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Old 07-14-2009, 10:56 PM   #1
hammer40
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Default Traveling to Germany, what to do?

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Hello All,

I'm traveling to Germany on day, staying for 5-10 days. I will need to use my Blackberry to call the states and retrieve emails. My calls will average 15-20 a day and about 40 emails a day.

I was able to get my phone unlocked today at the AT&T store.


Question: Does it make more sense to add an international plan fo $20.00 and roam while I'm there or pick up a local prepaid sim card? If picking up a local card is the way to go, then which one?

I'll be in Hamburg.

Thanks,

Jeff
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Old 07-14-2009, 11:00 PM   #2
rambo47
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No data on pre-paid, so that would mean no email. If you do AT&T's international data you have to leave it active on your account for a year. You *might* be able to get them to drop if from your account early, but the fine print says 1 year.
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Old 07-15-2009, 09:24 AM   #3
hammer40
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Wirelessly posted

Does anyone else have any experience doing this?

Thanks,

Jeff
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Old 07-16-2009, 09:17 AM   #4
takeshi
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Yup and there's not much to add other than what Rambo47 has already stated. There were some recent changes to the international BB data plans. You can call at&t international support (can't recall their number off the top of my head) if you want to confirm rates and ETF's.

Last edited by takeshi; 07-16-2009 at 09:19 AM..
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Old 07-17-2009, 11:54 AM   #5
hammer40
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Please forgive my ignorance with this topic but I'm still unclear about my options.

Now, that my phone is unlocked I can obtain a E-Plus, Vodaphone or O2 prepaid sim and use it.

Does this allow me to call back to the states with no additional charges. Based on the info I pulled off the ATT site, it appears that the carriers have EDGE and data. Will I also be able to take advantage of these services? I would really like to be able to pull emails off.

Lastly, How does wi-fi figure in? Can I turn off EDGE and use wi-fi (if available for web?



Network Carrier Coverage Available Services Technology & Frequency

E-Plus GSM/GPRS Coverage Map
UMTS coverage may be limited to major population areas.
UMTS/3G Coverage Map Voice
Data
2-way text messaging
UMTS 2100; GSM/GPRS 1800

O2 GSM/GPRS Coverage Map
UMTS coverage may be limited to major population areas.
UMTS/3G Coverage Map Voice
Data
EDGE
2-way text messaging
UMTS 2100; GSM/GPRS 1800

Vodafone GSM/GPRS Coverage Map
UMTS/3G Coverage Map Voice
Data
EDGE
2-way text messaging
UMTS 2100; GSM/GPRS 900/1800

Thanks for your help,

Jeff
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Old 07-17-2009, 01:16 PM   #6
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one, no you will pay whatever the prepaid sim card's charge is for an international call.
two, to get emails as you know you need a bb data plan. the pre-paid sim cards do not have a bb data plan attached, you cannot get your emails.
three, yes you can. its the same as home. you can turn mobile network off and browse via wi-fi now.
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Old 07-19-2009, 08:40 AM   #7
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I have been in Germany for three years with TMO service from Washington DC. I bought the International email service at $19.99 per month and it is well worth it. If I lock onto TMO-D as a carrier, I have no additional charges. If you allow another carrier to grab you, you can get a .50 to $1.00 charge per retrieved email. SMS will always incur that charge. Phone will be a minimum of $1.50 (if I remember correctly) for connection per call.

I use the email daily and have done so for three years with no problems once I figured out what was going on. I spent close to $700.00 for my first two months here with roaming and SMS.
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