Having spent the morning here perusing many cell phone threads, we decided to go with those who say "Buy." We found what we think is a great deal. www.callineurope.com sells a phone for $19, SIM card $29 and shipping $12. It is yours to keep for future trips. It looks like all incoming calls are free and outgoing are free in Italy and $.39 outside Italy. I am going to call them (877 730 5305) in the morning to check on that. We don't plan to use it other than in Italy for communication between 2 cars or if we get lost. Has anyone used them? If it sounds too good to be true, is it? Brenda M
Clarified title - marta
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marta,
Posts: 35 | Location: Squaw Valley USA | Registered: 29 February 2008
I don't think outgoing calls are free, but I would be curious about the provider they use (in-country? Italian? French?), i.e., what will your phone number be. That's a very good deal on the phone, however.
I just went to the website you listed and I saw that it said it was 39 cents per minute with in italy to another european country 49 min and to the states 49 cents per minute and incoming calls are free....so I am wondering what I am missing here? did i go to the wrong page?
They're selling a 5 Euro Sim for $30. No mention on the phone but even new release basic models can be cheap.The per minute tariff seems to be on the high end to.
Why not buy a phone in Italy. Various makes and models for less then 50 Euros including SIM. Get a tariff with a friend number to call each other.
It's fairly painless to buy a phone in Italy. The main reason to get one before hand is to know the phone number.
It is a personal decision opn whether to buy a phone and SIM card in Italy or beforehand. In those previous threads some of those reasons why one might want to do it beforehand are listed.
I bought a Global SIM from Telestial with a per minute rate the same as being quoted for CalinEurope. my reasons were: NOT having to waste time in Italy visiting a phone store to buy it and getting it working.
Ability to buy minutes online and autorefill with my foreign credit cards.
Autorefill so I didn't run out of minutes, yet didn't have to carry a bunch that I might not use befreo they might expire.
All English web page, billing, and tech service.
Having my phone work even in Amsterdam at the connecting airport way before I might get to Italy.
Posts: 3781 | Location: St Paul, MN | Registered: 10 February 2006
VeniceJ is right -- outgoing calls are $.39 in Italy, $.49 to Europe and US and more to other places in the world. We don't plan to use it outside of Italy. Phone, SIM and shipping comes to $60, which is less than the 50E that others have mentioned. We decided to go ahead and order it for all the reasons that Dragonpat iterated. We return on Nov. 3. If anyone wants to know how it went, they can contact me at yachtavatar@yahoo.com
Posts: 35 | Location: Squaw Valley USA | Registered: 29 February 2008
If anyone wants to know how it went, they can contact me at yachtavatar@yahoo.com
Brenda, it would be really nice if you would come back to Slow Trav when you return and update this topic with your experience so that others can benefit.
Also, we would love to have hotel and restaurant reviews.
