Hi.

In Summer 2004 I purchased a Samsung SGH-A300 cell phone and SIM card (through the help of a friend) for my trip to Italy. I'm returning in a couple weeks and wonder if this old phone will still work. I know I'll need a new SIM but I don't know if I have to choose a certain network over another one. I also don't know if the phone is too old. (Whether the battery still holds a charge is a different problem altogether). The old SIM is a Vodafone/Omnitel one.

And now for Part Two: I'll be arriving in Florence and staying there a couple days. Is there a store anyone can recommend where I can get a SIM and some help programming it (I know very little Italian if any).

Thanks,
Dan

Hi, Dan,

I'm sure your phone will still work if you used it 3 years ago in Italy -- just as you say, with a new card.

At the top of the main window for the Technology Forum you will see links to Slow Trav articles about Cell Phones in Europe and in Italy. Those writeups may help answer some of your questions.

This link will take you to a list of TIM stores in Italy. Note that there are 3 in Firenze (Florence).

- Roz

Thanks for the list, Roz. One of the stores is in the Centro Storico, near where I'll be.

I read just about all the previous articles and posts about cellphones in Italy but didn't find anything specific to my situation. If anyone has any experience or information relating to putting a TIM SIM into an old phone with a Vodafone/Omnitel SIM please let me know.

Thanks,
Dan

Oops. One more question:

Do they still require you to be an Italian resident in order to buy a SIM card?

You do not have to be an Italian citizen to buy an Italian SIM Card.

You have to have a Codice Fiscale and you have to take your passport with you to buy the SIM. I bought mine from a Vodafone franchisee at a appliance store in Pitigliano last September.

You can learn about the Codice Fiscale and how to get one for yourself over the web at Prepaidgsm.net. Scroll down until you find the phrase, "Codice Fiscale, what's that?"

This website is based in Florence and if you email them, I'll bet you can get really good info on SIM purchase locations where English is spoken.

Bill

Unless you got the phone from Vodafone and it was locked to that service (not likely), you should have no problem putting a TIM card in it. You could, alternatively, get a Vodafone card. I haven't used Vodafone, and don't know where you could find their stores. They may have a list on their web site.

Also, a lot of info you read says that you need a Codice Fiscale, and I did get one online before we went to Italy the last time, but they never asked for it at the TIM store. All we needed was a passport. I think the laws changed recently to require the passport, and maybe that supersedes the codice fiscale.

- Roz

Thanks again.

Fibonacci: I got my codice fiscale from the website you mentioned -- thanks.

Roz: I checked Vodafone's website and there is a store a half block north of the Duomo.

So between the two stores I should be able to get something worked out.

Dan