Assistance re SIM Card for Spain (1 Viewer)

Emmit

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Hi All,

We have just nicely got back from Spain and decided that we should never have left for Christmas so we are going again!
Before we do and hopefully better prepared for this trip, could I ask all you out therefor your assistance re SIM Cards.

We are Stone Age when it comes to what we call "New Technology".
We have recently got a smartphone, and it's unlocked, (just a pity the bloke holding it is thick!!!)
On our last trip it didn't work in France or Spain, either as a phone or as a device to receive Internet.

Can anyone out there suggest a SIM card to insert into the device to get us these services.
Please treat with kid gloves. I've already said, I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to these things.

Thanks in advance
 

Teasy2007

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What you need is a Toggle Sim, the best thing we have bought. 3p per minute to call home from Spain and if people ring you it is free. Have a look on Motorhome wifi'a site or just search for Toggle mobile and it will explain how it is so cheap!

Ginny
 
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There are some on fleebay for £3.00 with £2.50 credit and free postage if that's what your looking for.

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sedge

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Have you got 'Call roaming' turned on? - usually to be found in 'Settings' which might be a spiky round icon (a bit like the 'Tools' icon on the Taskbar on a computer) OR it might be a pic of a spanner. Cos no phone will work abroad unless you have!

Also, when you get a new phone, normally you have to be with the service provider for a month or so, before they turn the roaming on from their end - but not sure if they do that with Pay as you go, or if it's only when you have a new contract - which is sensible - you could sign for the phone and pay the deposit then disappear to Timbuktu, rack up a huge bill and never pay them a penny piece. So they want to make sure the direct debits get paid before they flip the switch.

We have no idea what SIM you may have, or whether it's enabled for roaming.

If you keep your phone on whilst crossing the channel the phone should VERY soon beep to tell you that you have a text - and the text will say 'Welcome to France (or Spain) from Movistar' (or whatever provider your SIM is using in that country) and then say Calls cost whatever and Texts cost whatever. This should happen each time you cross a border - when we crossed from France to Spain last December Pete's phone received the message before the back end of the van had gone past the 'border' sign!

Then you know 'roaming' is turned on successfully! If you don't get a message - it most likely isn't.
 
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Emmit

Emmit

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Thanks to all repliers (is that a word???)

We primarily want it to use as a phone but, at the same time, just in case, we would like to use it for the internet (We know that we could use our allowance in a flash) but, the last time we took it there, it had a hissy fit, didn't make a sound when crossing borders or arriving in countries like our previous 'Brick' did.
Sedge, I looked into the innards of the thing, went onto the 'settings' but couldn't quite find what you described.
We're off to see son and D in l tomorrow. I'll give it to our 4yr old granddaughter. She'll sort it for us.

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Aug 18, 2014
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Yes the roaming has got to be turned on by the sim supplier first time I believe. After that you can turn it on/off on the phone yourself. Additionally it has to be turned on first time whilst in the country that the sim card is supplied in. If you are already out then it can't be turned on till you go back..

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DBK

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Can you tell us what phone you have and ideally if it is android, Windows or whatever?
 
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I would recommend toggle - very reasonable with good coverage.

But you do need to register a local number to get the 3p/minute. best done before you go on the toggle website, from memory its free to register one for 30 days?? but if you want to keep it then costs £5 for a year.

Best advice is not to make a long term commitment as everything is changing in Dec 2015.

Jon
 
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Emmit

Emmit

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Thanks for all the replies.
It transpired that those amongst you who suggested that the phone needed switching onto roaming at the 'other' end were right.
This new stuff is alright but, just like life itself, it doesn't come with an instruction manual.

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