Guindalf

I'm going 'home' for a couple of weeks and I was wondering what the best deal was for a phone while I was there? I could possibly borrow a handset, but would obviously need a SIM card. My sister has a 1p/min plan to call the USA, so I wouldn't need it for international calling, just keeping in touch around the UK.

I'm sure this has been discussed to death, but as the information changes all the time, I figured a new thread was probably needed.

TIA.

Bob

If you need data, last time I checked, over the summer, O2 had the best PAYG rates for mins and data....no idea on the handset, but if you've got a tri/quad phone, could just unlock it and drop the sim into it.

Jail break an iphone and use that if you already have one.

Guindalf

I don't have a phone, but I'm hoping I could borrow one - if not an iPhone, at least a basic handset. I have Verizon, so my Android phone is useless over there and I don't want to pay VZW's extortionate pricing!

dunroving

I've seen a lot of coverage recently of the Nokia 101, which is an unlocked PAYG phone with room for two SIM cards (so might even be useful as a back-up phone when you go back). They were supposed to come out on sale in September/October, but I still haven't seen them in the obvious places yet.

Here is a review: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...al6WTUx2KcyQVg

The emphasis is on a no-frills phone with excellent reception. They are supposed to retail for about 25 Euros, and they have just started appearing on Amazon and eBay at inflated prices, so I guess they should appear at regular prices pretty soon.

Giantaxe

No need to jail break any more... with the 4s Verizon (and I think others) will unlock your iPhone if you ask and then you can use any international SIM card. This is the reason I finally cracked and got an iPhone from Verizon.

Bob

That's requiring a new one though

As the OP doesn't have a handset and only wants one for the UK, just get a PAYG set there, about 20 squid for a basic boring phone, but would do the job.

penguinsix

If you don't already have a super phone (unlocked) over here than probably just get el cheapo unlocked phone over there with the plan of the day. Pop into a carphone warehouse and see which PAYG is currently the cheapest.

If you do have a phone and are looking for a data only SIM you should consult this wiki

http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wik...with_data_Wiki

frrussre

I did not know, Verizon had SIM card, in their phones, guess new thing.

Reg. Frank R.

Giantaxe

Correct, none of their phones do aside from the recently-introduced iPhone 4S. It's not used when connecting to Verizon's network in the US.

frrussre

So the Verizon, Iphone has the Sim slot, interesting. I did not know, thought was just CDMA or is it TDMA, one or the other.

Have you asked Verizon, about unlocking?

Reg. Frank R.

Sue

We looked at PAYG sims for our son as he moved over to the UK in September to attend university.

We ended up going with O2 as they had the best coverage for where he was going. I discovered though that even some of the PAYG type plans were limited (with regard to data) if one had no credit history in the UK. In the end, so we could make sure he had a good amount of data, we put his plan in my dad's name. 3 looked like they had some good PAYG plans though, and had the signal been better where my son is we would have gone with them.

Some of my family use Orange and Virgin on PAYG plans.

(I might add my son took his unlocked iPhone with him).

Bob

It's duel tech...they kind of had to really to be competitive. No idea what they're like on unlocking it though.

Giantaxe

Yes, you have to be a customer "in good standing" for six months. That's six months as a Verizon customer, not six months with their iPhone. I got mine unlocked immediately and it works fine with an Orange SIM (not that I'm actually going to use it to roam in the US with, of course!).

frrussre

Thanks.

Wonder how long will take for AT&T to catch up on iphone unlock. Just having difference of opinion with them over unlocking BB Bold 9700, they say don't have codes on this model, not available. They have given me codes for other phones, no problem.
Guess I will pay the $5-10 get the code online.

Reg. Frank R.

frrussre

Yes, true, CDMA, works in very few places in the world. Hence, dual GSM/CDMA.

I assume when on GSM, talk & surf WEB at same time works?

Reg. Frank R.