ian-mstm

So... Sheila and I are travelling to Britain at the end of July. Neither of our cell phones are GSM-compliant which means they won't work outside of North America.

Is there some sort of throw-away phone that we can get in the US that will work in the UK but that doesn't require a long-term commitment (we'll be away for less than 2 weeks) or big bucks?

Ian

Jerseygirl

Car Phone Warehouse sell almost new phones. I bought a basic pay as you go phone cost 20 GBP...that included a 10 GBP phone card. I only make emergency calls but people can call me...especially my family in the US and Canada. Car Phone Warehouse stores seem to be everywhere.

RoadWarriorFromLP

The issue isn't just with having GSM, but also with having phones that operate on the same frequencies. (North American frequencies differ from those used in the rest of the world.) So if you buy a phone in the US, then it needs to be a tri-band or quad-band in order to work abroad. (In the US, these handsets are often referred to as "world phones.")

If you get the phone from a US wireless carrier, such as AT&T, then it would also need to be "unlocked" so that you can use the service of a UK wireless provider. That has some cost and hassle involved.

Given all that, I'd be inclined to buy a pay-as-you-go package in the UK that includes a cheap handset, SIM card and a bit of call credit. Not sure who offers the best deal, but you can probably get a starter kit with the phone for about L50.

penguinsix

There are four main GSM frequencies, so if you get a Quad band phone, you are probably ok. Otherwise, you need to make sure the phone you get operates on the same GSM frequency as the carrier in the UK

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_gb.shtml (UK)
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_us.shtml (US)

I currently have an unlocked US phone (T-Mobile is pretty liberal with their unlocking) and I throw in a pay as you go sim when I get to the UK from O2. But since I'm always with a laptop and a net connection, what I generally do now is use Skype IN / Out features for calls back to the US while on travel, and the mobile only for last minute type things or for people to call me. I usually set it up so if my Skype In number (which is a US phone number) is unavailable it forwards to my UK mobile. Makes it easier on folks back in the US to call me.

Basically, in a week of travel with just a pay as you go, I would spend about £100 on calls, but now that I would use Skype and what not, that dropped to < £20 or so.

Bluegrass Lass

I assume you keep the same phone for all your trips back then? So do you keep the same phone number for every trip back? Or do you have to buy a new sim with a new number every time you go back?

frrussre

Most UK family members, seem to have spare/old model cell phones (UK phones are usually unlocked) borrow one of those & get a Virgin pay as you go SIM. I have had my own Unlocked, phone + Virgin Sim for years, saves a fortune, especially FOC incoming calls. One problem with international calls, the carrier will usually want you to signup, even though, no contract. To signup you will need, UK address. As Jersey said, carphone warehouse, has SIMS.

http://howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54 is a great place for International Cell phone advice
Reg. Frank R.

frrussre

I have had the same SIM for many years. I always leave some airtime on the SIM, every 90 days, I send myself a VM or SMS from the UK SIM. I have international roaming, so can get service in USA. Most companies, have 90 -180 day rule, if SIM not used. Kaput.
Most people I know, use Virgin, Orange or Carphone Warehouse, have their own SIM deal.
Reg. Frank R.

Jerseygirl

Same number, same phone...I just call Orange to top up my card.

Jerseygirl

I was told 180 days but I've used mine after being out of the UK for a year and it was still working. If it doesn't Carphone Warehouse just make a call and you've got your minutes back.

frrussre

Hi Jersey, yep I have never lost my minutes, even before I did the 90/180 day trick. Just get to UK power up, save a ton of money.
Reg. Frank R.

Jerseygirl

How rude of me...hi Frank how are you doin'?

A lovely afternoon here temps in the 80's...smashing.



PS I won't be needing that spare room for a few months.

frrussre

Hi Jersey, the boy wonder is staying in GA, summer school. We just booked 3day trip to visit him. Ft Lauderdale the weather, mid 80's & humid. Beach again Sat N Sun.
Glad your weather is warmer. Getting the pool open or to early?
Reg. Frank R.

rew1000

Perhaps not quite what you want, but last time we were in the UK, we bought a the cheapest quad-band pay-as-you-go phone that Tescos had, which was a Motorola RAZR V3. It was about 40 GBP. I use T-Mobile pay-as-you-go in the US, so I got the phone unlocked and can swap between the T-Mobile USA and Tesco SIM cards as needed. You have to use the Tesco SIM every six months to keep it alive (but you can use the Tesco SIM in the US so that's no problem).

So you could look for an "Unlocked Motorola RAZR V3" online here then buy any Pay as you go SIM card once you get to the UK.

Bob

Is it worth the hassle?

But anyway, you can get a PAYG phone from dixons in duty free at heathrow I think for a few quid and just get a top up card at any newsagent...

frrussre

Nokia's, are the easiest & cheapest to unlock (DIY FOC).
ian-mstm, has said he is using non GSM phones in USA, so unable to unlock & needs to buy cheap world/tri/quad phone, unlocked.
If phone purchased in UK, mostly unlocked, make sure SIM phone, a few non SIM phones are available in UK.

http://shop.carphonewarehouse.com/pay-as-you-go/ This looks like a great deal: Sony K200i £9.95, though only dual band, not for USA.



Reg. Frank R.