Mobile phones
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Glasgow & Tavira
Posts: 57
Mobile phones
Hi, greetings from sunny Scotland.
This is for all technowizards.
Can anyone tell me the cost of mobile phones in Portugal and an idea of the call charges particularly back to the UK.
We'd us the phone when we are over visiting as the charges on my UK mobile are quite high so is there a "pay as you go" option in Portugal and do Portuguese sim cards work in UK bought phones?
This is for all technowizards.
Can anyone tell me the cost of mobile phones in Portugal and an idea of the call charges particularly back to the UK.
We'd us the phone when we are over visiting as the charges on my UK mobile are quite high so is there a "pay as you go" option in Portugal and do Portuguese sim cards work in UK bought phones?
#2
Re: Mobile phones
When my uncle comes over here he sticks a Portuguese Sim card in his U.K phone........can't mind exact costs as I never call via mobile to sunny Scotland but I reckon its about 25 cents a minute and I think texts are 12 cents.......some networks are different prices......think some charge as much as 40 cents per min, mines is TMN. Expensive but still far cheaper than using a U.K phone.
p.s some cut off after 3 months if you don't use or top them up.
p.s some cut off after 3 months if you don't use or top them up.
Last edited by gedscottish; Jul 27th 2007 at 4:32 pm.
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Tavira
Posts: 661
Re: Mobile phones
Yes mobile costs are a lot cheaper here, we bought a Portuguese sim card for 10 euros and got 5 euros credit. My son came over and lost his mobile so we bought him one so we could keep in touch for 24 euros.
#4
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11
Re: Mobile phones
I find a service called Mobivox very useful
check out www.mobivox.com
it links your Spanish mobile to Skype numbers. so you can ring internationally very cheaply.
PB
check out www.mobivox.com
it links your Spanish mobile to Skype numbers. so you can ring internationally very cheaply.
PB
#5
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Glasgow & Tavira
Posts: 57
Re: Mobile phones
I find a service called Mobivox very useful
check out www.mobivox.com
it links your Spanish mobile to Skype numbers. so you can ring internationally very cheaply.
PB
check out www.mobivox.com
it links your Spanish mobile to Skype numbers. so you can ring internationally very cheaply.
PB
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Scotland, Praia da Luz Portugal
Posts: 848
Re: Mobile phones
You'll need to make sure that your mobile is not "locked" to your provider. Some phones are easy to unlock but others are more difficult. If your phone is locked then it will only work with that company EG vodafone. Somebody up the barras will unlock your phone for you for about £10
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11
Re: Mobile phones
If you are thinking about skype or use it, there is a new service called skype to go.
This basically gives you a local UK number that people you give the number to can ring. that number can be configured on your skype account to ring on ypour spanish phone or mobile. you pay for the leg from uk to destination at skype rates , but it's not expensive. Someone on this board mentioned a free service that does this but I know nothing of this but would like to hear more if its true (particularly for transfers to mobiles) meanwhile I use Mobivox out and skype to go on incoming calls for those that deserve it of course.
PB
This basically gives you a local UK number that people you give the number to can ring. that number can be configured on your skype account to ring on ypour spanish phone or mobile. you pay for the leg from uk to destination at skype rates , but it's not expensive. Someone on this board mentioned a free service that does this but I know nothing of this but would like to hear more if its true (particularly for transfers to mobiles) meanwhile I use Mobivox out and skype to go on incoming calls for those that deserve it of course.
PB
#8
Re: Mobile phones
Hey guys, the Mobivox looks almost too good to be true. Are there any catches? Or am I just being too cynical
#9
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 0
Re: Mobile phones
If you can use land lines instead of mobiles then Voipstunt http://www.voipstunt.com will give you free calls - including international - over an ADSL / broadband connection. We use it a lot to speak to the family back in the UK and the quality / dropout rate is better than Skype in our view.
For 5 cents per connection you can use a normal phone at the initiating end as well with the "phone2phone" option, and it's also cheaper for sending SMS messages.
There are charges for calling non-private numbers (e.g. 0870, 0845) and mobiles but they are apparently cheaper than Skype.
We only use Skype for the webcam option now, but the traffic is usually so high that picture freeze / dropout is often a problem.
Take a look!
Graeme
For 5 cents per connection you can use a normal phone at the initiating end as well with the "phone2phone" option, and it's also cheaper for sending SMS messages.
There are charges for calling non-private numbers (e.g. 0870, 0845) and mobiles but they are apparently cheaper than Skype.
We only use Skype for the webcam option now, but the traffic is usually so high that picture freeze / dropout is often a problem.
Take a look!
Graeme
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11
Re: Mobile phones
I wouldn't go as far as to say that Mobivox is "too good to be true" but it certainly seems to work OK. I have only ever made paid for calls to Landlines and mobiles in the UK. But they are cheap enough. The free skype calls is a cool facility as is the ability to import your skype directory into Mobivox. One feature that I use that I never use anywhere else is the voice activated dialling facility.
It works incredibly well and is so useful when calling from a mobile phone.
There are no catches with Mobivox because there are plenty like me making paid for calls.
Please note that I don't have any vested commercial interest in Mobivox but I like singing it's praises because I was on the Beta test programme early on. I also think that there are other services out there offering similar.
On skype , the Skype to go facility is only available on Skype Pro as far as I know. I like it because I can register my Spanish or Portuguese number and when people ring my Skype to go number or any number that is diverted to it, It presents them with a UK ringing tone, Not the continental tone. presented by my mobile.
THis means that people ringing my Office direct line number ,don't realise that I'm sunning my arse in Spain on my Boat instead of tending to their issues.
I agree with you that Skype itself is not the be all and end all of VOIP though and I often have quality issues when using skype on my PC. I also bought a Skype WIFI phone (SMC version) that doesnt need a PC to be running, just an internet connection (including free public access zones) I have to say that the quality on this can be poor with lots of echo and was not a particularly good buy.
PB
It works incredibly well and is so useful when calling from a mobile phone.
There are no catches with Mobivox because there are plenty like me making paid for calls.
Please note that I don't have any vested commercial interest in Mobivox but I like singing it's praises because I was on the Beta test programme early on. I also think that there are other services out there offering similar.
On skype , the Skype to go facility is only available on Skype Pro as far as I know. I like it because I can register my Spanish or Portuguese number and when people ring my Skype to go number or any number that is diverted to it, It presents them with a UK ringing tone, Not the continental tone. presented by my mobile.
THis means that people ringing my Office direct line number ,don't realise that I'm sunning my arse in Spain on my Boat instead of tending to their issues.
I agree with you that Skype itself is not the be all and end all of VOIP though and I often have quality issues when using skype on my PC. I also bought a Skype WIFI phone (SMC version) that doesnt need a PC to be running, just an internet connection (including free public access zones) I have to say that the quality on this can be poor with lots of echo and was not a particularly good buy.
PB
#12
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11
Re: Mobile phones
??
You're one of my clients aren't you? I'm right aren't I
No No, you're from Bodgeits LLP are'nt you... You want to expose me I know.....
Well tough luck, cos my secretary will tell everyone I'm in a meeting
and that I will call them back when I'm free
PB
You're one of my clients aren't you? I'm right aren't I
No No, you're from Bodgeits LLP are'nt you... You want to expose me I know.....
Well tough luck, cos my secretary will tell everyone I'm in a meeting
and that I will call them back when I'm free
PB
#13