T-Mobile in Europe?

[Qacer]

My friend told me that I don't need to get a new sim card if I have a T-Mobile account. Supposedly, I can just call T-Mobile and request to have my phone activated for use in Europe. I supposed this would mean that I'm roaming internationally, but she's a pretty thrifty person, so I don't think see her paying a higher rate per minute by roaming internationally.

Does anyone know what she meant by this?

I got my phone unlocked already so I can use a pre-paid sim card, but if there is a way to use the same sim card and just pay the local phone rates for each European country, then that would be a better option.

 

[zerocool1]

i would just call customer service to be sure. your phone should handle the european gsm bands that are used.

 

[Qacer]

Yep, I've checked my phone's specs at Motorola's website and the operating frequencies for the networks at gsmworld.com. I was curious regarding the actual sim card. Could T-Mobile easily associated a secondary number to it that is local to the European market?

 

[ElFenix]

t mobile is still part owned by the german government, so if it's possible they'd be the people to do it.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Yep, just call TMO or use the web site to turn on "International Roaming". It works just great as long as you have a tri or quad-band phone.

Couple things to know:

1) It's very expensive. Try not to send or receive calls unless you want to pay a lot. Resort to texting as it is cheaper.
2) When you call your voice mail from Europe, you will hear your greeting. You have to push the # sign and enter your 4-digit pin to check VM.
3) People in the States can dial your normal 10-digit number and it will ring on your end in Europe just as if you were next door.
4) For you to call a number in your address book, or any number in the States, you have to add 001 in front of it.

You may need to double check all of this, but I am pretty sure memory serves me correct.

Reception over there, at least in Germany, is much better on average than here.

 

[LS20]

doe T-Mobile Dash work in europe?
if i buy a temp SIM card to use phone over there, what is approx charge

 

[2Xtreme21]

My "T-Mobile" France phone (it showed up as T-Mobile when I was in the states) showed up as Orange in the UK, France, and Italy. Didn't go to any other country though.

 

[Qacer]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Yep, just call TMO or use the web site to turn on "International Roaming". It works just great as long as you have a tri or quad-band phone.

Couple things to know:

1) It's very expensive. Try not to send or receive calls unless you want to pay a lot. Resort to texting as it is cheaper.
2) When you call your voice mail from Europe, you will hear your greeting. You have to push the # sign and enter your 4-digit pin to check VM.
3) People in the States can dial your normal 10-digit number and it will ring on your end in Europe just as if you were next door.
4) For you to call a number in your address book, or any number in the States, you have to add 001 in front of it.

You may need to double check all of this, but I am pretty sure memory serves me correct.

Reception over there, at least in Germany, is much better on average than here.

Ahh very nice info! Thanks!

I don't think I'll have to make some calls. Maybe 1 or 2, but I supposed they should not last more than 10 minutes. But I think I still may have to get a prepaid sim card because my current plan does not include data. I'd like to get access to the Internet via my cellphone while I'm traveling. I'll have to call up T-Mobile customer care again.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
1) It's very expensive. Try not to send or receive calls unless you want to pay a lot. Resort to texting as it is cheaper.

Agreed. If you're in town for only a day or two, you may be fine with the cost. Otherwise, get a local prepaid card.

4) For you to call a number in your address book, or any number in the States, you have to add 001 in front of it.

Different countries have different prefixes and sometimes this can be annoying. The easiest way to get around this is to save all your numbers with a "+1" prefix. So instead of 404-555-5555, you'd save +14045555555. This is a GSM standard and will work in every country.

Originally posted by: LS20
doe T-Mobile Dash work in europe?

Yup

if i buy a temp SIM card to use phone over there, what is approx charge

You'll have to Google for this information. Make sure you call T-Mo and have your phone unlocked first.

 

[josh0099]

Originally posted by: Qacer

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Yep, just call TMO or use the web site to turn on "International Roaming". It works just great as long as you have a tri or quad-band phone.

Couple things to know:

1) It's very expensive. Try not to send or receive calls unless you want to pay a lot. Resort to texting as it is cheaper.
2) When you call your voice mail from Europe, you will hear your greeting. You have to push the # sign and enter your 4-digit pin to check VM.
3) People in the States can dial your normal 10-digit number and it will ring on your end in Europe just as if you were next door.
4) For you to call a number in your address book, or any number in the States, you have to add 001 in front of it.

You may need to double check all of this, but I am pretty sure memory serves me correct.

Reception over there, at least in Germany, is much better on average than here.

Ahh very nice info! Thanks!

I don't think I'll have to make some calls. Maybe 1 or 2, but I supposed they should not last more than 10 minutes. But I think I still may have to get a prepaid sim card because my current plan does not include data. I'd like to get access to the Internet via my cellphone while I'm traveling. I'll have to call up T-Mobile customer care again.

I wouldn't use a cell phone for any extended period of time phone call to the United States...As a 10 min phone will cost you atleast $10+ its far cheaper to get a calling card and use a pay phone for your longer phone calls. Use a cell phone for emergency only. Also internet cafe's are everywhere in europe use those before using your cell phone. Otherwise if you must go the cell phone route I would get a pre paid sim.