Hey guys, I've been trying to find a cell phone service that can be used outside the U.S. My sister is going to be in Spain for about 6-months and needs a cell phone to use to call the states. I've seen the rates from many providers adn they are close to a dollar a minute. Obviously a phone card would be cheaper. So what I'm looking at here is a cell phone, primarily using a t-mobile family pack service, that can be used internationally without the international rates t-mobile is charging for the service. What phones can do this on what kind of networks; etc.? Are there any links I can look at to get a little more idea? Will I get charged for using a phone card? Help me out here guys! Thanks!
-Justin

 

i don't know how it is in europe but whenever i go to philippines i use my unlocked GSM cell phone and get a prepaid SIM card there. the rates are to call US from Philippines is somewhere under $1/minute versus T-Mobile's $2.99/minute. if you can get your hands on an unlocked GSM phone, you can purchase a prepaid SIM card in spain. not sure how good GSM service is in spain or what the rate is.

since she's gonna stay there for 6 months and would like to call the US frequently, may i suggest vonage or a VOIP service. if she will be staying at a place with a reliable broadband service, she can get a vonage adaptor and bring it with her. now she can call the US locally and you call her locally. hope any of these help

 

Tmobile and Sprint work abroad, but as stated, you should try renting a local SIM card.

 

'Unlock' your phone (GSM is preferred)... go down to your local Chinatown to get it done. Around where I live, it can be done for easily less than C$50 (I'm sure you can find it for less in Chicago). Within Europe, you can buy pre-paid GSM cards that will fit in your GSM cell phone. Way cheaper than paying a US-based carrier's roaming charges. While you're looking ... find a quad band phone for maximum coverage.

 

you don't need to tamper with your current phone. it's way too easy to buy a cheap gsm phone already unlocked that works in europe. then just buy the prepaid cards as everyone has mentioned.

 

Ok thanks for the reply guys. So these pre-paid cards are obviously bought in Spain correct? SO pretty much my sister is going to have to switch out sim cards then. One sim card to receive calls from the U.S. and another to dial outside the U.S. What if you wanted to make calls within Europe?
-Justin

 

no, while abroad, you don't want to use the US sim card. even if she receives calls with her US sim card, she will be charged the per minute rate as if she made the call herself. i don't know how receiving calls works with local service in Europe but in Philippines, no matter where the call or SMS message originated, the reciepient is never charged or deduct any minutes. you only get charged or minutes deducted if you make the outgoing transaction. incoming is always free whether prepaid or postpaid. so have her check that as well when she's looking for a provider

 

Well ... I had a friend did just that ... who thought be bought a 'cheap' unlocked phone in Holland ... thing ended up being very expensive. If this guy's sister is in Spain, there will be a language barrier unless she can speak Spanish.

While there are good deals to be had for 'disposable phones' in Europe, you never know what shady people are out there. They know you'll be long gone after you've bought their product. Therefore, I'd prefer to fix what you have (that info is out there ... and unlocking isn't that hard if you have the right tools and connections) so that there is no learning curve to use it.

 

Every time I went to europe in the past and tried to get cell reception it was a total fiasco. In the end I got a razr from Cingular because I knew it would be as common as water so it will be easy to find a place to unlock it. Dont expect just any GSM phone purchased through a major carrier here to work w/ the quick swap.

 

info on spain networks: http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_es.shtml