiles, plus a € 0.15 setup fee. You can find them at Tabacchi shop with this logo: Working Prepaids: IT: Wind, Vodafone IT, UNO Mobile; SM: Prima; UK: 3, Virgin; INT: TravelSIM, Truphone. Deceased Prepaids: CZ: Oskar, Eurotel; SK: Orange; DE: E-Plus, Aldi, Simyo; GE: Geocell; AM: Armentel; PL: Heyah, Plus; LT: Tele2; LV: Amigo; EE: Elisa; UA: Kyivstar; NZ: Vodafone; INT: UM, UM+, ICQSim. GSM/3G Phones: Nokia Lumia 630 dual sim

	(#8)
aviators99 (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 1 Join Date: 14 Aug 2010 Country:	14-08-2010, 02:43 Hello, Excellent forum! I understand that it is much better to buy the SIM in Italy. However, I am trying to prepare an unlocked phone for my parents. I do not want them to have to deal with anything at all. Can I: 1) Buy a Wind SIM somewhere and pick it up and have it shipped to the US? 2) Can I activate it in advance of their trip? 3) What will the actual difference in cost be? Is it per minute, or just initial cost/postage? Thanks in advance

	(#10)
bauruine (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 6 Join Date: 17 Aug 2010 Country:	23-08-2010, 09:15 Hello BLC, my problem is that I will use the SIM immediately after the arrival. Thus it is necessary to activate Internet access from abroad. The other is that coverage from TIM is clearly better in my driving/sailing area, than those of WIND. Thanks.