Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
Jan 3rd 2004, 5:46 am
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
Is their any similar card that allows calls to the US from more than
just Italy; Western Europe in general is what I'd need?
Tim K
"B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 2 Jan 2004 22:18:24 -0800, [email protected] (Lil) wrote:
> >The 3 of us will be going to italy in a little less than a month. We
> >will need to call the U.S., make phone calls within Italy to make
> >reservations, etc. In previous trips out of the U.S., I've relied on
> >prepaid phone cards, and they've worked out okay.
> For calling back to the US, the very best thing you can use is a
> prepaid Italian card that you can get wherever SuperEnaLotto tickets
> are sold. (Tobacco stores are a good bet, but some sell only normal
> Lotto tickets.) Any store that sells Superenalotto tickets has a
> computer than can print you out a "Sisal Edicard Europe & USA". (Write
> it down, so you won't have to pronounce it.)
> You can get this card in denominations from 5 euro and up. The cost
> for calling the US is a little over 3 cents a minute, so 5 euro will
> get you almost 2 hours. The basic instructions on the card are in both
> English and Italian. Basically, you dial an 800 number. Then you press
> "2" to continue in English, following the prompt. You enter your PIN,
> printed on the card, and then the number in the US you want to call,
> preceded by "00 1" (00 is the international prefix and 1 is the
> country code for the US.)
> For calls within Italy, a normal Telecom phone card might be the
> easier method. You can get these in almost any tobacco store, if you
> ask for a "Scheda Telefonica". Pay phones are getting harder to find,
> but those that exist usually take this card. You have to break off one
> corner and then insert it in the phone as shown on the instructions on
> the phone box. It shows you on the display how much money you have
> left. Remember that you have to include the prefix ( beginning with a
> "0") for all calls, unlike most European countries.
> You can also call from your hotel without worrying about outrageous
> costs, because it's illegal for hotels to tack on extra costs.
> However, for calling the US nothing can beat the Edicard. I use it for
> all my calls to friends and relatives in the US.
> -----------
> Barbara Vaughan
> My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero
dot it
> I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
just Italy; Western Europe in general is what I'd need?
Tim K
"B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 2 Jan 2004 22:18:24 -0800, [email protected] (Lil) wrote:
> >The 3 of us will be going to italy in a little less than a month. We
> >will need to call the U.S., make phone calls within Italy to make
> >reservations, etc. In previous trips out of the U.S., I've relied on
> >prepaid phone cards, and they've worked out okay.
> For calling back to the US, the very best thing you can use is a
> prepaid Italian card that you can get wherever SuperEnaLotto tickets
> are sold. (Tobacco stores are a good bet, but some sell only normal
> Lotto tickets.) Any store that sells Superenalotto tickets has a
> computer than can print you out a "Sisal Edicard Europe & USA". (Write
> it down, so you won't have to pronounce it.)
> You can get this card in denominations from 5 euro and up. The cost
> for calling the US is a little over 3 cents a minute, so 5 euro will
> get you almost 2 hours. The basic instructions on the card are in both
> English and Italian. Basically, you dial an 800 number. Then you press
> "2" to continue in English, following the prompt. You enter your PIN,
> printed on the card, and then the number in the US you want to call,
> preceded by "00 1" (00 is the international prefix and 1 is the
> country code for the US.)
> For calls within Italy, a normal Telecom phone card might be the
> easier method. You can get these in almost any tobacco store, if you
> ask for a "Scheda Telefonica". Pay phones are getting harder to find,
> but those that exist usually take this card. You have to break off one
> corner and then insert it in the phone as shown on the instructions on
> the phone box. It shows you on the display how much money you have
> left. Remember that you have to include the prefix ( beginning with a
> "0") for all calls, unlike most European countries.
> You can also call from your hotel without worrying about outrageous
> costs, because it's illegal for hotels to tack on extra costs.
> However, for calling the US nothing can beat the Edicard. I use it for
> all my calls to friends and relatives in the US.
> -----------
> Barbara Vaughan
> My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero
dot it
> I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Jan 3rd 2004, 9:43 am
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
"B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 07:46:08 -0500, gerald <[email protected]> wrote:
> >You also seem to have to use the Italian card. None of my US phone
> >cards, or credit cards would fire up the phone.
> I don't know what your problem was. In the past I've used US phone
> cards in Italy, as have friends and relatives. Now I use only the
> Edicard, which I mentioned in another post.
> -----------
> Barbara Vaughan
> My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot
it
> I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
It's been four years since I was in Italy, but I think we were able to dial
the ATT toll-free access number from a pay phone without using a phone card.
I know that was the case in both France and Spain last year and the year
before. Is that still the case?
GG
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 07:46:08 -0500, gerald <[email protected]> wrote:
> >You also seem to have to use the Italian card. None of my US phone
> >cards, or credit cards would fire up the phone.
> I don't know what your problem was. In the past I've used US phone
> cards in Italy, as have friends and relatives. Now I use only the
> Edicard, which I mentioned in another post.
> -----------
> Barbara Vaughan
> My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot
it
> I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
It's been four years since I was in Italy, but I think we were able to dial
the ATT toll-free access number from a pay phone without using a phone card.
I know that was the case in both France and Spain last year and the year
before. Is that still the case?
GG
Jan 3rd 2004, 11:28 am
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
B Vaughan<[email protected]> with the help of 999 monkeys eventually
managed to type:
>On Sat, 3 Jan 2004 13:27:19 +0000 (UTC), [email protected]
>wrote:
>>In article <[email protected] >,
>>[email protected] (Lil) wrote:
>>> Would
>>> we be better off getting a sim card for our cell phone? (One of us
>>> has a T-mobile phone and she claims that they can be used
>>> internationally.)
>>a user of the t-mobile /network/ should be able to connect in italy
>>without a new sim -- iirc, the t-mobile partners are wind, tim and one
>>other local network. your friend can also, of course, get a local sim
>>which will be cheaper but means she won't receive calls made to her u.s.
>>number.
>I once used my Italian tri-band phone in the US on the T-Mobile
>network and it cost me an arm and a leg. I don't know what it costs in
>the other direcetion, but I would reserve this possibility for
>receiving emergency calls from home and use a phone card to call to
>the US.
If you are a US subscriber to T-Mo (as am I) they charge $0.99 per
minute to send or receive calls while roaming in western Europe,
including Italy. You probably wouldn't want to have an extended
conversation at those rates but it's not bad for a quick call, e.g.,
to say that your flight has been delayed.
You have to get your phone authorized with T-Mo for international
service beforehand but there is no up front cost to do so.
If you want to get a local SIM a good site for finding the various
offers available is http://www.prepaidgsm.tk/ . One advantage of a
local (Italian) SIM is that incoming calls are not charged to the
person receiving them. People sometimes mistake this for "free"
calls; in reality the costs are merely shifted because of the European
caller-pays model for mobile phones. It would be courteous to let the
person who initiates the call in the U.S. know that they will pay a
higher rate for calling to a mobile phone. As always, TANSTAAFL.
--
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to
get its pants on, but what was the truth doing with no pants on in the
first place? --Winston Churchill
managed to type:
>On Sat, 3 Jan 2004 13:27:19 +0000 (UTC), [email protected]
>wrote:
>>In article <[email protected] >,
>>[email protected] (Lil) wrote:
>>> Would
>>> we be better off getting a sim card for our cell phone? (One of us
>>> has a T-mobile phone and she claims that they can be used
>>> internationally.)
>>a user of the t-mobile /network/ should be able to connect in italy
>>without a new sim -- iirc, the t-mobile partners are wind, tim and one
>>other local network. your friend can also, of course, get a local sim
>>which will be cheaper but means she won't receive calls made to her u.s.
>>number.
>I once used my Italian tri-band phone in the US on the T-Mobile
>network and it cost me an arm and a leg. I don't know what it costs in
>the other direcetion, but I would reserve this possibility for
>receiving emergency calls from home and use a phone card to call to
>the US.
If you are a US subscriber to T-Mo (as am I) they charge $0.99 per
minute to send or receive calls while roaming in western Europe,
including Italy. You probably wouldn't want to have an extended
conversation at those rates but it's not bad for a quick call, e.g.,
to say that your flight has been delayed.
You have to get your phone authorized with T-Mo for international
service beforehand but there is no up front cost to do so.
If you want to get a local SIM a good site for finding the various
offers available is http://www.prepaidgsm.tk/ . One advantage of a
local (Italian) SIM is that incoming calls are not charged to the
person receiving them. People sometimes mistake this for "free"
calls; in reality the costs are merely shifted because of the European
caller-pays model for mobile phones. It would be courteous to let the
person who initiates the call in the U.S. know that they will pay a
higher rate for calling to a mobile phone. As always, TANSTAAFL.
--
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to
get its pants on, but what was the truth doing with no pants on in the
first place? --Winston Churchill
Jan 3rd 2004, 1:05 pm
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
Charles Hawtrey wrote:
>
> If you are a US subscriber to T-Mo (as am I) they charge $0.99 per
> minute to send or receive calls while roaming in western Europe,
> including Italy. You probably wouldn't want to have an extended
> conversation at those rates but it's not bad for a quick call, e.g.,
> to say that your flight has been delayed.
> If you want to get a local SIM a good site for finding the various
> offers available is http://www.prepaidgsm.tk/ . One advantage of a
> local (Italian) SIM is that incoming calls are not charged to the
> person receiving them. People sometimes mistake this for "free"
> calls; in reality the costs are merely shifted because of the European
> caller-pays model for mobile phones. It would be courteous to let the
> person who initiates the call in the U.S. know that they will pay a
> higher rate for calling to a mobile phone. As always, TANSTAAFL.
>
Did your T-Mobile phone come unlocked? If not, is unlocking offered?
>
> If you are a US subscriber to T-Mo (as am I) they charge $0.99 per
> minute to send or receive calls while roaming in western Europe,
> including Italy. You probably wouldn't want to have an extended
> conversation at those rates but it's not bad for a quick call, e.g.,
> to say that your flight has been delayed.
> If you want to get a local SIM a good site for finding the various
> offers available is http://www.prepaidgsm.tk/ . One advantage of a
> local (Italian) SIM is that incoming calls are not charged to the
> person receiving them. People sometimes mistake this for "free"
> calls; in reality the costs are merely shifted because of the European
> caller-pays model for mobile phones. It would be courteous to let the
> person who initiates the call in the U.S. know that they will pay a
> higher rate for calling to a mobile phone. As always, TANSTAAFL.
>
Did your T-Mobile phone come unlocked? If not, is unlocking offered?
Jan 3rd 2004, 1:10 pm
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
S Viemeister <[email protected]> wrote:
> Did your T-Mobile phone come unlocked? If not, is unlocking offered?
It's nearly always cheaper to have it unlocked by a third party. When I
was with 121 (the UK company before T-mobile screwed them up^h^h^h took
them over) they wanted 35 UKP to unlock the phone. I got it done in a
high street shop for 15 UKP instead. Some phones can even be unlocked
remotely, if you supply the IMEI- that's usually very cheap.
David
--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
> Did your T-Mobile phone come unlocked? If not, is unlocking offered?
It's nearly always cheaper to have it unlocked by a third party. When I
was with 121 (the UK company before T-mobile screwed them up^h^h^h took
them over) they wanted 35 UKP to unlock the phone. I got it done in a
high street shop for 15 UKP instead. Some phones can even be unlocked
remotely, if you supply the IMEI- that's usually very cheap.
David
--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
Jan 3rd 2004, 2:01 pm
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
S Viemeister <[email protected]> with the help of 999
monkeys eventually managed to type:
>Did your T-Mobile phone come unlocked? If not, is unlocking offered?
The phone was locked but T-Mobile gave me the unlock code. Actually
they have given me the unlock code for two phones.
I have heard that you have to be a subscriber for 90 days before they
will give the unlock codes. Also I think they do not give the codes
for prepaid phones, only for ones on a contract.
My experience is with the US division of T-Mobile. I don't know
whether T-Mo/Deutsche Telekom has similar policies in the other
countries where they operate.
--
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to
get its pants on, but what was the truth doing with no pants on in the
first place? --Winston Churchill
monkeys eventually managed to type:
>Did your T-Mobile phone come unlocked? If not, is unlocking offered?
The phone was locked but T-Mobile gave me the unlock code. Actually
they have given me the unlock code for two phones.
I have heard that you have to be a subscriber for 90 days before they
will give the unlock codes. Also I think they do not give the codes
for prepaid phones, only for ones on a contract.
My experience is with the US division of T-Mobile. I don't know
whether T-Mo/Deutsche Telekom has similar policies in the other
countries where they operate.
--
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to
get its pants on, but what was the truth doing with no pants on in the
first place? --Winston Churchill
Jan 3rd 2004, 8:23 pm
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
Charles Hawtrey wrote:
> I have heard that you have to be a subscriber for 90 days before they
> will give the unlock codes. Also I think they do not give the codes
> for prepaid phones, only for ones on a contract.
>
> My experience is with the US division of T-Mobile. I don't know
> whether T-Mo/Deutsche Telekom has similar policies in the other
> countries where they operate.
In most European countries phones coming with a contract are without any
lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked. In Germany these
phones will be unlocked not before two years.
Wolfgang
> I have heard that you have to be a subscriber for 90 days before they
> will give the unlock codes. Also I think they do not give the codes
> for prepaid phones, only for ones on a contract.
>
> My experience is with the US division of T-Mobile. I don't know
> whether T-Mo/Deutsche Telekom has similar policies in the other
> countries where they operate.
In most European countries phones coming with a contract are without any
lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked. In Germany these
phones will be unlocked not before two years.
Wolfgang
Jan 3rd 2004, 11:43 pm
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
[email protected] (Charles Hawtrey) wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I have heard that you have to be a subscriber for 90 days before they
> will give the unlock codes. Also I think they do not give the codes
> for prepaid phones, only for ones on a contract.
>
> My experience is with the US division of T-Mobile. I don't know
> whether T-Mo/Deutsche Telekom has similar policies in the other
> countries where they operate.
Your experience is US-specific. In Germany, the policy of all networks
including T-mobile is:
+ Phones sold at reduced prices with monthly plans are always unlocked
+ Phones sold at reduced prices with prepaid packages are always locked
+ Phones sold separately at full price are always unlocked (as they should)
Regards
--
Sooner or later, the masses may realise that tax cuts put peanuts in
the pockets of the many, and fortunes in the pockets of the few.
<[email protected]>
news:[email protected]:
> I have heard that you have to be a subscriber for 90 days before they
> will give the unlock codes. Also I think they do not give the codes
> for prepaid phones, only for ones on a contract.
>
> My experience is with the US division of T-Mobile. I don't know
> whether T-Mo/Deutsche Telekom has similar policies in the other
> countries where they operate.
Your experience is US-specific. In Germany, the policy of all networks
including T-mobile is:
+ Phones sold at reduced prices with monthly plans are always unlocked
+ Phones sold at reduced prices with prepaid packages are always locked
+ Phones sold separately at full price are always unlocked (as they should)
Regards
--
Sooner or later, the masses may realise that tax cuts put peanuts in
the pockets of the many, and fortunes in the pockets of the few.
<[email protected]>
Jan 3rd 2004, 11:44 pm
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
Wolfgang Barth <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> In most European countries phones coming with a contract are without any
> lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked. In Germany these
> phones will be unlocked not before two years.
For free that is. They'll do it earlier if you pay them a hefty fee.
Regards
--
Sooner or later, the masses may realise that tax cuts put peanuts in
the pockets of the many, and fortunes in the pockets of the few.
<[email protected]>
news:[email protected]:
> In most European countries phones coming with a contract are without any
> lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked. In Germany these
> phones will be unlocked not before two years.
For free that is. They'll do it earlier if you pay them a hefty fee.
Regards
--
Sooner or later, the masses may realise that tax cuts put peanuts in
the pockets of the many, and fortunes in the pockets of the few.
<[email protected]>
Jan 4th 2004, 1:29 am
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
Wolfgang Schwanke <[email protected]> wrote:
> Wolfgang Barth <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > In most European countries phones coming with a contract are without any
> > lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked. In Germany these
> > phones will be unlocked not before two years.
>
> For free that is. They'll do it earlier if you pay them a hefty fee.
Isn't it cheaper to have a third party do it?
David
--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
> Wolfgang Barth <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > In most European countries phones coming with a contract are without any
> > lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked. In Germany these
> > phones will be unlocked not before two years.
>
> For free that is. They'll do it earlier if you pay them a hefty fee.
Isn't it cheaper to have a third party do it?
David
--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
Jan 4th 2004, 2:29 am
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
[email protected] (David Horne) wrote in
news:1g71k7l.1uvt09719q0ax2N%[email protected]:
> Wolfgang Schwanke <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Wolfgang Barth <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>> > In most European countries phones coming with a contract are
>> > without any lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked.
>> > In Germany these phones will be unlocked not before two years.
>>
>> For free that is. They'll do it earlier if you pay them a hefty fee.
>
> Isn't it cheaper to have a third party do it?
Sure (I think it's illegal here, not sure). You can also DIY if you know
how to. But self-unlocking isn't possible with all phones, esp. those which
lack a serial port, and esp. Motorola ones AFAIK.
Regards
--
Damit haben Sie kein Glück in der Bundesrepublik
Wir tanzen lieber Tango bei zärtlicher Musik
(Peter Alexander)
http://www.wschwanke.de/ usenet_20031215 (AT) wschwanke (DOT) de
news:1g71k7l.1uvt09719q0ax2N%[email protected]:
> Wolfgang Schwanke <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Wolfgang Barth <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>> > In most European countries phones coming with a contract are
>> > without any lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked.
>> > In Germany these phones will be unlocked not before two years.
>>
>> For free that is. They'll do it earlier if you pay them a hefty fee.
>
> Isn't it cheaper to have a third party do it?
Sure (I think it's illegal here, not sure). You can also DIY if you know
how to. But self-unlocking isn't possible with all phones, esp. those which
lack a serial port, and esp. Motorola ones AFAIK.
Regards
--
Damit haben Sie kein Glück in der Bundesrepublik
Wir tanzen lieber Tango bei zärtlicher Musik
(Peter Alexander)
http://www.wschwanke.de/ usenet_20031215 (AT) wschwanke (DOT) de
Jan 4th 2004, 3:10 am
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
On Sat, 3 Jan 2004 18:06:53 +0000,
[email protected] (David Horne) wrote:
>B Vaughan <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 01:48:01 -0800, Go Fig <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >Can a cell phone dial this number? Are there any special surcharges ?
>>
>> Yes, it can be dialed from a cell phone. There are no surcharges nor
>> connect charges.
>Is an 800 number a freephone number? If it is, won't some/all italian
>networks charge for those calls? The website I usually check for this
>(http://www.gsmroaming.co.uk) indicates some do, some don't, but it's
>not always accurate or up-to-date.
Yes, in Italy numbers that begin with "800" are free calls, known in
Italian as "numero verdi". I have always used my card from home, so I
hadn't considered the cost of making an 800 call from a cell phone.
However, out of curiosity, I went to the Sisal Edicard web page:
http://www.sisal.it/servizi/servizi_...ariffe,00.html
(There is a little Union Jack at the right hand corner of the page,
but it only takes you to an English version of the Sisal corporate web
page, which has no links to information about the Edicard.)
On this page, there is a link to the tariffs under various
circumstances. You are correct that calling the 800 number from a cell
phone would cost extra, and would greatly reduce the value of the
card. From a TIM or Omnitel cell phone, the cost would rise to 21
cents a minute.
However, you can also call a local number instead of an 800 number to
access the Edicard service. On the front of the card, there are
printed local numbers for Rome, Milan and Naples.Using such a number
would reduce the Edicard cost of calls to the US to 2 cents a minute,
as opposed to a little less than 3 cents using the 800 number.
However, in Italy you have to pay for local calls, so you would have
to add that cost and figure out which is better. If someone is paying
international roaming charges on their cell phone, it would probably
be rather expensive either way. Probably the best thing would be to
call from the hotel, in which case 800 numbers would probably be free,
and local calls would be inexpensive.
To find local access numbers for other cities in Italy, go to the page
mentioned above. The last item on the first bulleted list is "Numero
locale". Click on this link and you will get a list of all the local
access numbers in Italy. You could note the numbers of the cities you
will visit, or just print out the page and take it with you.
> .. some
>countries' networks "block" calls to known access numbers, or surcharge
>them. I don't know if Italy's networks do this or not.
It doesn't appear to be the case in Italy, as Sisal gives the costs
from various types of network to access their 800 number.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
[email protected] (David Horne) wrote:
>B Vaughan <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 01:48:01 -0800, Go Fig <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >Can a cell phone dial this number? Are there any special surcharges ?
>>
>> Yes, it can be dialed from a cell phone. There are no surcharges nor
>> connect charges.
>Is an 800 number a freephone number? If it is, won't some/all italian
>networks charge for those calls? The website I usually check for this
>(http://www.gsmroaming.co.uk) indicates some do, some don't, but it's
>not always accurate or up-to-date.
Yes, in Italy numbers that begin with "800" are free calls, known in
Italian as "numero verdi". I have always used my card from home, so I
hadn't considered the cost of making an 800 call from a cell phone.
However, out of curiosity, I went to the Sisal Edicard web page:
http://www.sisal.it/servizi/servizi_...ariffe,00.html
(There is a little Union Jack at the right hand corner of the page,
but it only takes you to an English version of the Sisal corporate web
page, which has no links to information about the Edicard.)
On this page, there is a link to the tariffs under various
circumstances. You are correct that calling the 800 number from a cell
phone would cost extra, and would greatly reduce the value of the
card. From a TIM or Omnitel cell phone, the cost would rise to 21
cents a minute.
However, you can also call a local number instead of an 800 number to
access the Edicard service. On the front of the card, there are
printed local numbers for Rome, Milan and Naples.Using such a number
would reduce the Edicard cost of calls to the US to 2 cents a minute,
as opposed to a little less than 3 cents using the 800 number.
However, in Italy you have to pay for local calls, so you would have
to add that cost and figure out which is better. If someone is paying
international roaming charges on their cell phone, it would probably
be rather expensive either way. Probably the best thing would be to
call from the hotel, in which case 800 numbers would probably be free,
and local calls would be inexpensive.
To find local access numbers for other cities in Italy, go to the page
mentioned above. The last item on the first bulleted list is "Numero
locale". Click on this link and you will get a list of all the local
access numbers in Italy. You could note the numbers of the cities you
will visit, or just print out the page and take it with you.
> .. some
>countries' networks "block" calls to known access numbers, or surcharge
>them. I don't know if Italy's networks do this or not.
It doesn't appear to be the case in Italy, as Sisal gives the costs
from various types of network to access their 800 number.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Jan 4th 2004, 6:02 am
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
Wolfgang Schwanke <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] (David Horne) wrote in
> news:1g71k7l.1uvt09719q0ax2N%[email protected]:
>
> > Wolfgang Schwanke <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> Wolfgang Barth <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> news:[email protected]:
> >>
> >> > In most European countries phones coming with a contract are
> >> > without any lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked.
> >> > In Germany these phones will be unlocked not before two years.
> >>
> >> For free that is. They'll do it earlier if you pay them a hefty fee.
> >
> > Isn't it cheaper to have a third party do it?
>
> Sure (I think it's illegal here, not sure).
Really? It's not illegal here (nor should it be IMO)- IMEI changing _is_
illegal now though. Whether that will make a difference to mobile crime,
I don't know- as it doesn't stop the criminals sending the phones
overseas.
David
--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
> [email protected] (David Horne) wrote in
> news:1g71k7l.1uvt09719q0ax2N%[email protected]:
>
> > Wolfgang Schwanke <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> Wolfgang Barth <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> news:[email protected]:
> >>
> >> > In most European countries phones coming with a contract are
> >> > without any lock. Only phones with prepaid cards tend to be locked.
> >> > In Germany these phones will be unlocked not before two years.
> >>
> >> For free that is. They'll do it earlier if you pay them a hefty fee.
> >
> > Isn't it cheaper to have a third party do it?
>
> Sure (I think it's illegal here, not sure).
Really? It's not illegal here (nor should it be IMO)- IMEI changing _is_
illegal now though. Whether that will make a difference to mobile crime,
I don't know- as it doesn't stop the criminals sending the phones
overseas.
David
--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
Jan 4th 2004, 6:29 am
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
[email protected] (David Horne) wrote in
news:1g71wrs.13r524mtgjtrcN%[email protected]:
[removing SIM locks]
>> Sure (I think it's illegal here, not sure).
>
> Really?
I learnt this from the net, the issue is controversial and the jury seems
still out. Some legal experts seem to think it's an offense anyway. In
practice the phone companies go after businesses offering unlocking
service, not against private people. The result is though that there are no
(legal) businesses in Germany who offer unlocking as a service.
> It's not illegal here (nor should it be IMO)-
I don't think so either, the phone is your property and you should be
allowed to do with it what you want. But I can see that the phone companies
see unlocking as a violation of the (implicit or explicit) agreement with
their customer and a threat to their business model, so they want to do
something about it. But maybe the legal approach is not the best way. IMHO
they'd better change their business model in a way that doesn't require
reduced-price (und thus locked) phones. Then they'd do away with the
unlocking problem, with "unwanted" customers who just want the cheap phone
and don't really care for the actual service, and the "real" customers
would also benefit, as they'd get more realistic prices for both phones and
connection charges in the long run.
Regards
--
Ich gebe zu ich war am Anfang entzückt
http://www.wschwanke.de/ usenet_20031215 (AT) wschwanke (DOT) de
news:1g71wrs.13r524mtgjtrcN%[email protected]:
[removing SIM locks]
>> Sure (I think it's illegal here, not sure).
>
> Really?
I learnt this from the net, the issue is controversial and the jury seems
still out. Some legal experts seem to think it's an offense anyway. In
practice the phone companies go after businesses offering unlocking
service, not against private people. The result is though that there are no
(legal) businesses in Germany who offer unlocking as a service.
> It's not illegal here (nor should it be IMO)-
I don't think so either, the phone is your property and you should be
allowed to do with it what you want. But I can see that the phone companies
see unlocking as a violation of the (implicit or explicit) agreement with
their customer and a threat to their business model, so they want to do
something about it. But maybe the legal approach is not the best way. IMHO
they'd better change their business model in a way that doesn't require
reduced-price (und thus locked) phones. Then they'd do away with the
unlocking problem, with "unwanted" customers who just want the cheap phone
and don't really care for the actual service, and the "real" customers
would also benefit, as they'd get more realistic prices for both phones and
connection charges in the long run.
Regards
--
Ich gebe zu ich war am Anfang entzückt
http://www.wschwanke.de/ usenet_20031215 (AT) wschwanke (DOT) de
Jan 4th 2004, 9:06 am
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Phone home from Italy--prepaid phone card or cell phone?
Wolfgang Schwanke <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] (David Horne) wrote in
> news:1g71wrs.13r524mtgjtrcN%[email protected]:
>
> [removing SIM locks]
>
> >> Sure (I think it's illegal here, not sure).
> >
> > Really?
>
> I learnt this from the net, the issue is controversial and the jury seems
> still out. Some legal experts seem to think it's an offense anyway. In
> practice the phone companies go after businesses offering unlocking
> service, not against private people. The result is though that there are no
> (legal) businesses in Germany who offer unlocking as a service.
Certainly, in the UK, the main resellers don't do it, but I think that
might be more because of pressure from the networks.
> > It's not illegal here (nor should it be IMO)-
>
> I don't think so either, the phone is your property and you should be
> allowed to do with it what you want. But I can see that the phone companies
> see unlocking as a violation of the (implicit or explicit) agreement with
> their customer and a threat to their business model, so they want to do
> something about it.
The thing that annoys me about it is that it also violates one of the
neat things about GSM- i.e. portability of equipment.
> But maybe the legal approach is not the best way. IMHO
> they'd better change their business model in a way that doesn't require
> reduced-price (und thus locked) phones. Then they'd do away with the
> unlocking problem, with "unwanted" customers who just want the cheap phone
> and don't really care for the actual service, and the "real" customers
> would also benefit, as they'd get more realistic prices for both phones and
> connection charges in the long run.
In the UK, some networks (and resellers) don't lock heavily subsidised
phones, and some others do. It seems to vary.
David
--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
> [email protected] (David Horne) wrote in
> news:1g71wrs.13r524mtgjtrcN%[email protected]:
>
> [removing SIM locks]
>
> >> Sure (I think it's illegal here, not sure).
> >
> > Really?
>
> I learnt this from the net, the issue is controversial and the jury seems
> still out. Some legal experts seem to think it's an offense anyway. In
> practice the phone companies go after businesses offering unlocking
> service, not against private people. The result is though that there are no
> (legal) businesses in Germany who offer unlocking as a service.
Certainly, in the UK, the main resellers don't do it, but I think that
might be more because of pressure from the networks.
> > It's not illegal here (nor should it be IMO)-
>
> I don't think so either, the phone is your property and you should be
> allowed to do with it what you want. But I can see that the phone companies
> see unlocking as a violation of the (implicit or explicit) agreement with
> their customer and a threat to their business model, so they want to do
> something about it.
The thing that annoys me about it is that it also violates one of the
neat things about GSM- i.e. portability of equipment.
> But maybe the legal approach is not the best way. IMHO
> they'd better change their business model in a way that doesn't require
> reduced-price (und thus locked) phones. Then they'd do away with the
> unlocking problem, with "unwanted" customers who just want the cheap phone
> and don't really care for the actual service, and the "real" customers
> would also benefit, as they'd get more realistic prices for both phones and
> connection charges in the long run.
In the UK, some networks (and resellers) don't lock heavily subsidised
phones, and some others do. It seems to vary.
David
--
David Horne- (website under reconstruction)
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
