Posted by: that_girl
Mobile Phone in Spain: Pre-Pay or Not Pre-Pay - 07/03/03 03:58 PM
I am going to be in Spain for 1 month and I am trying to figure out what is the best and cheapest option for making and receiving calls. Note, this does NOT have anything to do with my ability to call from Spain to the U.S. - only has to do with me talking to my friends in Spain.
I have a dual-band GSM mobile phone from T-Mobile here in San Francisco. T-Mobile's international rates are very good compared to any other mobile service in the States - only 99 cents/minute roaming.
I have unlocked my SIM card thinking it would be cheaper to buy a prepaid SIM. But looking around on the internet for the SIM card prices, I don't think it will be cheaper. I didn't realize there would be such a high cost to purchase the card in the first place - 60 euros seems to be the norm, with only 18-22 euros talk-time included, with the idea that I would then refill the card when needed.
My question is - how much will it cost if I wait until I'm in Spain and buy a prepaid SIM there, instead of online? Is it the same? I don't see how this is cost-effective, or cheaper, as so many people claim. The only people it seems to be cheaper for are my friends in Spain who want to call me - it won't be long distance for them.
Any thoughts? I did a search and couldn't find anything specifically related to the initial cost of the SIM, nor anything recent that discusses the lower cost of roaming for US mobile phones.
Thanks,
...Syd
I have a dual-band GSM mobile phone from T-Mobile here in San Francisco. T-Mobile's international rates are very good compared to any other mobile service in the States - only 99 cents/minute roaming.
I have unlocked my SIM card thinking it would be cheaper to buy a prepaid SIM. But looking around on the internet for the SIM card prices, I don't think it will be cheaper. I didn't realize there would be such a high cost to purchase the card in the first place - 60 euros seems to be the norm, with only 18-22 euros talk-time included, with the idea that I would then refill the card when needed.
My question is - how much will it cost if I wait until I'm in Spain and buy a prepaid SIM there, instead of online? Is it the same? I don't see how this is cost-effective, or cheaper, as so many people claim. The only people it seems to be cheaper for are my friends in Spain who want to call me - it won't be long distance for them.
Any thoughts? I did a search and couldn't find anything specifically related to the initial cost of the SIM, nor anything recent that discusses the lower cost of roaming for US mobile phones.
Thanks,
...Syd