Mobile phone info please...

[daveh]

We have a Samsung phone on a monthly Vodafone contract, a Motorola phone on T-mobile PAYG and an ancient Siemens phone on Vodafone PAYG (although the last one has no credit).

 

Taking the above info into account, what is the best option for us when we go abroad on holiday? I usually buy a phonecard for a few quid but also want the option to use a mobile as we might not be near a phonebox should we be unfortunate and our hire-car break down. I have heard of people buying simcards whilst they are abroad but surely one's mobile is locked to a specific network.

 

Thanks

[lucylou]

it all depends on were u are going on holiday?? if u are travelling in the eu try calling voda and ask them to ad vodafone passport to your price plan on the contract phone then u can use your inclusive minutes

[MJ]

I use Orange PaYG when abroad. when I was on T-mobile contract I used that as it was silly cheap compared to vodafone.

Depends where you're going and vodafone got in to trouble for their international call fees so they're cheaper than they were.

You can pick up Orange PaYG phones new for £10 instore, my daughter found her orange top ups were lasting far longer than her fellow scouts vodafone ones when they were in Holland this summer.

just checked and the free international calls might have helped with that

http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-phones/plans/paygPlanList.jsp?selectedTariffName=Monkey

[daveh]

Thanks for the responses.

 

We are going to be in New Zealand for 3 weeks on a fly-drive holiday covering both the islands.

 

I was thinking of having my old Siemens A55 phone unlocked, somewhere in Lerwick so suggestions as to where and how much would be appreciated. Once unlocked, I was thinking of possibly getting a NZ PAYG simcard and putting a few quid on it. Presumably I can do that before I go.

Is that the best option as I already have a phone that could be used? I have no idea if the Siemens A55 is compatible with whatever phone network is available in NZ. Being in my 60s, I can't keep up to date with technology as much as perhaps I should.

Thanks again.

[MJ]

New Zeland is GSM 900 which that phone supports, as for unlocking it, it seems to be a little complicated. Best is to check with your provider to give you a code, otherwise it's a cable job.

 

Edit - found this http://www.fourcorners.co.nz/new-zealand/infrastructure/

New Zealand has three major mobile phone providers – Telecom, Vodafone and 2Degrees.

 

Vodafone New Zealand operates on a GSM 900 MHz frequency. If your phone also operates on this frequency, and is not locked to your home network, it should work in New Zealand.

 

If your phone uses Global Roaming it should work as normal.

 

Vodafone also makes a Prepay Connection Pack for visitors to New Zealand. The pack contains a local Vodafone Simcard and $15 of prepay airtime, and costs $35 . To purchase a Prepay Connection Pack call in to any Vodafone branch nationwide.

[daveh]

MJ - That is excellent info for me.

 

Many thanks for your help on this and to the other responders.

 

This is why I like the Shetlink facility so much.

[david]

Where ever possible you don't want to use your UK contract phone as you would be able to run up a bill without really knowing how much you were spending.

 

PAYG would allow you to see in real time how much everything was costing, however there would be a danger you would run out of credit and be unable to top up easily.

 

Local sim card is the best bet. I don't know if you use your phone for data at all, but going across the USA for 6 weeks recently we used a local sim card and it meant we could use Google Maps, e-mail etc without the cost worry.

 

If it was going to cost too much to get your phone unlocked you could opt to by a very very cheap PAYG phone once you were over there. I'm not sure how much they cost in New Zeland but in America you could pick up phones and sim cards for around $15 in places like Walmart.

[daveh]

Thanks.

 

I contacted vodafone in the Uk about the $35 package and they couldn't help me so I have emailed vodafone in the Uk to see if I can arrange it in the Uk before I go.

I will see what their response is before I find out how much it cost to get the phone unlocked etc. I certainly won't be using our contract phone over there, though, as it would be far too costly. I won't be using the phone much, there, though; only very occasionally but do want to have one rather than rely on a local phone card and nearby public telephones.

[Para Handy]

Why not have both Contract and Pay As Go with you. And put a local phone Sim card in the Pay as You Go phone

Then in a real emergency you still have your contract phone to fall back on if something happens and you cant get the PAYG phone toped up

[Pooks]

If it was going to cost too much to get your phone unlocked you could opt to by a very very cheap PAYG phone once you were over there. I'm not sure how much they cost in New Zeland but in America you could pick up phones and sim cards for around $15 in places like Walmart.

 

You can pick up a phone for about $80 out here. About 38GBP at the current exchange rate.

 

2 Degrees, Telecom NZ and Vodafone NZ offer sim only packs. I wouldn't worry about getting it before you leave as you can get them nearly everywhere. 2 Degrees are the cheapest and piggyback off Vodafones network. I think that 2 degrees still have an offer on at the moment that the sim is $20 and comes with $20 off credit. Worth checking first though.

[daveh]

Thanks to all.

 

Some really great ideas here and I will research them properly and make a choice. I won't constantly be using the phone when I am in NZ. It was basically an insurance should the hire-car conk out in the middle of nowhere so that I can arrange for things.

 

Again, many thanks.