Moving to Europe: Cell phone?

December 18, 2006 7:13 PM

CellPhoneFilter: Moving to Austria. What do I do about my cell phone?

I'm currently with T-mobile, and my contract will be up in ~9 months, and I'm moving to Austria (Vienna) in ~7 months. What do I do in 7 months?

posted by sdis to technology (8 comments total)

Have you called T Mobile? most companies let you get out early idf you show proof of moving to an area that they do no service. I know Verizon does.
posted by crewshell at 7:26 PM on December 18, 2006

Are you going to need a phone in Austria? For what--calls from back home or local (to AS)? Buy your cell phone in Austria, and let those folks back here worry about dialing all those extra numbers. I'd consider getting a prepaid phone for 2 months.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 7:27 PM on December 18, 2006

First, call T-Mobile and request an unlock code for your phone (if it's one that can be unlocked this way -- most Nokias are, most motorolas are not). Tell them that you're traveling overseas, and want to use a local SIM card. If they give you any grief, you can purchase these codes and/or get your phone unlocked elsewhere, but T-Mobile usually will do it for free if you've been a customer for a little while. Go ahead and do this now or soon, because it can take them a few weeks to actually give you the code.

You'll be able to use your phone in Austria by purchasing a local SIM card, which is much cheaper than a new phone.

Second, right before you move, call T-Mobile and tell them that you're moving overseas. They may be able to move you to a cheaper plan for the remainder of your contract. They may even be able to quietly let you out of your contract (especially if you do "Third" below). Or, they may just want to know your address so they can send you your final two months of in-contract bills.

Third, if you want to keep your phone number when you come back and/or keep your phone number ringing to voicemail (to give people your overseas number), then when your contract runs out, you should switch to T-Mobile prepaid (pay-as-you-go), and immediately purchase $100 in airtime. This will keep your account open for a full year. Each year thereafter, you'll have to add $10 in airtime to keep it open.
posted by toxic at 7:29 PM on December 18, 2006

American GSM phones cannot be used in Europe, whether locked or not, because the frequencies used are different. Unless you have a multiband phone which is explicitly stated to support European frequencies, there's no point in getting it unlocked or taking it to Europe.

American cell phones use 800 MHz or 1900 MHz. European cell phones use 900 MHz or 1800 MHz. (Don't ask why. The explanation would drive you insane.)
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 7:34 PM on December 18, 2006

Most simple solution: there is a T-Mobile Austria... so if you're happy with T-Mobile and want to stick with them, call your current customer service number and see if it's possible to somehow switch over your contract to the Austrian T-Mobile, two months early. It might not be possible to transfer exactly, but maybe they can work out something beneficial for you.

(btw, I'm an American who just spent a month in Vienna, and it was really simple and pleasant... I bet you'll have a beautiful time!)
posted by allterrainbrain at 7:35 PM on December 18, 2006

American GSM phones cannot be used in Europe, whether locked or not, because the frequencies used are different.


My Nokia 3220, purchased via T-Mobile in America years ago, is a triband (900/1800/1900), and has worked on GSM networks in the US, London, New Zealand and parts of Venezuela. Many, if not most, of the phones sold in the US today are perfectly capable of working overseas.
posted by toxic at 7:40 PM on December 18, 2006

Yeah: multiband phones are common enough today that my advice assumed sdis's phone is one. sdis, if you don't know that info about your phone, tell us its name / model number and we can tell you.
posted by allterrainbrain at 7:44 PM on December 18, 2006

I have been in the business of cell phones for a few years. Most of our cell phones for the US come from Europe, and are set up with International frequencies. What frequencies will your phone operate on? You can usually check this by removing the battery. My phone for example says G8/G18/G19. Which means GSM 850/GSM1800/GSM1900, and yes it will work in many parts of Europe. Hence the GSM1800. Here is a site to check service all over the world. http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml
If you got your phone from T-mobile, then your phone will most likely work in Europe. Ultimately, the easiest thing to do would probably be to just contact your carrier and tell them your situaion. I have used T-Mobile for about five years, and they have always been very customer oriented.
posted by wlefebvre at 3:13 PM on December 20, 2006