Need Phone Advice
Oct 30th 2014, 3:39 am
#1
Time Lord
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 1,032
Need Phone Advice
We're heading back to the UK for a couple of weeks soon, and was curious what people thought the best options are regarding phones. I have an unlocked iPhone 5s, and as near as I can work out I have 3 options. Get an international plan for the duration of the visit, purchase a PAYG sim card after we get there, or just get a cheap phone there.
So to anyone who's had experience, what do you think my best bet is?
So to anyone who's had experience, what do you think my best bet is?
Oct 30th 2014, 5:49 am
#2
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,965
Re: Need Phone Advice
I have a 4s into which I put an o2 PAYG sim. Thing I like about the o2 sim is the balance says current between trips.
Haven't tried using my 5s yet as it is a smaller sim to the 4s, so I need to get a new sim when I'm next in the UK.
Haven't tried using my 5s yet as it is a smaller sim to the 4s, so I need to get a new sim when I'm next in the UK.
Oct 30th 2014, 5:58 am
#3
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: Need Phone Advice
Just buy a PAYG SIM card when you arrive. Usually pretty cheap and you have a local number which is easier for friends, family and the pizza delivery guy to contact.
Oct 30th 2014, 6:19 am
#4
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Need Phone Advice
We're heading back to the UK for a couple of weeks soon, and was curious what people thought the best options are regarding phones. I have an unlocked iPhone 5s, and as near as I can work out I have 3 options. Get an international plan for the duration of the visit, purchase a PAYG sim card after we get there, or just get a cheap phone there.
So to anyone who's had experience, what do you think my best bet is?
So to anyone who's had experience, what do you think my best bet is?
If you need to stay in touch with important contacts in the US, then I would get a roaming plan with your US provider. (If you have CDMA service such as Verizon or Sprint, then you might need a CDMA-GSM "world phone" to do this. AT&T should have a roaming plan.)
If you have Vonage, then you might want to check into their smartphone app so that you can make calls via wifi. (I'm not quite sure how this works, so investigate it if that applies to you.) If you have one of their international plans, then the UK land line calls and all US calls should be free (although you may have to pay for the wifi.)
Last edited by RoadWarriorFromLP; Oct 30th 2014 at 6:21 am.
Nov 2nd 2014, 12:17 pm
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Need Phone Advice
Get a cheapo when you arrive with a pay as you go deal.
Nov 2nd 2014, 3:05 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,903
Re: Need Phone Advice
You can pre-order a free SIM from giffgaff.com and have it delivered to wherever you're staying. Then all you need to do is activate it online, add 10 quid to the plan and you're good to go.
Nov 2nd 2014, 4:09 pm
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: Need Phone Advice
Yes, I use GiffGaff, pretty good.
Nov 2nd 2014, 7:25 pm
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,759
Re: Need Phone Advice
We're on an AT&T family plan and it was just easier to pay something like $60 additional for a month of roaming voice, text, and data. I couldn't be bothered faffing around with SIM cards and suchlike for that price.
