Mobile Phones

[Italy4me]

Ive started a new thread so that the subject is easier to find for anyone searching later on.

I bought my first phone from Future Next (they also have a very good computer room in the back if you want to check emails or surf the net etc.)
Here's a link to an interactive map:
http://www.paginegialle.it/pg/cgi/ma...380016663&cb=0

The next one I bought from Cinema (also known as Expert or S.ET) which is obliquely across the road from Bar La Playa, here's the link:
http://www.paginegialle.it/pg/cgi/ma...841003512&cb=0

Both of our phones are on the Wind network (stop sniggering!) as that is the best for our area (and the calls also seem cheaper than vodafone in any case).

There are a lot of other phone shops dotted about that we have no experience of but we like both of the above shops for their friendly, helpful service.

I had to wait a couple of hours for the phone to be activated after buying it - and you will need ID to buy a phone - codice fiscale or passport.

Another alternative is to bring an old handset with you and just pick up a sim card (as long as the handset isn't locked to a network). I have had no problem using the sim cards from our Italian phones in another handset.
Hope this helps, Lesley

[cool]

Lesley ,Great help as usual,,Cool :wink:

[cool]

FiFi ,,,Have not seen any posts from Fifi as of late.Are you still with us???? Cool :?:

[Helena&Jerry]

[quote=Italy4me;1516]Ive started a new thread so that the subject is easier to find for anyone searching later on.


Dear Lesley & Brian

Spero sta bene! Ok, that's my token gesture to practicing Italian for the moment. In prep for next visit (and to keep costs down for people who call me as well as my making calls) I am looking at Global Sims, Italian Sims (need to be there to buy one!) and believe it or not, 3 (three) network, the vilified UK provider. They have good rates if you can team up with their sister network which appears to have good coverage in Calabria.

Have you any experience of 3 or heard anybody talk about using their 3 phone and network locally? There may be competing networks as well for mobiles so holding onto the 3 network may not be easy. I checked the italian site and it looks pretty impressive to my fledgling understanding.

Hope all is well

Helena (& Jerry)

[melanie1]

Hi Helena and Jerry,

I am on 3G contract. The signal can be hit and miss, in the town centre it is fine but a little further out the signal drops, luckily mine then picks up TIM network.

I would check to see if you can get a signal near your place first. I think where you have brought your place you do not get a singal, I remember trying there for someone else.

Any questions let me know.

Melanie

[Helena&Jerry]

Thanks Melanie; good to know 3G are alive and well in Scalea.

Last trip I used my Orange phone and had no problems whatsoever in Santa Domenica Talao so I will buy a PAYG 3G Sim which is cheap(er) and take my chances and then probably buy a local sim for Italy. Have read all about that somewhere on the forum I think.

Warmly

Helena

[italianirish]

Hi, I just brought an old phone with me and bought a Wind sim card. Wind is the only one that seems to work in Maiera.

Michael