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Raileurope.com: See Europe by train
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Old 03-08-2006, 11:48 AM   #1
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Background: I'm getting to Europe in May, will be there for six weeks. Flying into Dublin.

Theory: When I get to Dublin, I'll try to find a prepaid mobile while I'm still in an English speaking country.

Question: How well do you think this will work? If I get a prepaid in Ireland is it going to be wicked expensive, or will it not work/limited work in the rest of the continent? I don't really plan on using it a lot, just to get ahold of people I will/might be visiting.
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Old 03-08-2006, 12:04 PM   #2
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really depends on what network you go on plus there are a lot of different calling plans where will you be heading in Europe? Have you thought about getting a second-hand jobby from ebay?
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Old 03-08-2006, 12:10 PM   #3
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I'm not really sure, but I'll be confined to Western Europe on this trip. Which network would you call the best? Very few phones in the US have SIM cards. Do you think finding an old on on eBay and getting a SIM card there would be cheaper/better?
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Old 03-08-2006, 01:14 PM   #4
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probably as long as it's gsm, try checking out www.o2.co.ie (i think thats the web add) or the vodafone site for ireland if this is where your gonnabe buying a phone. Other option is talk to Meturk as he is from Ireland and prob give you better advice as i can only give you info from a uk perspective
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Old 03-08-2006, 02:00 PM   #5
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Thanks a lot!
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Old 03-08-2006, 02:46 PM   #6
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If you bring your own phone, you'll need a tri-band GSM phone. There are tons of these around the US - in fact, if you're on Cingular or T-mobile, you'll have GSM for sure, and most likely tri-band. If you have a phone with Verizon or Sprint, you're SOL.

As far as carriers go - in another thread about phones in Europe, there's one company that offers pre-paid accounts with international roaming at a reasonable price. Most prepaid accounts don't allow roaming outside of the home country. Here's that thread, BTW.
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Old 03-08-2006, 04:37 PM   #7
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When I had AT&T Wireless, I had a GSM phone. But they're prepaid sucked and then they got bought by Cingular, which is GSM, but just got bought by SBC/AT&T again, which is CDMA, so who knows what their network will use. I have an Alltel version of the RAZR which is CDMA - no world-phone for me.

Thanks, though, I'll make sure to get a prepaid with some international roaming. How much more do you think that will cost?
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Old 03-08-2006, 05:23 PM   #8
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You should get a cheap phone in the UK, like the Nokia 1100 which costs about 10 pounds. Its on Virgin which has access all over western Europe. I did this last summer. Its a pay as you go phone, but if your not going to be using it much, thats the best way to go. And you can buy credit for it (or "top up" as they like to call it) pretty much anywhere in Europe.
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Old 03-08-2006, 05:55 PM   #9
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Can I find that in Ireland? Or do I need to take a bus to Belfast?
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Old 03-09-2006, 02:17 AM   #10
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I'd say Vodafone are probably the best, they more or less own Europes mobile market. I'm almost completely sure you can roam with a prepay but I'd cheakout vodafone.ie and send them an Email to be sure. Also ask them about your phone and make sure it will work properly here. Even if it doesn't you can pick up a mobile here really cheap.

I had a bill pay phoe with me around Europe (vodafone) and theres no hassles it just switches automatically when you enter a new country, even gives you the local information numbers in a text message. I presume the calls will be expessive I'd say around €1 a minute, with a bill phone you pay the local rates.
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Old 03-09-2006, 02:34 AM   #11
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i know here in the UK vodaphone do a cheap deal for pay as you go customers when travelling europe
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Old 03-09-2006, 08:44 AM   #12
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Thanks guys, it sounds like Vodafone is the way to go.
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