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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 14:16:48 GMT
I'll put this question out on here, as I'm not sure what to do regarding taking a cell phone with me to India. A trip that I will be going on soon, I'll be gone for several weeks so would like to keep connected and would feel better carrying one in case an emergency should arise. I know there are many well-traveled members on here, so they would know the best solution to this dilemma. What would be my best option? Taking a phone from here and putting in a SIM card? Would that SIM card work okay in India? Or have the phone company here put an international service on the Blackberry? I have a feeling that can work out quite expensive. Or simply buying a phone while I am there and using a local company for my service? How would I arrange that? Which company to go with? And could I get a pay as you go thing on the phone. I really don't want a yearly contract or anything. Could anyone suggest the most cost-effective way to do this? I don't mind buying a cell phone in India as I'll use it again on other trips I will be doing there. Also, if I was to take a lap-top (or more likely a net-book), how would I get internet service over there? Would anyone know if internet service is provided in places like restaurants and hotels as it is here? I know a dongle can be used, but I know very little about them. If it's too complicated I'll probably not take a lap-top at all. I might just rely on internet cafes when and if I ever come across any. Anyway, any advice or hints on how best to go about this would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 15:34:46 GMT
Last time I went to Thailand, I took my netbook with me, thinking that some places might have free wifi, but such was not the case at the time. However, they still had cybercafés everywhere and the rates were next to nothing -- I can't imagine India being any different. I was still happy to have my netbook so I could download my photos and not only see that they looked like displayed in a bigger size, but also it meant that I had a safe second copy. I have read so many stories about tourists (in Europe) having their camera stolen or just losing it in the last couple of days of their holiday and therefore losing more than 1000 photos in many cases.
As for a cell phone, I have an absolutely minimal deal with Orange since I haver use the phone (I pay for one hour a month, but I usually have two hours credit because one month rolls over before being lost.) Anyway, my phone has worked automatically in every country that I have visited and I could both make and receive phone calls -- and that includes places like Vietnam, Egypt, Singapore and Thailand.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 18:09:43 GMT
I never thought about how useful a net-book would be to download photos (and so not to lose them). That's a good idea, Kerouac. And hopefully I might be able to get internet access once in a while with it too.
Orange sounds like a good company, I do remember seeing them all over the place when I was in England, but the company doesn't operate here. Oh really, your phone works in all those countries? But didn't you have to have a special SIM card or an international service set up with your provider before hand in order for that to happen?
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Post by mich64 on Nov 12, 2012 19:19:36 GMT
We also were very happy that we decided to take our Galaxy Tablet with us Deyana. My husband loaded the first season of Game of Thrones and it was nice to have the opportunity to watch a show on a few nights, check web sites and we used Facebook to let family know we arrived places safely. Plus you can load books onto it for reading on the plane.
We did use the cell phone once for an emergency that we needed to call home about and we found out how expensive that was when we got home (roaming charges), but would do it again. My brother-in-law bought a data package that enabled him to text his kids back home.
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Post by mossie on Nov 12, 2012 19:49:00 GMT
I used to use a netbook for photos, but now have an iPad, which is ideal. For mobiles I use Vodaphone pay as you go, which seems to have arrangements with local companies so that you get service in most places
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Post by htmb on Nov 12, 2012 19:55:05 GMT
I also use my ipad to transfer photos from my camera and to upload them when I'm traveling and have wifi access.
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Post by bjd on Nov 12, 2012 19:56:55 GMT
Deyana, find out if your Canadian cell phone works abroad. From info on the Thorn Tree, there seems to be a problem with N American phones in Europe -- the bandwidths are different or something.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 20:01:57 GMT
We also were very happy that we decided to take our Galaxy Tablet with us Deyana. My husband loaded the first season of Game of Thrones and it was nice to have the opportunity to watch a show on a few nights, check web sites and we used Facebook to let family know we arrived places safely. Plus you can load books onto it for reading on the plane. We did use the cell phone once for an emergency that we needed to call home about and we found out how expensive that was when we got home (roaming charges), but would do it again. My brother-in-law bought a data package that enabled him to text his kids back home. The more I think about it, mich, the more it seems like a good idea to put the net-book in my backpack. (That's the only luggage I'll have). India is pretty advanced in many areas now and I'm sure internet would be available in a lot of places. (Fingers crossed). Plus I intend to put up a travel-log on here, so I can keep a journal of sorts of my journey. I'd like to add to that as much as I possibly can, time and circumstances permitting. The roaming charges do worry me on a cell phone. Not sure if it's not better to just buy a phone over in India instead and just put a pay as you go card on it. I have a cell phone for the UK and it seems to work out quite well that way whenever I'm over there.....
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 20:07:27 GMT
mossie, an ipad would be great to take, but I don't have one right now. But I do have a net-book. I don't think we have Vodaphone here, but we might have something similar.
htmb, do you find that most places so provide a wifi service? Hotels and restaurants do here in Canada, not sure about over in India. I'm pretty sure some places must have the service. It's all new territory for me. I haven't been back to India in many years, I know the country has changed tremendously since I was last there.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 20:10:17 GMT
Deyana, find out if your Canadian cell phone works abroad. From info on the Thorn Tree, there seems to be a problem with N American phones in Europe -- the bandwidths are different or something. bjd, I will check out Thorn Tree, see what I can find out. I have a Blackberry, but I also have just an ordinary every day cell phone as well. I do want to make sure that if I get international service here before I go from the local cell phone provider that it will actually work over there. Thanks for the tips everyone
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Post by htmb on Nov 12, 2012 20:47:23 GMT
Deyana, I have mainly used wifi on my iPad in the places I've stayed. I don't typically seek out wifi "hotspots" in cafés, etc.
I also think getting on forums that are specifically for India might be helpful.
I have a blackberry that is global ready. When I get ready to travel I switch to a global plan with my phone service (Verizon). I pay a small amount extra which then gives me calls at $.99 per minute, a certain amount of email and Internet usage that I never seem to exceed, incoming texts at $.05 and outgoing texts at $.50. I can use the plan for up to four weeks and switch back to my regular plan with no penalty. This is what's worked best for me as it is critical for me to be able to receive regular email.
You might check with your current phone service provider just to get an idea, and I would also assume you could find something that showed the service areas for India.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 21:53:46 GMT
That's a good idea, htmb, I will check out Indiamike, they should be able to answer some of my questions. I think I will go and see the cell phone service provider and see what they have to say about charges on the blackberry and if in fact it will actually work in India. That may be my best bet. These phones nowadays are really good in that way aren't they? Thanks again for your help.
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Post by auntieannie on Nov 12, 2012 22:36:15 GMT
International pay-as-you-go SIM.
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