Buying whole prepaid phones?

fiy123 · **Buying whole prepaid phones? -** 07-03-2008, 12:46

Hey guys,

So im traveling to italy in a week and ive done extensive searching on the web but I still cant find the answer to my question

In the states I have verizon, therefore no phone I own will work on the italian GSM networks

Can you purchase a Entire prepaid phone package when in italy, Including the Phone and SIM?

I know in the U.S. you can buy a prepaid phone for about 60 dollars which includes the phone and SIM,

Is this offered in italy at the airports or any other small shops? and how much do they cost?

Will I also have to get a Codice Fiscale If i buy this package?

Thanks

Joe

Motel75 · 07-03-2008, 13:22

Yes, you can. Some airports have them, some don't, otherwise there are company shops all over the place (though it would make sense to look up the addresses before you go to save time). Use the codice fiscale calculator to make one up, or if you want, go to any tax office and get a real one (takes 20 minutes if you're lucky).

fiy123 · 07-03-2008, 14:04

Thanks for the quick response, How many euros do they generally run?

Im just trying to figure out if i should pick u a GSM phone from chinatown nyc before I go and just get a SIM

since the dollar SUCKS

Thanks!

PhotoJim · 07-03-2008, 15:36

I'd recommend you get an unlocked quad-band GSM phone somewhere, perhaps locally before you go. That way you can use it on other foreign trips, and you can use it with T-Mobile and AT&T in the US if you want to.

fiy123 · 07-03-2008, 17:26

So just to clarify,

I just got my Fsical Code and printed it out, when I go to buy a SIM/Phone I just hand them the entire printed out page or cut out the little card thing?

also if someone knew how much euro the pack with phone/sim is in rome that would be great!

Thanks again for all your help!

Joe

Hank C Burnette · 07-03-2008, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiy123

So just to clarify,

I just got my Fsical Code and printed it out, when I go to buy a SIM/Phone I just hand them the entire printed out page or cut out the little card thing?

also if someone knew how much euro the pack with phone/sim is in rome that would be great!

Thanks again for all your help!

Joe

Well,they need only the "fiscal code", no matter how you give it, usually they accepted it even if you do it by voice.

Sadly, the change euro/dollar really sucks, but if you want a basic phone, i belive you can find pack Sim+phone for about 75 $ (50 euros)

fiy123 · 07-03-2008, 17:51

Alright good stuff, Looks like im going to be running around the next week trying to find one in the states, thanks again guys.

**Effendi** · 07-03-2008, 18:31

Consider that most phones you get at cheap prices (40-80 euros) are usually dual-band, i.e. you won't be able to use it in the US. I think that you could look for a quad-band on eBay or some cheaper market in the US.

fiy123 · 07-03-2008, 18:46

Yea im specifically asking the stores that I ask if they are Quad Band, Im not going to buy a phone that I can only use overseas.

So far not alot of luck, the only one that I found in stock near me in brooklyn was a nec e132 which wont work in the US lol

PhotoJim · 07-03-2008, 19:50

Inexpensive and quad band:

Motorola RAZR V3
Motorola V551

The V3 is a nice little phone. Should be easily available for under $100 now.

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	(#1 (permalink))
fiy123 (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 9 Join Date: 07 Mar 2008 Country:	Buying whole prepaid phones? - 07-03-2008, 12:46 Hey guys, So im traveling to italy in a week and ive done extensive searching on the web but I still cant find the answer to my question In the states I have verizon, therefore no phone I own will work on the italian GSM networks Can you purchase a Entire prepaid phone package when in italy, Including the Phone and SIM? I know in the U.S. you can buy a prepaid phone for about 60 dollars which includes the phone and SIM, Is this offered in italy at the airports or any other small shops? and how much do they cost? Will I also have to get a Codice Fiscale If i buy this package? Thanks Joe

	(#2 (permalink))
Motel75 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Pioneer Posts: 509 Join Date: 15 Jun 2006 Location: Berlin Country:	07-03-2008, 13:22 Yes, you can. Some airports have them, some don't, otherwise there are company shops all over the place (though it would make sense to look up the addresses before you go to save time). Use the codice fiscale calculator to make one up, or if you want, go to any tax office and get a real one (takes 20 minutes if you're lucky). Current DE: Edeka Mobile, Netzklub, Lidl Mobile; PL: Heyah; UK: Giffgaff; US: T-Mobile; IT: Vodafone; FR: B&You Former DE: Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2, Blauworld, 01051mobile, Solomo, Lycamobile, Simyo, Congstar, Fonic; PL: Era, Sami Swoi, Orange, POP, iPlus, Heyah, Carrefour Mova, Telepin Mobi, Play; UK: Vodafone, T-Mobile, Virgin; US: T-Mobile, AT&T CZ: Vodafone, Oskar; ES: Lebara; GR: Vodafone, Wind; TR: Turkcell

	(#3 (permalink))
fiy123 (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 9 Join Date: 07 Mar 2008 Country:	07-03-2008, 14:04 Thanks for the quick response, How many euros do they generally run? Im just trying to figure out if i should pick u a GSM phone from chinatown nyc before I go and just get a SIM since the dollar SUCKS Thanks!

	(#4 (permalink))
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 377 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	07-03-2008, 15:36 I'd recommend you get an unlocked quad-band GSM phone somewhere, perhaps locally before you go. That way you can use it on other foreign trips, and you can use it with T-Mobile and AT&T in the US if you want to. GSM: CA: SaskTel (postpaid voice/data,,postpaid data), Rogers (postpaid data); UK: Orange, 3; CH: Swisscom; AT: tele.ring; US: T-Mobile, AT&T, Red Pocket Mobile, Telestial Simple Calling; EE: AirBalticcard CDMA: US: PagePlus Hardware: iPhone 4, iPhone 3G, Nokia E63, Nokia Nuron, Novatel Ovation MC950D & MC998D data sticks, Huawei UG1691 data stick (3G AWS), Motorola RAZR V3, Sony-Ericsson K610i, Sony-Ericsson Z310i, Otech F1 (quad sim) (all unlocked)

	(#5 (permalink))
fiy123 (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 9 Join Date: 07 Mar 2008 Country:	07-03-2008, 17:26 So just to clarify, I just got my Fsical Code and printed it out, when I go to buy a SIM/Phone I just hand them the entire printed out page or cut out the little card thing? also if someone knew how much euro the pack with phone/sim is in rome that would be great! Thanks again for all your help! Joe

	(#7 (permalink))
fiy123 (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 9 Join Date: 07 Mar 2008 Country:	07-03-2008, 17:51 Alright good stuff, Looks like im going to be running around the next week trying to find one in the states, thanks again guys.

	(#8 (permalink))
Effendi (Offline) The great Dictator! Prepaid Prophet Posts: 2,430 Join Date: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Trieste/Trst Country:	07-03-2008, 18:31 Consider that most phones you get at cheap prices (40-80 euros) are usually dual-band, i.e. you won't be able to use it in the US. I think that you could look for a quad-band on eBay or some cheaper market in the US. Working Prepaids: IT: Wind, Vodafone IT, UNO Mobile; SM: Prima; UK: 3, Virgin; INT: TravelSIM, Truphone. Deceased Prepaids: CZ: Oskar, Eurotel; SK: Orange; DE: E-Plus, Aldi, Simyo; GE: Geocell; AM: Armentel; PL: Heyah, Plus; LT: Tele2; LV: Amigo; EE: Elisa; UA: Kyivstar; NZ: Vodafone; INT: UM, UM+, ICQSim. GSM/3G Phones: Nokia Lumia 800, Samsung Galaxy Nexus

	(#9 (permalink))
fiy123 (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 9 Join Date: 07 Mar 2008 Country:	07-03-2008, 18:46 Yea im specifically asking the stores that I ask if they are Quad Band, Im not going to buy a phone that I can only use overseas. So far not alot of luck, the only one that I found in stock near me in brooklyn was a nec e132 which wont work in the US lol

	(#10 (permalink))
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 377 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	07-03-2008, 19:50 Inexpensive and quad band: Motorola RAZR V3 Motorola V551 The V3 is a nice little phone. Should be easily available for under $100 now. GSM: CA: SaskTel (postpaid voice/data,,postpaid data), Rogers (postpaid data); UK: Orange, 3; CH: Swisscom; AT: tele.ring; US: T-Mobile, AT&T, Red Pocket Mobile, Telestial Simple Calling; EE: AirBalticcard CDMA: US: PagePlus Hardware: iPhone 4, iPhone 3G, Nokia E63, Nokia Nuron, Novatel Ovation MC950D & MC998D data sticks, Huawei UG1691 data stick (3G AWS), Motorola RAZR V3, Sony-Ericsson K610i, Sony-Ericsson Z310i, Otech F1 (quad sim) (all unlocked)