Good Sim Card for using your phone in Europe (Spain)?

[Blackjack200]

Essentially, it's a regular Verizon CDMA phone with a Sim Card slot and the ability to swich the phone to GSM (900/1800) mode. I was a little annoyed that the other two bands were left out (especially since it's supposed to be a "World Phone") but I think it should work in most places I want to go.

http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-p...5-6454_7-32781767.html

The Phone doesn't come with a Sim Card, but Verizon will send you a Sim Card that allows you to use your phone number on the GSM network wherever you get signal. They don't charge for the Sim Card, but the rates are obscene, ~ $1.30/minute in Europe, and $2.49 for the more exotic areas.

Rate schedule:
http://b2b.vzw.com/internation...ne/plans_coverage.html

Verizon will unlock the phone if you call customer service. I'll be heading to Spain in April and I'd like to figure out the best type of Sim Card in terms of coverage/cost/temporary use. Being able to re-use the phone number the next time I got service would be a plus, but not a requirement.

I looked at Vodaphone and O2's websites and got thoroughly confused. Any suggestions? BTW, sorry if this is a re-post, I searched "Sim Card" and couldn't find any relevant threads.

Thanks!

 

[pm]

I would just get a prepaid SIM over there. I've done this in England, New Zealand and Poland it was easy enough. In Poland, I could visit pretty much any little kiosk and buy more minutes whenever I wanted - they give this huge long code and you just punch it in. In the others, I just went to the store and added more minutes and it was pretty straightforward. I wouldn't worry about buying one in advance - there will be literally dozens of places trying to sell you them at the airport. You'll practically have to fend them off in my experience. In Europe last summer, it seemed like every ten steps someone was handing me a flier with a prepaid SIM offer on it. Also, you will definitely pay more for buying it over here in the US than you will over there.

If you think you will be making a lot of calls then maybe it will make sense to look at a plan, but I would think something like a 30 Euro prepaid SIM would work fine for you. Vodaphone, Orange, Moviphone, Amena.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Don't forget TMobile. It is based in Germany. I've also been very satisfied with Vodafone.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Be aware that some networks may use the bands your phone does not support.

Post the bands here and I'll check those used by Telefonica etc.

 

[Blackjack200]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll probably end up buying a sim card over there.

Bands are 900/1800

 

[DivideBYZero]

You can use all the 2.5G networks in Spain. Vodafone, Telephonica and Orange.

Detail on carriers and bands they use.

/0

 

[scott916]

How is the phone? I've been considering upgrading to one, this feature is always nice.