Question about International Prepaid phones?

[Slowhand]

Hi everyone, i'm still learning about cell phones and I have a question. What determines whether a prepaid phone can make international calls or texts. Is it the phone itself or the prepaid card with the minutes etc.

I'm a total noob at this stuff so you can factor that in your answer.

A follow up question: I'm getting a cell phone of some sort to mainly text my girlfriend in Romania. She told me to make sure it's Android Touch because that's what she has. Why would this be necessary?

Thanks a million, billion, trillion for any help you can offer.

 

[RossMAN]

Any cell phone (flip, Windows, Android or Apple) can send/receive international calls and text messages but it may cost you $4.99 or higher per minute.

So the answer is choose an established and reputable prepaid provider and the right plan that offers these features.

I have a few suggestions but first need to know:
1) Based on your location, is your home/work area Pensacola, FL or somewhere else?
2) If you were to ask your friends, family or co-workers who has the best cell phone signal, how would they answer? If you don't know, ask them and reply here. Your choices are: Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint or AT&T.
3) How many domestic talk minutes and internet data do you need? Please provide a firm number not a range. For example 500 minutes and 1GB data. If you already have a domestic cell phone plan and want to get another that's a terrible idea when you can combine them into one. Unless of course someone else is paying your monthly cell phone bill.
4) Do you already own a cell phone? If you do, what is the exact manufacturer and model number? If it's not a smart phone, you can skip this question.
5) Most importantly what's your budget for a capable smartphone and monthly plan? Once again please provide an actual number instead of a range.

http://www.piip.com/

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/09/...ng-services-that-work-from-desktop-to-mobile/

Search Google for "cross-platform mobile messaging app" to see more.

The more information you can provide, the better we can assist.

 

[Slowhand]

Thank you soooooooooooooo much for your generous reply. Let me get the data you asked for and give you a solid answer. I'll post it in the wee hours of the morning so you can see it tomorrow.

Again thank you for your help.

 

[RossMAN]

Thank you soooooooooooooo much for your generous reply. Let me get the data you asked for and give you a solid answer. I'll post it in the wee hours of the morning so you can see it tomorrow.

Again thank you for your help.

You're welcome and I look forward to your detailed and informative reply :thumbsup:

 

[Slowhand]

Any cell phone (flip, Windows, Android or Apple) can send/receive international calls and text messages but it may cost you $4.99 or higher per minute.

Well it's good news that any phone will work, but of course I would never pay $4.99 a minute.

So the answer is choose an established and reputable prepaid provider and the right plan that offers these features.
I have a few suggestions but first need to know:
1) Based on your location, is your home/work area Pensacola, FL or somewhere else?

Pensacola, FL. I work from home.

2) If you were to ask your friends, family or co-workers who has the best cell phone signal, how would they answer? If you don't know, ask them and reply here. Your choices are: Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint or AT&T.

Verizon and AT&T are the answers I get.

3) How many domestic talk minutes and internet data do you need? Please provide a firm number not a range. For example 500 minutes and 1GB data. If you already have a domestic cell phone plan and want to get another that's a terrible idea when you can combine them into one. Unless of course someone else is paying your monthly cell phone bill.

Ok, 1000 minutes (since phone will be used mainly for text and talk) 1GB data.
I do already have a domestic cell phone. It was given to me as a gift in December 2010 from my brother who pays for it using AT&T. It is strictly for text and talk though. The reason I want my own phone is, I want to have a bit more privacy. The phone is an AT&T Pantech Ease.

4) Do you already own a cell phone? If you do, what is the exact manufacturer and model number? If it's not a smart phone, you can skip this question.

Not a smart phone.

5) Most importantly what's your budget? Once again please provide an actual number instead of a range.

$70.00 a month.
Thanks again for your help.

 

[RossMAN]

Verizon and AT&T are the answers I get.

Verizon is awesome but doesn't come cheap, so you'll get the most bang for your buck with AT&T.

Ok, 1000 minutes (since phone will be used mainly for text and talk) 1GB data.
I do already have a domestic cell phone. It was given to me as a gift in December 2010 from my brother who pays for it using AT&T. It is strictly for text and talk though. The reason I want my own phone is, I want to have a bit more privacy. The phone is an AT&T Pantech Ease.

Considering your budget I think you'll be just fine.

Here's how I would do it:
Find a list of MVNO's like the one found here.
Print or export to excel and sort by "host network" isolating only AT&T.
Research each provider using Google, HoFo and the awesome prepaidphonenews.com for reviews.
Off the top of my head, I would seriously consider h2o, ultra.me and lycamobile.
Read the fine print as they might only offer free calling to Romanian landlines and not cell phones.

I hope that helps point you in the right direction. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them here and we'll try to help.

 

[Slowhand]

Off the top of my head, I would seriously consider h2o, ultra.me and lycamobile.
Read the fine print as they might only offer free calling to Romanian landlines and not cell phones.

I hope that helps point you in the right direction. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them here and we'll try to help.

Thanks so much RossMAN for your help. Ok I have a couple noob questions.

1. When providers refer to "minutes" do they mean minutes for actually talking on the phone and the texts come out of the minutes as well?

2. And on Data, does this refer to "internet" usage?

3. Also, what the frick is an SMS....I saw this a lot when I lived in Holland but just ignored it because cell phones were not part of my life then.

4. Would it be best if I got me and my girlfriend "matching phones" so to speak, no pun intended. I ask because I don't know if there is a discount for getting 2 phones versus 1 phone.

All noob questions, I know, but I'm learning. Thx for help.
PS: Lycamobile is looking pretty sweet....

 

[RossMAN]

Thanks so much RossMAN for your help. Ok I have a couple noob questions.

You're welcome and n00b questions are always welcome.

1. When providers refer to "minutes" do they mean minutes for actually talking on the phone and the texts come out of the minutes as well?

Unless otherwise specified, minutes usually refer to domestic (USA to USA) talk minutes. Only talk, not texting. Most smart phone plans split allowances into 3 separate categories, talk minutes, text messages and internet data.

2. And on Data, does this refer to "internet" usage?

Yep and it can be used up very quickly and easily if you're not careful. Most modern smart phones (Windows/Android/Apple) allow you to setup bandwidth warnings or turn off cell phone data (yes voice calls and text will still work). There's also common sense like don't stream videos (Netflix/Youtube), music, or large file sizes such as high quality photography. If you're using WiFi, it doesn't count against your data allowance.

3. Also, what the frick is an SMS....I saw this a lot when I lived in Holland but just ignored it because cell phones were not part of my life then.

http://cellphones.about.com/od/phoneglossary/g/smstextmessage.htm

4. Would it be best if I got me and my girlfriend "matching phones" so to speak, no pun intended. I ask because I don't know if there is a discount for getting 2 phones versus 1 phone.

Probably not necessary to get the same exact cell phones but I would suggest the same operating system (Windows/Android/Apple). Do you know the exact manufacturer and model number of her cell phone? Is she willing or able to afford a new one?

All noob questions, I know, but I'm learning. Thx for help.
PS: Lycamobile is looking pretty sweet....

No worries and like I said n00b questions are welcome. I agree Lycamobile seems to be a good fit. If you have some free time read this mega thread about Lycamobile which has some info about international calling and texting, although most of it involves domestic talk/text/data. If you decide to sign up with Lycamobile your first step is to choose a cell phone (budget?) then buy a SIM card.

Anyone else care to chime in?

 

[Slowhand]

You're the bomb RossMAN....I'm off to do more homework and research. Thanks again for your help....I'll get back to you.

 

[Slowhand]

So if I understand correctly I need to buy the phone/phones first and then seek out a plan? Correct?

And I guess on the Android/Apple/Windows phones those are just like pc operating systems, so having a match in that regard would be a good thing?

Funny I can build and repair difficult pc computer problems all day but I don't know anything about cell phones. LOL I think I just fell behind the tech because I wasn't interested in it or using it at the time.

 

[s44]

Eh? Isn't lyca on the T-Mo network?

I'd suggest AT&T's prepaid house brand, Cricket:
https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans

 

[paperwastage]

Eh? Isn't lyca on the T-Mo network?

I'd suggest AT&T's prepaid house brand, Cricket:
https://www.cricketwireless.com/cell-phone-plans

yep, lyca uses t-mobile network

if t-mobile's native network works out for you (check sensorly, opensignal), then sure

cricket has some int'l features.... H2O wireless is another MVNO alternative (has some int'l features as well, uses AT&T's network)

 

[Slowhand]

Does second line mean the same thing as getting a second phone. Obviously if I get one phone for me and a second phone for my girlfriend, we will have different phone numbers....is this what second line refers to?

Thanks to all for your help, because of the knowledge I get here I'll know a lot more about cell phones etc. and make better purchases. That's why the AnandTech forum rocks!

 

[s44]

Yeah. But note that the second line doesn't get you any effective discount because the recurring payment discount doesn't combine with the extra line one.