I am going on a University study abroad program to the UK in a week. I will be there for 3 months so I figure a mobile phone may be useful while I am there.

My father has a Samsung E105 T-Mobile phone which has international GSM bands. Will I be able to take this phone over to the UK, get a SIM card, and get service?

Which services are the best in the UK and which would be best for me, considering I am looking for something like a pay as you go plan?

Is it true that receiving all calls is free in Europe? So, if people from America give me a call, I will be able to receive it for free and talk for as long as I please?


Lastly, any other tips for someone leaving for the UK shortly that has barely left the States in the past? I know I should probably shut my mouth as they don't encourage free speech there.

 

Your GSM phone should work in the UK. You should be able to pickup a prepaid sim-card from just about anywhere; you can even buy them in the airport when you arrive. Unless you plan to talk a lot, pricing is not really that big a deal (they're all pretty cheap). Just stick with some of the more popular carriers like Orange and you'll be fine.

Typically incoming cellular calls are free regardless of the origination. Not sure if that's still the case in Europe.

You're not going to have a problem with free speech in the UK.

Oh and you should make sure your T-Mobile is unlocked so that it will accept a non-TMobile sim-card.

 

You have to unlock your Samsung E105 if it is locked to T-Mobile, I can help, PM Me and Ill give you the instructions