This will probably only have the petential to be a very short thread - but I think its important.
Believe it or not I have survived this long into the 21st Century without possessing a mobile telphone of any type or variety. Actually, I like to telephone as much as I can. I prefer to be strategically "unavailable". I screen the calls I do accept.
Call me a throw-back to another time. I don't care.
But in the FSU EVERYONE is so dependent on mobile phones that some strange things can result if you do not have one. For instance - my hotel room in Riga was the ONLY one I have ever had in my life - without a telephone in the room. The only phone available was a pay phone (that needed a prepurchased card) in the windbreak between the two sets of outside doors. Imagine how much fun it was trying to set up a date with a lady I had contacted over the internet - only to have to call her and wiat for her call back in the draft windbreak area. It was a pain in the patoot.
There have also been occasions where, even though I do not speak the native language, my lady in Moldova needed to get ahold of me. Without a phone that is a pain as well too.
So this time I have decided to bring a phone.
Moldova has two phone mobile phone systems - both of which operate using the GMS 900 frequency. GMS phones are, of course, available in this country but most of the time thr frequency used is GMS 1900. Cingular uses GMS 850 in limited areas.
I can, of course, buy a phone with multiple frequency capabilities. I am looking at several Motorolas with either GMS 850/900/1900 or 900/1800/1900 capabilities. If these phones are purchased from an established mobile company, however, as part of a "promotional rate" they are likely to be "locked": ie only able to accept SIM cards from that particular company (be it TMobile, Cingular, or ATT Wireless). Generally you have to either buy a specially "unlocked" phone or you have to pay to have this down. I understand that if you tell your service provider that you are going to be going abroad they can give you a code to unlock your phone for the use of foreign SIM cards.
Has anyone had any experience at this? It is just a matter of taking a (n unlocked) GMS phone to the FSU and buying a SIM card say from Voxtel in Moldova? Does it need to be resistered there?
As I said I am entirely a newbee when it comes to mobile telephones at all - so I would like to know. Srart with the basics for me.
and when i return with my GMS phone, I might decide to catch up with the 21st century and use a mobile in the US as well. No promises though.
Might seem like a really stupid question - but how I do i get a phone number over there? I imagine (I think) that I will need one. Just buy a card? Go through an elaborate process?
http://apps5.oingo.com/apps/domainpark/results.cgi?client=GALT6690& domain_name=omiz.com&sid=000b4037e0800000&pid=8544&hl=en&ac=r&s=nokia%20unlock
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Sorry, long link but it should work. I've said here already that one should buy an open phone, but if you can't get it the above site provides a cheap solution.
You prefer Motorola, search this site for it, but I'd never buy anything else than Nokia. The do not make anything else than phones hence they should know - and they do.
Hey, so one of your NY-resolutions is to own a mobile hmm? Welcome to the digital era Jet, and we'll speak in 6 months from now - you won't be able to do without, at HOME that is.
You will automatically get a local number anywhere when you buy a pre-paid card, it comes with it. The handset must be aopen though hence the unlocking link above.
It seems you seen 900 & 1800 overthere, and for your local one's have yourself advised. Quadbands do exist, and, because you're new with this - go for something with a loooong battery life i.e. a long talktime. This probably means you want to stay away from the tiny things, flap-open thingy's and why - buy a Nokia 6310i or similar, that's the longest lasting battery there is.
Jet many places I have seen that rent apartments and such also offer cell phone rentals over there you might what to consider this and not buy a phone for such short visits. You get a local number and everything.
Jet many places I have seen that rent apartments and such also offer cell phone rentals over there you might what to consider this and not buy a phone for such short visits. You get a local number and everything.
I don't HAVE a mobile phone now - so I'm looking at killing two birds with one stone if I can get a decent deal on a multiple frequency phone. Actually I think I have found one here in my area.
I also find that even though in general rent on most items is quite reasonable by our standards - you will still need to buy a SIM card.
Ah, for those not having tried the above link:
it will unlock most phones on the market. So buy a cheap local package with the right (locked) phone, and unlock the thing with aid of this site. Saves on roaming when abroad, just buy a local prepaid sim.
Then again, roaming is not that expensive, for short visits I never bother.
TD:
gotta take issue with about the roaming bit,
and I am only speaking from experience in Ukraine and Belarus here but each time I enquired about roaming in either of those countries the rates were horrendous.
AND both of service providers I enquired with were both affiliated to UK providers (Vodafone),but the rates for Borrowing their service whilst abroad were wallet busting.
The most cost effective solution I have found is to buy an unlocked phone..(or follow your excellent link) and upon arrival purchase a SIM card.
I do realise Jet is asking about Moldova but I cannot see much difference anywhere in the FSU.
If you do have an unlocked mobile phone (Multi-freq is best)upon your arrival to the FSU all you have to do then is go to any store that sells mobile phones and buy a simm card. This card will contain your local number. It will cost about $15 to $20 USD. It usually comes with some prepaid minutes on it already. You install the simm in your phone and you should be ready to go within a few hours. The link from the provider sometimes takes time to register your number and activate it. After that you just keep buying prepaid phone cards as you need them. The best money you will ever spend. A mobile phone is a must in these countries!
just buy a phone that is not locked. Do not know about everywhere else but down here, it is not hard to buy an unlocked phone and usualy only say$20US more