International SIM Card

[Bugz]

Any know of the best place to get a GSM sim card for Ireland?

[Strega]

wait until you are there, otherwise youll still be spending a ton of $$$
if you cant, just stick with Rogers.

[200hr Wonder]

What you want to do is unlock your phone (about $75-$80) depending and then pickup a Vodaphone or whomever sim card there on a pay as you go plan. Cheap and as you hop from country to country just get new sim cards.

[Bugz]

I'm with crappy Bell, so my phone won't work over there, but I do have an unlocked GSM. I heard it was hard to get just a sim in Ireland. Gotta buy the whole phone or something like that

[bmc]

Skype

[g5]

Fones are cheap, just pick up a crappy Nokia from the Carphonewarehouse or any supermarket like Tesco, they're like 30 dollars or less. You can get a pay as you go card and credit with it. Most of these won't work outside the country they're sold in, so if you're planning on going to multiple destinations,.. well there's other solutions.


http://www.carphonewarehouse.ie/

Just thought i'd add. I mean the sim cards won't work outside the country, but the fone still will unless it's dual band and you're back in canada or whatever. Anyways have a good trip.

[Hawkeye]

http://www.bluefirewireless.com

The usage is not really that cheap, but it works in most countries. I use it when I'm on the road between countries just as a backup till I get to where I'm going. The sim card cost me $70 to buy and you recharge it on the net with a credit card like most pay as you go type plans. You can use it on nearly any unlocked phone. Its a British number that you will have, so you can talk like a pommy

[Wacko]

Europe (and Asia) is not like North America.... as long as you have an unlocked GSM phone you're golden. To give you an idea... when you purchase a sim you automatically get a phone number with it and airtime valued at what you pay... so you effectively get the sim/number for free... then you just buy codes to re-load your phone. It's a vending machine type deal... no signing up for anything.

Most people in Europe don't talk on their cells... they text... which makes your money go a really long way.

You'll be able to pick up a sim at the airport from 20+ different companies itching to get your service.

Cheers!

[200hr Wonder]

North American cellular service (Mobile service if you are in Europe) is about 15 years behind the rest of the world! It sucks!

[bic]

I use Maxroam SIM when i travel outside canada/usa.... all you need is an unlock gsm phone ( $40 for a Motorola on ebay) and buy there SIM card (shipped by mail within 5 days) and you're in business.... They are expensive for use in Canada, USA and mexico but good price for roaming in europe...and it is a local call everywhere..no long distance....and guess what.....they are in Ireland!!!

Incoming call to Ireland : 0.21 Eur / min
Outgoing call to Canada : 0.33 Eur / min


http://www.maxroam.com

[bmc]

I used this service when I lived in Canada and travelled abroad:

http://www.infocanadadirect.com/engl/3_0/3_0_1.asp

[Mzunga]

I travel a lot for work and I just buy sim cards at airports when I arrive there. It was very easy a few years ago but now you need to show ID to get one.

There are shops in all major airports that sell sim cards. I try to use Vodaphone or Orange whenever I can because I like their service and it is easy to buy more load. Most gas stations have a machine to purchase load.

Most recent one was in Zurich a week ago. Cost 101 CHF for a card with 100CHF credit (CHF and Canadian Dollar are close to par.

When you buy the card make sure that the vendor sets all the language preferences for you. They can do it all on the computer as you sign up for the service.

Don

[Liquid Charlie]

sim cards are available here --- http://www.brightroam.com/Brightroam-UK ... P22C0.aspx -- buy the sim card and then pay as you go -- txt and voice -- no data but that was last year -- the card is good for a year and they will debit your credit card or you can put money up front. I have sim cards for the UK -- USA and here -- save money big time