vB Easy Archive - Spain Travels..a couple of questions

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Spain Travels..a couple of questions
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Posted by: Xenon2434

Alright, so I have read the threads here, but I still have a few questions to clear up...

I am going to Spain for a couple of weeks. Actually, I am leaving next week.

1. one of my main reasons for getting a phone would be to text my girlfriend back here in the US. Is this possible, or would it be just rediculously expensive? (she has Verizon with unlimited texting, i dont know if that makes a difference)

2. I am thinking about purchasing the Samsung A437. I need to get it unlocked, correct? I cant just purchasing it for $40 off of the ATT website, correct? i would assume that http://cgi.ebay.com/Red-UNLOCKED-SA...1QQcmdZViewItem would be a better bet?

3.When I get there, I purchase a SIM card. I can then make calls, correct. Now, incoming calls are free, at least on Vodaphone, right? Does this include international calls?

4. On a slightly unrelated note, if I am on MSN in Spain, and she is on it too on her phone in the US, she wont get charged extra because Im in Spain, correct? Its not acting the same as a text message.

Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks,
Xenon

Posted by: Frontierjustice

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenon2434

A. I am going to Spain for a couple of weeks. Actually, I am leaving next week.

1. (I want) to text my girlfriend back here in the US. Is this possible, or would it be just rediculously expensive?
2. I am thinking about purchasing the Samsung A437. I need to get it unlocked, correct? I cant just purchasing it for $40 off of the ATT website, correct?
3.When I get there, I purchase a SIM card. I can then make calls, correct. Now, incoming calls are free, at least on Vodaphone, right? Does this include international calls?
4. On a slightly unrelated note, if I am on MSN in Spain, and she is on it too on her phone in the US, she wont get charged extra because Im in Spain, correct? Its not acting the same as a text message.

Ahhh! :

A: My trip to Spain in May fell through ...

1. Yoigo (one of the Spanish National carriers) wants 10-eurocents (13.92 eurocents with taxes) per text. (That's 15 or 20 US cents - not bad!)

2. Almost what I suggest: today, the AT&T GoPhone web page offers package deals -- including the A437 for $35 including $25 in airtime. If you add the $25 card right away, they'll give $10 extra in airtime. AT&T activates the phone before they ship it to you, so you may have only 2 or 3 days to add the airtime.

This deal will be difficult to beat on eBay! ($35 for phone with $35 in airtime, free shipping.)

You can unlock the A437 yourself, for free, following the instructions here on HowardForums.

3. Yes. You may not be able to make international calls for a day - ask aat the store. Yes, incoming calls are free. International, too.

4. Can't speak to data plans.
Regards

Posted by: mrcamp

1. You should be able to text her without any problems. Check the international sms cost for whatever carrier in Spain you will be using.

2. Yes, that phone should work fine in the US and in Europe (actually anywhere there is GSM). I believe it's a quadband. Yes, you need to get it unlocked. AT&T and tmobile will do if for free if you are a customer. Don't know about used phone. New ones are very cheap these days.

3. Yes. Just get a sim card when you get there and incoming clls are free regardless of there they originate. The Caller pays. It's called CPP (calling Party Pays) > Hence, the caller pays a premium for calling a mobile in countries with free incominmg.

4. No. She will not get extra. Does not matter where you are, as long as you can get on.

Posted by: Xenon2434

Alright, thanks for the info!
I do have a few follow up questions:

1. So, when you buy the airtime through AT&T, you are buying it for wherever you use it, correct? Then, you just pay the calling rates based on what SIM card I buy when I'm there. I will probably be going down to the ATT store this week, so I will hopefully have them unlock it when I purchase it. If they dont, I know I can come here

1a. Now, say I burn through that initial money. I just buy a top off card, right? How do these work, exactly? Does it have to be a certain company, how do you activate it, etc.

2. I will probably be texting more than just my girlfriend. For people here in the states with Verizon's unlimited texting plan, will it be completely free for them, or does that plan only apply to phones in the US? For people who dont have unlimited, they will pay an international rate, correct?

3. On the topic of SIM cards, where is the best place to buy them? Can I pick one up in the airport when I land in Spain, or do I need to go to a different store?
What are some of the carriers in Spain? I would like to do some research to choose the best one.

EDIT: After doing some research, I have found it super difficult to understand the websites (dont speak a lick of Spanish!). It sounds like Yoigo has great rates, but do you happen to know how theiir service is? I am going to Avila if that helps at all.

Thank you so much for answering all of my questions, you have really put my mind at ease!

Posted by: Frontierjustice

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenon2434

1. So, when you buy the airtime through AT&T, you are buying it for wherever you use it, correct? Then, you just pay the calling rates based on what SIM card I buy when I'm there. I will probably be going down to the ATT store this week, so I will hopefully have them unlock it when I purchase it. If they dont, I know I can come here

Okeh ....
1. What are you asking? When you buy airtime from AT&T it goes directly to your AT&T account in dollars. Use your AT&T SIM with these dollars. When you buy airtime from Vodaphone it goes to your Vodaphone account in Euros. Use your Vodaphone SIM with these Euros.

If you buy the A437 over the counter at the AT&T store and ask them to unlock it ; you'll get a new phone unlocked for $199.99 . This may not be what you have in mind.

1a. Several companies sell AT&T airtime. I buy airtime at the supermarket and follow the instructions on the web site. You probably have to buy Yoigo airtime in Spain at a convienience store and add directly on the phone.

2. I can't speak to this.

3. I'd go to a PhoneWarehouse store (the European version of the UK CarPhoneWarehouse) or directly to a Yoigo office. Enlist a Spanish-speaking friend to call them (they don't claim customer service in English) or go to an office - get the address from the web page.

There are four Spanish carriers and several MVNOs. Yoigo is the newest, smallest and most aggressive carrier. They have a deal to "roam" on Vodaphone that let them launch as a "national carrier" under Spanish rules. ( All native Yoigo coverage is 3G.)

The Yoigo web page includes all the steps in the process. I suggest you print out the two pages so that you can go into the Yoigo office and point to what you want. Stay in very simple Spanish or English and you'll be fine.
Regards

Posted by: Xenon2434

1. Alright, I understand.
I was confused, because he was talking about racking up all of this At&T airtime. That's great, but I have a Verizon phone for use here in the States, so that would really be useless to me. I thought you could somehow use it in Spain.

Even if I ask to sign up with a GoPhone "plan" and dont put any airtime, they still won't unlock it for free? I guess I can do that and then figure out how to do it from here, right? Or will that not work..

3. That sounds good. We will be in Madrid for a weekend, so I am sure we can find some time to get to a store.

I will take a look at the Yoigo..what are the other three, just so I know?

Thanks!

Sorry, one more question: Do you think it would be cheaper to purchase a phone there with a SIM card, or to buy the phone here and get the card there? I was looking @ Carphonewarehouse, and they have some dirt cheap phones if you purchase a small amount of airtime and a SIM card.

Posted by: Frontierjustice

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenon2434

1. Alright, I understand.
I was confused, because he was talking about racking up all of this At&T airtime. That's great, but I have a Verizon phone for use here in the States, so that would really be useless to me. I thought you could somehow use it in Spain.

Even if I ask to sign up with a GoPhone "plan" and dont put any airtime, they still won't unlock it for free? I guess I can do that and then figure out how to do it from here, right? Or will that not work..

3. That sounds good. We will be in Madrid for a weekend, so I am sure we can find some time to get to a store.

I will take a look at the Yoigo..what are the other three, just so I know?

Thanks!

Sorry, one more question: Do you think it would be cheaper to purchase a phone there with a SIM card, or to buy the phone here and get the card there? I was looking @ Carphonewarehouse, and they have some dirt cheap phones if you purchase a small amount of airtime and a SIM card.

An AT&T post-paid plan works everywhere - albeit with steep roaming rates overseas. An AT&T pre-paid plan works in most of the US and "roams" only in Mexico.

The Samsung A437 can be purchased new or refurbished - at several price points varying from "free" to $200. For example, for $35 you can get an refurb A437 with $35 in airtime and free shipping by buying at the right place and adding the airtime promptly. For $40 you can buy a refurb A437 with no airtime and free shipping. Nothing stops you from selling or giving away the $25 airtime card. Nothing stops you from selling the AT&T account and SIM with $35 on it.

An AT&T retail store will have new A437 s for $100 for pre-paid customers and "free" or $29 for post-paid accounts, depending on contract term. In the store, AT&T will unlock a A437 purchased at full retail price - $200. AT&T will unlock the other A437s after you've gone throught a few hoops ... if you're lucky, you'll only have to beg at international customer service.

You can unlock the A437 yourself, for free, following the instructions here on HowardForums.

WalMart and BestBuy have the pre-paid A437 for $90.

The Spanish carriers are : Orange, Vodaphone, Movistar and Yoigo. I don't have a list of the MVNOs.

Buying a phone in Spain is expensive. The 16% sales tax also hurts. The UK phones are appealing - but they're locked to UK carriers. Make sure you get one that can be unlocked - or buy unlocked in the first place.
Regards

Posted by: Xenon2434

Alright, here's what I think I have decided to do:

1. purchase a refurb A437 from AT&T. I won't purchase any airtime, but will purchase it as if I am going to in the future. That shoudl hopefully keep the price at $40.
2. Ask them nicely to unlock it. If they dont, then I will come here and do it myself.
3. When I arrive in Spain, go to The Phone House, or another store and purchase a Yoigo SIM card. Then, I should be all set, correct?

Thanks!