You knew I'd get over here eventually. My question is this... Giorgio, the gentleman who is the owner of my rental in Rome suggests that I purchase a cell phone in order to be able to text message him when we arrive and in case we need him for any other info. Do the GMS phones and Sim cards have this capability or can I use my phone and get a texting package from Cingular or what?
Just normal plain cell phone and sim card! The only problem about informing Giorgio about your arrival or any problem you may have by text message (SMS or messaggino in Italy) is that once you sent the sms you're not sure if he actually received it if he doesn't immediately reply... Usually cell phones have a function for getting a notification when the message is actually delivered to the other cell phone (mind, not when it's read but only when the cell beeps). Look for that function on your cell phone if you want to be sure but mind as depending on the operator (?... TIM, Omnitel...) they can charge you for this!
The only problem about informing Giorgio about your arrival or any problem you may have by text message (SMS or messaggino in Italy) is that once you sent the sms you're not sure if he actually received it if he doesn't immediately reply...
Yes, my TMobile receives SMS's that are sent to me by my family in Italy but I haven't succeeded in sending them an SMS (and TMobile can't figure out why).
On our last trip to Italy, I sent several responses to SMS's and just assumed they were being received but they weren't.
Posts: 871 | Location: New York City | Registered: 28 May 2003
suncoast, I'm sorry but as for me travelling is the other way round (Europe to US) I'm not an expert... but you can find all the information you need about cell phones in Europe here
I think maybe I do not want to fool around with trying to get a cell phone. I certainly can just call him from the airport and let him know were leaving and that we've landed. I don't feel I need text messaging. Thanks to all of you who helped me.
I agree with Marian, that sounds like an oddly specific suggestion. Maybe he just likes text messaging! With some plans, text messaging is free, but so are incoming calls, so it is confusing to me why he would specifically want a text message instead.
Don't get turned off of having cell phone in Italy because of this, Ginger. They really do come in quite handy! You may want to get one, but certainly not for the sole purpose of sending this one message.
Do you have a cell phone normally? Maybe you could practice with some text messages before you go to demystify it.
I used text messaging a lot when I was in Italy, but I have friends there who have cell phones. If I was in a church or museum and didn't want the phone to ring, text messaging was easy and unobtrusive.
Well that's my point. I won't use a cell phone in Italy. I have a calling card I use to call home on for some ridiculously low price per minute. And I certainly don't know a soul in Rome. I guess I could call Alice, Diva, Diana, Christina or several other ST members who live in Italy, but that would be about all I'd use it for. I do have a Cingular phone so maybe I'll find out what I would need to do to have it GPS ready and how much it would be.
The only "reasonable" reason I can think of for your renter to prefer a text message is that his English is bad! He might feel he will be able to understand your WRITTEN message saying: I'm here but not you speaking over the phone??? Anyway, cell phones can be useful but if you don't feel you need one just don't have one!
Okay I just looked up international text messageing on Cingular. It's looks like it's 20 cents per message to send. Which is pretty cheap. I am going to call them later today and find out the REAL scoop.
Cingular text messaging from the U.S. to Italy is 20 cents per message from here in the States and 10 cents to receive. In Italy it's 50 cents to send and 10 cents to receive, so I guess I'm all set. I test texted Giorgio and will wait to see it he got it. Thank you to all who helped.
And I certainly don't know a soul in Rome. I guess I could call Alice, Diva, Diana, Christina or several other ST members who live in Italy, but that would be about all I'd use it for.
Ginger: Will your apartment have a phone? If not, you should CERTAINLY get a cell phone. Even if it does have a phone, I learned from experience that even traveling by myself, a phone came in real handy. Suppose you want to make a dinner reservation, or arrange to meet someone for lunch and you are not sure when?
Public phones are getting harder and harder to find, as people become addicted to cell phones. And the ones that are to be found, are at extremely busy locations, where it's nearly impossible to hear over the traffic.
Think about it.
M
Posts: 6955 | Location: Montclair, NJ, USA | Registered: 16 March 2003
Public phones are getting harder and harder to find, as people become addicted to cell phones. And the ones that are to be found, are at extremely busy locations, where it's nearly impossible to hear over the traffic.
Marian is quite correct. It seems like every man, woman and child, young or old, has a mobile in Italy!
It seems like every man, woman and child, young or old, has a mobile in Italy!
I think that actually every Italian has to have at least two mobiles as there are almost as many mobiles as italians and I'm quite sure that babies under 3 YO and elderly people over 97 do not have a mobile phone...
Topic Closed
My question is this... Giorgio, the gentleman who is the owner of my rental in Rome suggests that I purchase a cell phone in order to be able to text message him when we arrive and in case we need him for any other info. Do the GMS phones and Sim cards have this capability or can I use my phone and get a texting package from Cingular or what?
