UK Toll Free: 0 800 047 0248
International: +41 91 220 0567
Italy: +39 089 842 6126
Email: info@summerinitaly.com
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USA & Canada Toll Free: 1 800 509 8194 UK Toll Free: 0 800 047 0248 International: +41 91 220 0567 Italy: +39 089 842 6126 Email: info@summerinitaly.com |
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How to Get Affordable Cell Phone Service for Italy
As with most countries in the world, Italy has opted to utilize the GSM standard for its cellular service. GSM offers digital service that is usually so crystal clear that it is difficult to discern if you are on a cellphone or using a landline. Whether you are in a populated area or relaxing on the beach all alone, you are very likely to have cell phone reception. In fact, 99.8% of all Italians has access to cellular coverage. In Italy, as in many other countries in the world nowadays, many people don't even bother having a home phone. If you think about it, since cell phone service is inexpensive as well as excellent, what is the point of having a landline? If you are traveling to Italy and want to use your current cell phone, you most likely will be unable to do so. Unless you have a GSM tri-band phone, you will need to make special arrangements with your current cellular carrier. They will rent you a handset with what is called a SIM chip (Subscriber Information Module) inserted into the phone. The SIM chip is the brain of the phone, containing such information as the cell phone number, voice mail and call logs. Getting set up in this manner with your current service provider will however, allows you to retain your US phone number and receive and make calls anywhere in the world. However, many tourists to Italy appreciate having a local Italian number and will just give out their new Italian cell phone number to friends and family or leave it on their voice mail before their departure. Usually there is a monthly fee for being able to use the service internationally plus high roaming rates (call rates) and other applicable charges such as renting the handset and having it delivered to you. Another alternative is to rent a cell phone. You can rent a cell phone for Italy at any international airport either prior to departing or upon arrival or through many other traditional channels such as the yellow pages. Rates generally average $25-$50 per week for the handset rental plus per minute charges for actually placing and receiving calls. There are usually minimum per day or per week usage rates, regardless if you use the service or not. Alternatively, and this is by far the least expensive alternative, you can use the same service that the Italians use. Think about it, an Italian wanting a cell phone would neither rent nor roam as per the two prior examples - they would chose a local, Italian cellular solution - and so can you. With this approach, you will be paying local rates which are inexpensive and furthermore, you can receive unlimited, free incoming calls from anywhere in the world, including the US or Canada. Calls are not routed through numerous foreign switches and therefore the possibility of dropped calls is close to nil. Furthermore, the calls are prepaid so you never receive a bill nor do you need to sign a contract or commit to lengthy periods of cellular service. Calls to the US are inexpensive costing only about $0.40 per minute, but, in order to save even further and whenever possible, you may ask people to call you back on your cellular number. That way you can literally speak on the phone for hours and not spend a dime. While the person calling you will be paying for an international call, rates to Italy can be very reasonable - especially if the person calling you chooses the right provider or uses a calling card. In order to take advantage of paying local cellular rates you must obtain a GSM cell phone compatible with the Italian system and you will also need a SIM card for Italy. Many countries, including Italy, use the 900 GSM frequency, so, you will need to obtain this type of GSM phone, and, you must make sure that it is unlocked. GSM phones come from the manufacturer unlocked - it is the carrier that locks them. Therefore, even if you do have an international cell phone from a US or Canadian provider, while it may work in Italy, it won't work with anything other than the provider's SIM card. You can obtain both an Italian SIM card and an unlocked GSM cell phone compatible in Italy, either as a rental or a purchase, from Cellularabroad.com. This way you will get the same rates and service that the locals pay. And now you can relax and enjoy your vacation in Italy - yet still be able to keep in touch with what is going on back home - without worrying about running up a huge cell phone bill! Cellular Abroad is offering a $10 discount to all Summerinitaly.com visitors. Be sure to mention Summerinitaly.com or, if ordering online, enter promo code Summerinitaly. Go to www.cellularabroad.com or call 1-800-287-3020.
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It
is a fact that the vast majority of rental villas or apartments do not
include a phone for the guests to use. However, thanks to the fact that
Italy has some of the best cellular service in the world and available at
very low rates, it is possible to have the convenience of a cell phone for
the length of your sojourn in Italy. There are, however, different ways of
obtaining cellular service for Italy and the majority of them are quite
expensive. Here is how you, as a traveler to Italy, can take advantage of
low rates that are just fractions of what it would cost to rent a cell phone
through conventional channels or to roam with your home country provider,
and make having a cell phone in Italy a luxury that you can afford.