j2spring
Unregistered User
(3/23/04 2:45 pm)

cell phones

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Hi Michele and gang, Looking forward to our up-coming (2nd) trip mid April. I have a question re: getting a cell phone for use to make LOCAL calls (Ireland only). Last Fall when we went, my husband got a new phone and some sort of package from AT&T that allowed us to use his cell phone number while over there. (He had to be able to be reached by clients here, so they just called him at his usual USA cell number and the call went right through.) I believe the cost was approximately $1.34/minute (.35/min for call and .99/min for roaming). Well, I made lots of calls while on the road over there to family in Ireland and it also cost me $1.35/min. I'd like to find a less expensive alternative to giving them a "ring". What is your best recommendation? Thanks, J2

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2343
(3/24/04 12:38 am)

Re: cell phones

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Hi j2spring,

I would suggest getting a calling card. They are available at most newsagents and even at the airport shops. There are two different kinds. One has a chip on it and is inserted into a public phone (that takes the cards). The other kind has a toll free number you call, where you then enter your PIN and the phone number. I prefer the last one because you can use it from any phone even at B&Bs.

Michele

j2spring
Unregistered User
(3/24/04 1:32 pm)

cell phones

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Hi Michele,
I'm sorry I mustn't have explained very well that what I was looking for was a less expensive way to make calls when I am literately, not figuratively "on the road" (i.e. in the car). I should have been more specific. As I explained, we are already hooked up with a cell phone for incoming/outgoing calls to the States. However, that phone is too expensive to make calls within Ireland. I need a separate cell phone set-up for making calls within Ireland. Do they have inexpensive pre-paid type "throw-away" (or otherwise) cell phones that would serve that purpose, and if so, where are they purchased? Again, thanks. J2spring

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2355
(3/25/04 2:00 am)

Re: cell phones

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Hi j2spring,

Some car rental companies can arrange for a cell phone (called a mobile phone in Ireland) as part of the car rental package. 1 2 Travel has an offer for $8.50 a day plus $39 for shipping & handling with $13 worth of free calls. To read more about it: 1 2 Travel Once at their site the link for the phone is on the left near the bottom of the page. (I get a few pennies from each sale at 1 2 Travel, yet it doesn't cost you any more and it helps me to maintain my web site and forum.)

Also try a few of the following:

http://www.rentaphone-ireland.com
http://www.cellularworld.ie/
http://www.travelcell.com/
http://www.globalphoneworks.com/
http://www.planetfone.com/
http://www.smartcoms.com/about.cfm
http://www.cellhire.com/


I hope one of these has what you are looking for.

Michele

garyvol
Unregistered User
(3/25/04 8:58 am)

cell phone

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Hi J2Spring,
You got me curious about the ATT plan. Are you saying that your domestic cell phone here in the states was able to work in Ireland because ATT has a special universal communication feature/package. I would think that is cool if it is doing that.

On another note, I got this in my email from another Telecomm. phone co.for the land/cell phone connection.
The link is www.One4000.com
From what I have read, they did not include cell phone rates/roaming cost. Thought you might want to see it anyway.

-gary

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 386
(3/25/04 11:36 am)

Re: cell phone

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I've topped my dissertation from last year.

Bill

j2spring
Unregistered User
(3/26/04 10:00 pm)

cell phone

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Hi Gary, No, the cell phone we use here in the States would not work over there. We had to buy a phone that would work on their GSM system (less than $100). We put that Sim (spelling??) card in and when we turned the phone on in Ireland, people here were still able to make calls to our U.S. cell number and it would ring through on that new phone in Ireland(i.e we didn't need to advise everyone of some new phone number once we got over there). As I mentioned the cost was .35/min and .99/roaming, so $1.34/minute total. Only problem was when we used that same phone to call relatives in Ireland from the car, we were still being charged $1.34/minute, which was pretty high for a local call. That's what I need help with.
As for other costs associated with the way we went, there was an activation cost (maybe $25, but not sure -- if you're interested, I'll find out exactly) and a monthly cost of $7.99/month (To get that charge off your bill you can just advise AT&T to turn it off when you get back, but then when you want it back on again, you must pay another activation fee which can be avoided if you just keep it on your monthly bill, but sort of an expensive option unless you travel there every few months). Hope that helps. If you need more info, I will get the details. J2Spring

J2Spring
Unregistered User
(3/26/04 10:03 pm)

cell phones

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Hi Michele, In my answer to Gary, I forgot to thank you for the info you posted above. Please forgive my oversight. I will be researching all those options and appreciate your help. Happy Spring!!! J2Spring

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2373
(3/28/04 12:23 am)

Cell Phones

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Hi j2spring,

Glad to be of help. For some reason those links didn't get hyperlinked. Oh, well, you will just have to cut and paste them. Happy hunting.

Michele