traveling to the U.K. with unlocked phone

[dread]

Hey guys,
My father is traveling to Leeds through the manchester airport. I am letting him use my old unlocked 2g iphone, but I have a few questions. He wants to be able to call home and use the internet and google maps.

What is the best way to do this?

I saw the pay as you go camel plan on orange which lets you call the U.S. for 6p. Are their better carriers to use?

Where can he get a simcard and how can he get minutes?

Will it use his minutes if he receives calls from the U.S.?

Thanks

 

[vlinkz]

The Internet browsing features will depend on the provider. If you are using a Pay As You Go sim, available everywhere, it will come out of your allowance. It is usually VERY EXPENSIVE to browse use data without a contract.

Most providers offer data "add-ons" for your PAYG sim, usually a few gigs allowance.

You will usually get a set number of minutes based on the amount of credit on the sim. The rate per minute is set at a few pence, usually. The amount you actually get depends on how much credit you purchase for the sim and how much you are charged.

Orange are not the best network but they will do the job well enough. You don't get charged for receiving calls in the UK (unless some providers are now doing this, I have been out of the UK for a while).

 

[dread]

The Internet browsing features will depend on the provider. If you are using a Pay As You Go sim, available everywhere, it will come out of your allowance. It is usually VERY EXPENSIVE to browse use data without a contract.

Most providers offer data "add-ons" for your PAYG sim, usually a few gigs allowance.

You will usually get a set number of minutes based on the amount of credit on the sim. The rate per minute is set at a few pence, usually. The amount you actually get depends on how much credit you purchase for the sim and how much you are charged.

Orange are not the best network but they will do the job well enough. You don't get charged for receiving calls in the UK (unless some providers are now doing this, I have been out of the UK for a while).

Thanks.
as far as I can tell from the orange website the maximum it will cost per day to use the internet is 2 pounds. He will only be there 5 days. So I assume you can get credit anywhere as well. Are these just scratch off cards?

 

[vlinkz]

Thanks.
as far as I can tell from the orange website the maximum it will cost per day to use the internet is 2 pounds. He will only be there 5 days. So I assume you can get credit anywhere as well. Are these just scratch off cards?

Yeah or it could be a 12 digit number that you simply type into the phone and it adds the purchased amount. Some networks have automated ways of doing this.

You should look out for this logo:
http://www.londonmobilephones.co.uk/images/4514573423.jpg
Most shops have this so it's always easy to add more credit.

 

[dread]

Nice, that is very helpful. Does anyone know If he will have to manually enter the apn for the orange network. I know he would have to enter one for the 3 network, but not sure about orange. I'm guessing the phone will configure itself automatically since orange has the iphone.

 

[matttye]

For the internet, O2 offer unlimited data for £7.50 a month on pay as you go.

I'm not sure what they offer for international calls but there might be a bolt on for it.

 

[andyhargreaves]

Orange in the UK do not have the iPhone.

In my experience with a similar situation, I have struggled to get the settings for Orange UK to work well. O2 seems to work better, as does Tesco mobile (uses the O2 network). You will probably have to enter the settings manually in either case.


O2 offer "Text and Web" through the website - http://www.o2.co.uk/explore/tariffs/paygo - and they have stores all over the UK to pick up a sim and arrange the tariff.


Tesco offer "triple your credit" - http://www.tesco.com/mobilenetwork/payasyougo.aspx?page=4 - GPRS data costs £4 per Mb, which is a bit steep...

 

[instaxgirl]

Nice, that is very helpful. Does anyone know If he will have to manually enter the apn for the orange network. I know he would have to enter one for the 3 network, but not sure about orange. I'm guessing the phone will configure itself automatically since orange has the iphone.

Orange in the UK do not have the iPhone.

In my experience with a similar situation, I have struggled to get the settings for Orange UK to work well. O2 seems to work better, as does Tesco mobile (uses the O2 network). You will probably have to enter the settings manually in either case.

You will have to enter the APN as another poster said. I did this for my ex who had a contract with Orange and he's still using the phone no problem. He's never had a problem with the internet or any other service on his iPhone.

I've used my unlocked 2G on a bunch of networks with no problems, so I wouldn't worry too much about keeping with O2/Tesco. One thing to note though is that if you get an iPhone payg (pay as you go) sim from O2 I think you get to use their data network at no additional charge. From what I can gather you can buy the specific iPhone payg sims on ebay.

And no network in the UK that I'm aware of charges you for incoming calls.

 

[tomjleeds]

We don't have charges on incoming calls, so there's no worry on that front.

You can pick up a SIM card anywhere. If you know where in Leeds he'll be going/staying, I could suggest a store.

One thing to note though is that if you get an iPhone payg (pay as you go) sim from O2 I think you get to use their data network at no additional charge. From what I can gather you can buy the specific iPhone payg sims on ebay.

You can indeed, and while it's probably technically against O2's terms of service as they're presumably supposed to only be sold with an iPhone...the OP's already got an iPhone, so it seems fair enough

 

[con500]

iv been using orange for over a year on my unlocked iphone with no problems whatsoever.
Simcards can be picked up at most local convenience shops for £2-3 and the call rates are reasonable

 

[dread]

You will have to enter the APN as another poster said. I did this for my ex who had a contract with Orange and he's still using the phone no problem. He's never had a problem with the internet or any other service on his iPhone.

I've used my unlocked 2G on a bunch of networks with no problems, so I wouldn't worry too much about keeping with O2/Tesco. One thing to note though is that if you get an iPhone payg (pay as you go) sim from O2 I think you get to use their data network at no additional charge. From what I can gather you can buy the specific iPhone payg sims on ebay.

And no network in the UK that I'm aware of charges you for incoming calls.

I found that the apn is orangeinternet. Password and user should be left blank.

 

[dread]

We don't have charges on incoming calls, so there's no worry on that front.

You can pick up a SIM card anywhere. If you know where in Leeds he'll be going/staying, I could suggest a store.



You can indeed, and while it's probably technically against O2's terms of service as they're presumably supposed to only be sold with an iPhone...the OP's already got an iPhone, so it seems fair enough

He is going to be staying at the premier hotel city west. It's in a business district. I'm guessing he will have to take a cab to go anywhere. Any good restruants in the area?

 

[tomjleeds]

He is going to be staying at the premier hotel city west. It's in a business district. I'm guessing he will have to take a cab to go anywhere. Any good restruants in the area?

If it's where I think it is, there's not a lot of good anything in the area, but only a 10 minute taxi ride into the middle of town. His best option in terms of phone shops then is just the city centre...you can't miss them, they're absolutely everywhere!

Haven't lived in Leeds since before I was bothered about good restaurants, to be honest, so I'm not a good person to ask on that front The hotel should be able to advise, though, and there are plenty to choose from.