cellphone rental
Dec 1st, 2004, 09:44 AM
#1
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cellphone rental
Does anyone know where to rent a cellphone in Barcelona for a week? I will be renting an apartment and companions feel a cellphone might come in handy. Any information on cost would be appreciated also.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Dec 1st, 2004, 09:54 AM
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xyz123 must have mentioned this about a billion times and I have a few times as well... Unless you already have a phone it is a LOT cheaper to simply buy an easy-to-use, European dual-band telephone, and a pay-as-you-go SIM card. You can obviously both handle a computer AND read since you are posting at Fodors and using SIM cards and cellphones is a lot easier than a full-blown computer. You can also if you want to get to know the phone in advance buy them cheaply on ebay.
Sindre
Sindre
Dec 1st, 2004, 04:39 PM
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Check out the rental rates at On Spanish Time (http://www.onspanishtime.com/web/index.htm).
Jer will have the phone delivered to you at the airport when you land, at your hotel, or before you leave home. His rates are the best and you'll have your phone number before you depart for Spain. A rental phone is better than buying a sim card or using a phone card if you're looking for overall convenience and simplicity. Unless you already have an unlocked tri-band phone. In that case, On Spanish Time can supply you with the card ahead of time.
Jer will have the phone delivered to you at the airport when you land, at your hotel, or before you leave home. His rates are the best and you'll have your phone number before you depart for Spain. A rental phone is better than buying a sim card or using a phone card if you're looking for overall convenience and simplicity. Unless you already have an unlocked tri-band phone. In that case, On Spanish Time can supply you with the card ahead of time.
Dec 1st, 2004, 05:53 PM
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Tried to stay out of this but...
Unfortunately Robert, you don't have a clue what you're talking about saying renting is better than buying a sim card...it is better if you want to spend mucho dollars. I suggest you read the many threads in here about people who have been ripped off big time by renting a mobile phone.
Buy a cheap dual band on e bay. Make sure it is unlocked and it might cost $30 or $35.
Then when you get to Spain, walk in to any mobile phone store...Barcelona being a big city will have one literally on every corner and buy a sim package with prepaid time.
Receiving calls on GSM networks in Europe of course is free to you.
The small and it is very small advantage of renting is knowing your local phone number in advance.
Since you are computer literate, you will easily be able to conquer this problem by sending e mail to your friends with your Spanish number or text messaging them.
Read the threads, I am so tired of people who know very little making dumb statements.
Renting a mobile phone, if you are going to be in a country for a week or more is almost always a moronic thing to do.
Unfortunately Robert, you don't have a clue what you're talking about saying renting is better than buying a sim card...it is better if you want to spend mucho dollars. I suggest you read the many threads in here about people who have been ripped off big time by renting a mobile phone.
Buy a cheap dual band on e bay. Make sure it is unlocked and it might cost $30 or $35.
Then when you get to Spain, walk in to any mobile phone store...Barcelona being a big city will have one literally on every corner and buy a sim package with prepaid time.
Receiving calls on GSM networks in Europe of course is free to you.
The small and it is very small advantage of renting is knowing your local phone number in advance.
Since you are computer literate, you will easily be able to conquer this problem by sending e mail to your friends with your Spanish number or text messaging them.
Read the threads, I am so tired of people who know very little making dumb statements.
Renting a mobile phone, if you are going to be in a country for a week or more is almost always a moronic thing to do.
Dec 1st, 2004, 07:14 PM
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xyz123, nice combination.
Yes, I've see many of your numerous posts, which have offered some valuable advice for those on a very strict budget, or of little knowledge about cell phones and travel. I don’t want to make a debate of this issue, but I'm afraid you present yourself to be to be far more knowledgeable, superior in fact, about this issue then you really are.
Do you know anything at all about "OnSpanishTime"? I doubt it very seriously. Don’t discount what you don’t know or understand. Jer offers a professional service and people pay for good service they can depend on. And the cost can be less then what you expound. Why would I want buy someone else’s piece of junk on eBay that may or may not work, when I can have one delivered to me, setup and ready to go and with a phone number where I can be reached once I’m in Spain. We started dealing with On Spanish Time a couple of years ago and recommend it to all of our clients for the basic reason that the service works and at far less then anything else available on the market. They can even supply sim cards and rental phones for use in France.
Again, I’m glad that there is such expertise available on this site, but I think your attitude needs adjusted somewhat.
Yes, I've see many of your numerous posts, which have offered some valuable advice for those on a very strict budget, or of little knowledge about cell phones and travel. I don’t want to make a debate of this issue, but I'm afraid you present yourself to be to be far more knowledgeable, superior in fact, about this issue then you really are.
Do you know anything at all about "OnSpanishTime"? I doubt it very seriously. Don’t discount what you don’t know or understand. Jer offers a professional service and people pay for good service they can depend on. And the cost can be less then what you expound. Why would I want buy someone else’s piece of junk on eBay that may or may not work, when I can have one delivered to me, setup and ready to go and with a phone number where I can be reached once I’m in Spain. We started dealing with On Spanish Time a couple of years ago and recommend it to all of our clients for the basic reason that the service works and at far less then anything else available on the market. They can even supply sim cards and rental phones for use in France.
Again, I’m glad that there is such expertise available on this site, but I think your attitude needs adjusted somewhat.
Dec 2nd, 2004, 07:49 AM
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If you insist that ease of use is your primary concern may I suggest you get yourself a GOOD phone that you like, use T-Mobile and simply roam with it. You will ALWAYS have the same number wherever you are, and your phone is ready as you step off the plane. Now THAT is convenience and is something worth paying a bit extra for. But if you want to check around a bit On Spanish Time has phones that are so old that you can't even buy them in Spain any longer (Siemens C45) or so-called top of the line phones Panasonic X60 which is actually a thumped down version of the true top phone X70. Not to mention that fact that Panasonic the last 5 years has been behind all the other manufactors when it comes to phones, I know as I've had 3 Panasonics in my time. Their achilles-heel has always been their terrible batterytime.
Now looking at prices, Fnac in Spain has a Siemens A65 in a Vodaphone pack at €69 with €24 minutes on it. And that is brand new phone that is yours and can be used ANYWHERE in Europe either with a roaming SIM or with local pay-as-you-go cards. While your renting company takes $65 + minute costs for a used Simenes C45. I'll admit it's not ripping you off, but xyz123's advice still stands, if you stay for 2 weeks and beleive you'll travel outside the US the next 5 years again, buying will be cheaper and better in the short and long run...
Sindre
Now looking at prices, Fnac in Spain has a Siemens A65 in a Vodaphone pack at €69 with €24 minutes on it. And that is brand new phone that is yours and can be used ANYWHERE in Europe either with a roaming SIM or with local pay-as-you-go cards. While your renting company takes $65 + minute costs for a used Simenes C45. I'll admit it's not ripping you off, but xyz123's advice still stands, if you stay for 2 weeks and beleive you'll travel outside the US the next 5 years again, buying will be cheaper and better in the short and long run...
Sindre
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Oct 9th, 2006, 04:24 PM
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jer...
It is very true people don't always do things the right way...
My advice remains the same...for the most part you are better off buying an unlocked dual band or international tri band phone on e bay and either upon arrival buy a local sim or buy an international sim such as united mobile if visiting more than one country.
I have pointed out some of the pitfalls of buying a mobile phone on e bay and the problems of the US not having the same frequencies as in Europe but I assure you that if I show up with a European dual band (900/1800) or international tri band (900/1800/1900) all readilly available on e bay for prices from $50 up, it will work with any European sim, even the ones in Spain.
I also don't advocate buying the sim card in advance from such merchants as telestial and cellularabroad, to me rip off merchants who triple the price of local sims and for which the advantage is very minor.
I also don't criticize your company as it seems to have a very good deal if one is only going to Spain...but to me, there are better alternatives, again as I said if people are visiting more than one country.
And as it stands today, the best deal reamains buying a dual band (900, 1800) or tri band (900/1800/1900) or quad band unlocked phone on ebay and then a united mobile sim card and pairing it with an account with callbackworld....free incoming, and 14¢/minute billed in 6 second increments to call back from anywhere in Western Europe, Central Europe, Eastern Europe west of Russia, Australia, China, South Africa...very hard to beat that.
But that is not to say you don't have a good service which some travelling to Spain only may find very useful!
Don't take it personally!
After all, there are still people around in the world who don't think twice of using Cingular and T Mobile international roaming for 99¢ to $1.29 per minute for the "convenience" (note if making only a few calls or receiving a few calls, it might pay...but those $1/minutes pile up very rapidly!
It is very true people don't always do things the right way...
My advice remains the same...for the most part you are better off buying an unlocked dual band or international tri band phone on e bay and either upon arrival buy a local sim or buy an international sim such as united mobile if visiting more than one country.
I have pointed out some of the pitfalls of buying a mobile phone on e bay and the problems of the US not having the same frequencies as in Europe but I assure you that if I show up with a European dual band (900/1800) or international tri band (900/1800/1900) all readilly available on e bay for prices from $50 up, it will work with any European sim, even the ones in Spain.
I also don't advocate buying the sim card in advance from such merchants as telestial and cellularabroad, to me rip off merchants who triple the price of local sims and for which the advantage is very minor.
I also don't criticize your company as it seems to have a very good deal if one is only going to Spain...but to me, there are better alternatives, again as I said if people are visiting more than one country.
And as it stands today, the best deal reamains buying a dual band (900, 1800) or tri band (900/1800/1900) or quad band unlocked phone on ebay and then a united mobile sim card and pairing it with an account with callbackworld....free incoming, and 14¢/minute billed in 6 second increments to call back from anywhere in Western Europe, Central Europe, Eastern Europe west of Russia, Australia, China, South Africa...very hard to beat that.
But that is not to say you don't have a good service which some travelling to Spain only may find very useful!
Don't take it personally!
After all, there are still people around in the world who don't think twice of using Cingular and T Mobile international roaming for 99¢ to $1.29 per minute for the "convenience" (note if making only a few calls or receiving a few calls, it might pay...but those $1/minutes pile up very rapidly!
Oct 9th, 2006, 04:35 PM
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you have very good advice xyz. makes all the sense in the world.
unfortunately this fellow keeps posting and posting his company, day after day,month after month, rebutting your advice to continue to explain the splendors of his.
i hadn´t realized he was constantly advertising until this thread.. but have looked back and it is a bit obvious.
unfortunately this fellow keeps posting and posting his company, day after day,month after month, rebutting your advice to continue to explain the splendors of his.
i hadn´t realized he was constantly advertising until this thread.. but have looked back and it is a bit obvious.
Dec 21st, 2006, 09:58 AM
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i'm amazed this thread continued this long. i now have another question. i think it would be convienient to have internet access while on holiday, for reservations, cabs etc. a laptop seems cumbersome but, what do you think of pdf's (believe that's what they're called)? maybe a "blackberry". not looking to spend a fortune as this will just be a travel toy.
thanks for all the great advice
thanks for all the great advice
Dec 21st, 2006, 11:40 AM
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Unless you already have a personal Blackberry service (T-Mobile, Cingular), picking one up and activating the service would be rather costly and hardly a travel toy.
I take it you're referring to a PDA (like a Palm TX) with wireless/blue tooth capability. Like a cell phone, you'll pay to connect to a service when traveling. You might ask your hotel to call a taxi for you, or make restaurants reservations, at no cost to you.
I take it you're referring to a PDA (like a Palm TX) with wireless/blue tooth capability. Like a cell phone, you'll pay to connect to a service when traveling. You might ask your hotel to call a taxi for you, or make restaurants reservations, at no cost to you.
Dec 21st, 2006, 02:01 PM
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The T-Mobile <b>T-Zones©</b> service costs $5.99 a month and doesn't use airtime minutes.
With a connection to your laptop or pocket PC, you can have basic internet access for dirt. It's a little slow by terrestrial standards (115kbps), but you don't need blinding speed to download your email or access a web site if you have "download pictures" turned off.
With a connection to your laptop or pocket PC, you can have basic internet access for dirt. It's a little slow by terrestrial standards (115kbps), but you don't need blinding speed to download your email or access a web site if you have "download pictures" turned off.
Jan 5th, 2007, 08:14 AM
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Thanks for the replies. On second thought I do want web access. Please excuse my ignorance of telecommunications and the web. Can I use "T-Zone" with a PDA - like the Palm TX? Not a bad price on those (PalmTX's) really, I think I could get my money's worth out of it.
Thanks again guys!
Thanks again guys!
Jan 5th, 2007, 11:25 AM
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T-Zones is an application pre-loaded into T-Mobile's phones. Whether it will work with another carrier's equipment is anybody's guess.
I have a RAZR linked via BlueTooth to an iPAQ for web access. For international phone service, I use Skype on the iPAQ with open WiFi networks.
I have a RAZR linked via BlueTooth to an iPAQ for web access. For international phone service, I use Skype on the iPAQ with open WiFi networks.
