I'll soon be making my first trip to England and Ireland. I have the unlock code for my T-Mobile quad-band GSM phone. I understand that I'll be able to buy a prepaid SIM card for my phone at a tobacco shop or some such establishment. I don't want to pay the $.99/minute that T-Mobile would charge me to use my U.S. number abroad.
I'll be in England first. If I buy a SIM card in England, will I be able to use it in Ireland at reasonable rates, or will I have to get a different one there? Is there any particular provider that will offer a good deal for both countries?
Who was it said we were divided by a common language ?
Over here we call them mobiles.
You can certainly get SIM cards at the multiplicity of phone shops, and top-up cards at newsagents, etc.
.New EU regulations have capped roaming charges so it's not so expensive to roam anymore. A call made with in the EU on a phone sim in a state other than the one the call is made from has been capp at 49 cent per minute and calls recieved have been capped at 24 cent per minute. That doesn't include vat. You can get a phone and a sim card for a few euro over here now
Since these are only for temporary use, I'd imagine a pay-as-you-go tariff would be cheapest.
You might find it a problem that quite large areas of country in the UK just don't have any mobile coverage. I'm thinking of Somerset, in particular. I don't know how it is in Ireland. There are also a fair number of blind spots (such as Crowthorne in Berkshire).
I have a SIM for the UK and one for Ireland; the cool thing about "buying" and Irish SIM with pay-as-you-go is that it's free! You pay for e.g. 10 Euro credit and get your free SIM.
Mobile phone coverage in Ireland is pretty good; the only place I've had problems is in remote parts of Donegal.
I thought there were large areas of the US where you didn't have coverage, because the place is so big - like the Prairies, Texas, etc.
Best thing to do is to keep your essential numbers on the memory, and be prepared to look for a public phone box - they do still exist here and there.
Cell phone service in England and Ireland
Cell phone service in England and Ireland
I'll soon be making my first trip to England and Ireland. I have the unlock code for my T-Mobile quad-band GSM phone. I understand that I'll be able to buy a prepaid SIM card for my phone at a tobacco shop or some such establishment. I don't want to pay the $.99/minute that T-Mobile would charge me to use my U.S. number abroad.
I'll be in England first. If I buy a SIM card in England, will I be able to use it in Ireland at reasonable rates, or will I have to get a different one there? Is there any particular provider that will offer a good deal for both countries?
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by boxist
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
Who was it said we were divided by a common language ?
Over here we call them mobiles.
You can certainly get SIM cards at the multiplicity of phone shops, and top-up cards at newsagents, etc.
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
.New EU regulations have capped roaming charges so it's not so expensive to roam anymore. A call made with in the EU on a phone sim in a state other than the one the call is made from has been capp at 49 cent per minute and calls recieved have been capped at 24 cent per minute. That doesn't include vat. You can get a phone and a sim card for a few euro over here now
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by John McCartin
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
Since these are only for temporary use, I'd imagine a pay-as-you-go tariff would be cheapest.
You might find it a problem that quite large areas of country in the UK just don't have any mobile coverage. I'm thinking of Somerset, in particular. I don't know how it is in Ireland. There are also a fair number of blind spots (such as Crowthorne in Berkshire).
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
I have a SIM for the UK and one for Ireland; the cool thing about "buying" and Irish SIM with pay-as-you-go is that it's free! You pay for e.g. 10 Euro credit and get your free SIM.
Mobile phone coverage in Ireland is pretty good; the only place I've had problems is in remote parts of Donegal.
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
Same as Conán.
An Irish SIM costs the price of the credit you get with it. Best bet is to buy one for UK and one in Ireland.
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by proinsiasrua
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
Thanks, everyone, for the advice.
I'll try to start calling it my "mobile."
Innocent Bystander: Thanks for the warning ... good to know ... I had no idea. In fact, we will be in Somerset for a few days.
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by boxist
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
I thought there were large areas of the US where you didn't have coverage, because the place is so big - like the Prairies, Texas, etc.
Best thing to do is to keep your essential numbers on the memory, and be prepared to look for a public phone box - they do still exist here and there.
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
"I thought there were large areas of the US where you didn't have coverage, because the place is so big - like the Prairies, Texas, etc."
That's true, Pete -- and you have to pick your carrier based on where you think you won't be going.
I had just assumed that the rest of the world is more advanced.
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by boxist
Re: Cell phone service in England and Ireland
I wouldn't suggest using the word "mobile", people might think your a EU wanna-be.. And nobody wants that now do we!
# Posted on June 28th 2007 by lamh trom