Recommendation for mobile phone and plan abroad (in Italia)
eponagirl
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I will live in Florence 8 months this year for research and take a 3-4 month break in the summer to be in the States.
My current mobile is a non-smart phone on the verge of death. I didn't bother replacing it in the US because I anticipated I'd have to deal with something new when I arrive in Italy. Now I'm a few days from leaving the US and I'm looking for advice on what kind of phones in Tuscany/Italy have good internet capability and a large screen, and ones that are also comfortable to use - ones with overall customer satisfaction. I'd also like to find something affordable.
I'll only be there for 8 months; however, I'd like to buy a smart phone that I can use in Italy and bring back to the US for summer months and living after my days in Italy. For some phones, I hear it's easy to change the sim card and use the phone in both countries. I cannot afford to stay on my Verizon plan in the US and use their Intl phone service in Italy - the costs are ridiculous. I need to get a separate phone plan in Tuscany. Does anyone recommend a pre-paid plan through a particular company in Florence? The first wave of stay is Jan-Jun 12, and second is Sept-Dec. June-Sept I'll need to use the phone in the States.
I would like to sign-up for Skype plan so that calls from the US are routed to my mobile (mostly, I'll use my laptop to dial the US), and I'd also like to find a plan that allows me to exchange international texts, between the US and Italy. I will not have internet in my apartment, so internet on the phone is necessary (and a good screen).
Ultimately, what kind of mobile phone should I get for Florence that will (preferably) work well in the US when I return? And what pre-paid mobile plan (company) do you recommend in Florence? Thank you!
My current mobile is a non-smart phone on the verge of death. I didn't bother replacing it in the US because I anticipated I'd have to deal with something new when I arrive in Italy. Now I'm a few days from leaving the US and I'm looking for advice on what kind of phones in Tuscany/Italy have good internet capability and a large screen, and ones that are also comfortable to use - ones with overall customer satisfaction. I'd also like to find something affordable.
I'll only be there for 8 months; however, I'd like to buy a smart phone that I can use in Italy and bring back to the US for summer months and living after my days in Italy. For some phones, I hear it's easy to change the sim card and use the phone in both countries. I cannot afford to stay on my Verizon plan in the US and use their Intl phone service in Italy - the costs are ridiculous. I need to get a separate phone plan in Tuscany. Does anyone recommend a pre-paid plan through a particular company in Florence? The first wave of stay is Jan-Jun 12, and second is Sept-Dec. June-Sept I'll need to use the phone in the States.
I would like to sign-up for Skype plan so that calls from the US are routed to my mobile (mostly, I'll use my laptop to dial the US), and I'd also like to find a plan that allows me to exchange international texts, between the US and Italy. I will not have internet in my apartment, so internet on the phone is necessary (and a good screen).
Ultimately, what kind of mobile phone should I get for Florence that will (preferably) work well in the US when I return? And what pre-paid mobile plan (company) do you recommend in Florence? Thank you!
eponagirl on
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as long as you have an account, you just add skype credit. or you can do monthly payments with unlimited calling if you think you're going to be using skype to call A LOT
http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/prices/pay-monthly/?intcmp=ch1-subs15-side
I have a friend who has an iphone with AT&T and she has an international plan so she can use her phone anywhere in the world, but I dont know how much that costs and you'd have to switch providers
It's stupidly expensive and only for people with money to burn on vacation.
When I was in France for four months, most people I knew got an Orange Mobicarte SIM (pay as you go) and the cheapest phone they could. Is it absolutely necessary that you have the same phone when you return to the States? I'm sure there's something along those lines in Italy.
I've heard of a company in Italy called TIM, which sounds like a good option in Florence, but I need to look into affordable international texting options. I hardly talk on the phone; most of my family and friends text nowadays. I'll let you know what happens!
Another thing. I think I have a Verizon Motorola Droid (original) here that I can use in Florence. Do you think I can just change the SIM card or is there a specific process for unlocking it for use with a foreign service? Any thoughts, I'm all ears.
I don't think Orange is in Italy, but like I said, there's got to be comparable services.
Ask about unlocking your Droid for use over there in this thread...
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/138506/the-android-thread-phones-and-tablets-in-all-shapes-sizes-and-desert-flavors
I unlocked my iPhone for France, but it involved using a Gevey SIM underneath the normal SIM to unlock it and a whole mess of steps to get it to work.
Texting internationally was about 50 cents euro a text. I really, really recommend you do not use your normal plan over there or even an international plan. Get a phone while you're there. Using a phone in Europe is expensive unless you get a plan, and since you won't be over there for that long, that's not an option.
And I agree completely - I won't carry on Verizon there; their fees are ridiculous internationally. I know what the fees are in London for other services; if London plans are more affordable than Verizon's in the US, you know something's up. I'll use Skype for calls, but I'm eager to find a good plan with intl texting and internet service on a smartphone.
Going to check out that forum now.
Thanks!
So I'm here in Italy and figured out the phone deets.
The Samsung Droid from Verizon in the States will not work here in Italy because although we can see the SIM card it is locked and you need to have an activated Verizon account with the phone at least 60 days before they can unlock your plan and features and remove the SIM card for you.
Also, Verizon fees for International calls are absurd. I found a few of the local companies that have better deals. WIND is the co I use now, and it is fantastic. Since I didn't have an unlocked mobile from the States, I bought a smartphone here, Samsung Galaxy Next (Android), for a little over 100€, which I can also use in the States if I switch the SIM - easy. The plans are custom with prepaid options. Mine is 1000 SMS at 1€/week, unlimited Internet for 9€/month, and I have just about 200 mins for under 10€, which I never use. I use Skype to call everyone so calls are seldom if ever on mobile. It's all prepaid so no commitment; you go month to month. If you visit another country you just change the SIM card, which is 10€.
The Samsung Galaxy (Next) mobile has everything that the iPhone has, it seems. There is an app that comes with it where you can stay signed-in to your Gmail account and Gchat with people for free, which works as "text-messaging" people for free between the States and myself. You can also send emails from your phone to someone's mobile number; you just need to know the SMS host (e.g., @mms.att.net).
Hope that helps.
Random: for those of you who have Citibank, there are no branches in Italy. Found that out.
Cheers.