International Data Plans

[cmhsam]

Not sure if this is the right forum to post but wanted to see if any of you doing ED are going to be purchasing International Data Plans for your cell phone coverage? I was thinking of purchasing the minimum 250MB's for my one week stay but wasnt sure how quickly that will get eaten up? My work email comes to my phone.

[emmfive]

250MB would be alot of email, you would have to be receiving many large attachments to exceed that amount in a week.

Reset the data counter on your phone and then check back a day later to see what you have used in a 24 hour period, that will provide you with a rough benchmark. I use about 30-40MB per day on average, but most of this is streaming audio and some video.

[ucla95]

I'd suggest either renting from Tep wireless or buying your own E585 ($117 on Amazon) and buying a SIM card in Germany for about E20.

[ucla95]

or if you have an iPad with 3G or 4G just buy a sim for it in Germany

[cmhsam]

Originally Posted by ucla95

or if you have an iPad with 3G or 4G just buy a sim for it in Germany

Doesnt the Ipad need to be unlocked?

[ucla95]

Originally Posted by cmhsam

Doesnt the Ipad need to be unlocked?

No all iPads are sold unlocked. It's iPhones that are sold locked (you can technically buy an unlocked one direct from Apple for more $$).

[cmhsam]

Originally Posted by ucla95

or if you have an iPad with 3G or 4G just buy a sim for it in Germany

Originally Posted by ucla95

No all iPads are sold unlocked. It's iPhones that are sold locked (you can technically buy an unlocked one direct from Apple for more $$).

Thanks. How much does the German SIM cost?

[nybimmerfan]

Most of the hotels that we are staying in have either free wifi (in the lobby), sometimes free in the rooms. Most offer paid connection from the rooms. I will just bring along a "magic jack" to make phone calls which has worked for me during my trips in Europe and Asia. I had in the past bought local SIMs to put in my open and "jailbroken" iphone but in all honesty, it was only good for receiving phone calls -- in Europe and most other countries outside of the U.S. one does not get billed for incoming calls (even international calls) but only for outgoing calls. If anybody has turned on international roaming, be advised that the moment you turn your smart phone on and get connected to a local provider you are in danger of getting billed for data and phone calls by your U.S. provider (AT&T, TMobile, etc.) for outrageous amounts. Be very aware of this.

[johntomferg]

+1 to nybimmerfan. Use wifi - it is so readily accessible. Besides, when you are driving you will be... ahem DRIVING.

I would recommend you pickup an international texting pre-pack and save some money there. I usual text when i arrive and leave to let people know I am coming and going without issue.

Or are you wanting it to test out the integration with the new BMW system?

[ucla95]

Originally Posted by nybimmerfan

I will just bring along a "magic jack"

Thoughts on magic jack vs Skype for calls over wifi? I've never used the former; don't know if there's some advantage I'm missing.

[jmh]

Originally Posted by cmhsam

Thanks. How much does the German SIM cost?

T-Mobile and Vodafone both offer pre-paid SIM cards and they start at 5-20 Euro , you can add adtl funds online via their websites or in the store
All you need is your passport and credit card (use the hotel address for your residency)

http://www.vodafone.de/privat/callya...ya-tarife.html

http://translate.google.com/translat...ed=0CF8Q7gEwAA

http://www.t-mobile.de/xtra/0,23640,...tml?WT.svl=100

http://translate.google.com/translat...3FWT.svl%3D100

[cnicholson]

AT&T recently cut the cost of their int'l data roaming plans a ton. $30 for 120MB, $60 for 300MB. You can buy a plan for your iPhone/Android and use it an a hot spot for iPad / Laptop / Etc. I did this earlier in the summer and plan to do again for ED.

I think I will get the $60/300MB plan just so I can not worry about it.

[cnicholson]

Originally Posted by ucla95

Thoughts on magic jack vs Skype for calls over wifi? I've never used the former; don't know if there's some advantage I'm missing.

I found Skype over 3G using AT&T data plan was better than most hotel WiFi. Doesn't actually use that much data.

[chudak18]

I set up my phone with Verizon (razr maxx - international data plan capable). Should limit amount of over charge. You can call your provider and they should be able to give you a pretty good idea of what it's going to cost and even offer you some free rental phones for signing up for the international service.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by jmh

T-Mobile and Vodafone both offer pre-paid SIM cards and they start at 5-20 Euro , you can add adtl funds online via their websites or in the store
All you need is your passport and credit card (use the hotel address for your residency)

http://www.vodafone.de/privat/callya...ya-tarife.html

http://translate.google.com/translat...ed=0CF8Q7gEwAA

http://www.t-mobile.de/xtra/0,23640,...tml?WT.svl=100

http://translate.google.com/translat...3FWT.svl%3D100

Do you need separate cards for Switzerland and Austria?

[krispykreme]

I am lucky. Used to work for Apple, work paid for unlimited world wide data roaming.

After i left, I took the data plan with me. So i am paying $89 a month for unlimited world wide roaming .

Last month i downloaded 2GB data with 1.5GB in Asia.

If you guys can find ex apple employee that took their data plan with them. See if they are willing to let the account go so you can grandfather in

I always use free VoIP call such as viber and tango for all my call.

[jmh]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

Do you need separate cards for Switzerland and Austria?

This is one of the big drawbacks in Europe. Every country has their own Telcom providers and none of them offer a Europe wide data/voice plan. If you get a SIM in Germany and you're using it in Austria/Swiss etc you'll incur roaming charges.
As it's a pre-paid card the worst which can happen is you run out of credits.
If you travel enough around Europe you'll notice plenty of business folks carrying a number of SIM cards with them so they can use data in multiple countries ... (or searching for WiFi instead) .

- Jan