US Carrier for Prepaid + Roaming in Europe?
 

Does anyone know of a US carrier that offers a prepaid sim that can allow roaming in Europe (France/Germany, specifically)?

I would like to port my US number to a prepaid account while I will be in Europe for two months because I won't be using it to make any calls, but I would still like to be able to receive text messages (from people who don't know I'm out of the country). The calls I would forward (unconditionally) to Google Voicemail.

Both T-Mobile and AT&T offer prepaid GSM but without the option to receive text messages in Europe. Does anyone else offer both?

Thanks for any help!

Unfortunately, this is precisely the reason I end up having to stay on postpaid even though prepaid pricing is looking pretty attractive now that both GSM operators in the US have data. I suppose your best option is getting a used T-Mobile BlackBerry that has UMA like the 8120, 8320, or 8900, putting it into WiFi-only mode, and porting your number to T-Mobile prepaid & connecting to WiFi when in Europe. You won't be charged any roaming charges as the connection is like turning the WiFi access point into a US tower & you can use both voice & SMS over the connection just like you do within the US. There is a plan T-Mobile offers for 15 $/month that gives you unlimited SMS & 10 cents/min voice.

I only know of one prepaid international SIM with ability to port a US number.
 

Truphone allows porting a number. I am not sure how easy it is to do and I don't know if it comes close to your needs. SMS is free to receive everywhere. Voicemail is available.

Does anyone else know of any international SIMs with the ability to port an american number to it?

Hi, filmfly. I've had such problem as you, but find a decision. You can try mytravelphone sim cards. Incoming calls are free in Germany, France, Italy etc. (117 countries with free incoming calls).
Germany: incoming calls - free, outgoing calls - $0.49, incoming sms - free, outgoing sms - $0.40
France: incoming calls - free, outgoing calls - $0.49, incoming sms - free, outgoing sms - $0.40

They have website, just type in google search mytravelphone dot net

The TelnaMobile SIM has a US number with free incoming SMS. It is not prepaid but costs only $19/yr + usage charged to your credit card. Calls are priced reasonably but data and SMS sending is a bit spendy.

Another option might be using Google Voice. I'm not sure if GV will forward SMS to a foreign mobile, though.

Last time I tried, Google Voice wasn't able to forward SMS to a non-North American number (nor voice calls).

However, Google Voice DOES send a copy of each received sms to email, so you could port your number to GV and get your texts via email (or just tell people a new number, your GV number).

I've no idea how well the sending of texts to your number would work after porting if it's from an automated service such as a bank (the sort where you have to specify your carrier).

T-Mobile USA now allows roaming in Europe!

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/c...llingRates.pdf

Not the greatest prices, and a very slipshod list (outdated network names, spelling mistakes, etc.) but I just tested it in Germany and it does indeed work. I wonder if the omission of the UK from the list is an oversight (Britain is also a T-Mobile country) or something that will be added later.

Cool, but no data roaming in Europe according to the doc...

T-Zones works - the doc must be wrong. I also received an SMS warning of data prices "up to $15/MB". Imight try it again to see how much it really costs.

FWIW, are any T-Mobile USA users in the UK or the other missing countries reading this who can test whether it works?