sarahlou145

Ive just booked a trip home for September and was looking into cell phone usage. I'm with verizon, which means my phone wont work in the UK.
What do you guys use when you go back home? I'm guessing a cheap PAYG phone, I have an iphone that was on o2 when i left, and is now inactive, anyone know if a PAYG sim would work in that?
Ideally I would like internet on the phone too.
I did see an article about tepwireless but don't know anyone who has used them, I will be there 10 days and it works out at $72 for the 10 days, which seems a bit excessive.

Thanks

PS: For those of you who were helping me when I first moved, we have now left sunny Burlingame and are now residing in SF, been here 6 weeks and its all good so far.

Poppy girl

I don't bother anymore I like the fact that no on can get to me its a refreshing break, of course they can leave a message on the family home phone if they really want me or an email...but when I used to go back I had my phone cannot remmeber the term they use its like being unblocked and then I would buy a PAYG chip and put in my US phone!

Bob

can get a cheap O2 PAYG sim with data for something like 20 squid a month without a contract which is probably the best deal, but you can get a cheapo standard sim for a few squid and mooch the wifi off starbucks/McD's etc...

frrussre

Virgin UK SIM (PAYG) & my own unlocked phone. Saved me a fortune.

Others, on here use the Carphone Warehouse Pay as you go, SIM.


Reg. Frank R.

frrussre

Did you get the Iphone unlocked, before you closed the account?

Frank R.

Ash UK/US

I bought a new cheapo Tesco PAYG phone off Ebay (£10) and then bought a £10 top up which they triple to £30. Calls cost 25p per min, you can also have web browsing for £2 per week. The phone I had was web accesible but all I was looking for was a phone to keep in touch. I bought it last year and it still had credit left on it that I used on this years visit.

Jerseygirl

I bought a basic PAYG phone 5 years ago for £20 from Care
phone Warehouse...that price included £10 of minutes. It's still going strong.

Nutmegger

Verizon has a program where they will "lease" their customers a phone that will work in the country they are visiting. I don't know the cost, but it might be worth asking them about it.

sarahlou145

Thanks everyone, my iphone is unlocked. ive ordered a PAYG O2 sim online and am having it shipped to my sister who will then send it to me.
Ill check it works fine as o2 said i can activate whilst outside the UK. If it works Ill pay the £20 for the month for the internet and text package.

I dont think I can cope being without internet for a whole 10 days!! Plus i like bugging my friends by checking into foursquare everywhere I go!!

frrussre

I also have a 3 UK, mobile Broadband Dongle, think cost me £20, includes 1GB per month, no contract, its 3g was pretty fast & used all over the south. Another great UK, deal.
I looked at same here in USA, wow $99+ tax dongle & very expensive monthly.

http://www.three.co.uk/

Reg. Frank R.

frrussre

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/pay...u-go/sim-cards

Wow, very informative, though after reading for 10 minutes, need to lie down in dark room with thumb in mouth for 2 hours. My head hurts.

Reg. Frank R.

Kar98

No it's not. Nothing VZW offers to sell you is worth it.

Check her for an overview of prepaid cellie prices in the UK:

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/uk.html

Nutmegger

Well, the OP is already a Verizon customer, so that boat already sailed. This is the program:

http://b2b.vzw.com/international/Glo...vel/index.html

Jerseygirl

I've had a UK dongle for 3 years...it's PAYG and 1 month costs £25. I also have a US dongle...much more expensive. When I came to use it 2 weeks ago I couldn't get service...because I hadn't used it for a few months the phone number had been disconnected. They wanted $35 to register a new number. I used my IPad instead...$14 for a month.

frrussre

Already being a Verizon, customer makes no difference, has no connection to UK & UK SIMS or service.

Reg. Frank R.