Cell-phone / Mobile Roaming - Middle East

[English Tim]

Does anyone have experience of cell-phone roaming outside Europe or USA?

 

On our cruise from Dubai to Athens, I need to be contactable, so I am considering buying a global sim, which I believe can be inserted at departure airport and then kept in device until back in Europe, allowing much cheaper calls, texts and data.

 

It would be fiendishly expensive to use my UK contract for these services, whilst outside Europe.

[MJN1]

Tim,

just make sure that your mobile is "unlocked" otherwise it will only take the SIM of your UK Provider. :eek:

We keep one of the "old" (contract expired and unlocked by provider) mobile whenever we upgrade (and sign a new contract) for exactly that purpose.

[Suite Travels]

I have a GSM contract with AT&T which lowers the cost and I have used it all over Africa and the Middle East. Not sure what is offered in the UK. I would check with your provider.

[English Tim]

I bought my i-phone direct from Apple, so it should be unlocked. I'll check with my provider, but I think they only do deals for use in Europe.

[merryecho]

What is a GSM contract? Daughter just got back from SE Asia and ATT offered her unlimited overseas texting for $30.