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Originally Posted by MATHA531
My basic use of the cards has always been to receive anyway with very very limited calling out...other than the UK and apprently Italy calling North America on local sims is very expensive and no cheaper than using my own home carrier (T Mobile US) and its overpriced international roaming rates..
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Everyone's needs, phone calling habits, skills are different. The family and I speak German and have German friends and relatives whom we often call. Due to CALLER PAYS, they usually DON'T call us. We do give out cell #s to our USA relatives, etc, but apart from ME calling to my wife and son last summer, nobody has ever called us. We do call amongst ourselves, too. The need for voicemail and instructions in English is also not essential for us.
I cannot exactly remember -- it has been 2 years -- but I don't believe either of my D1 cards allowed us to reach the ATT German 800 number. The ATT # was reachable from the hotel room and we were able to pick up local calling cards. That was before I picked up a Riiing card and CBW and a new SIMYO card for my wife last July. I have one of the D1 cards tied to an XtraOne as a local number for the Enjoyprepaid (Nobelcom) LD service and that usually worked well, even for dialing to local German #s in the day instead of 79 e-cents per minute.
Not to be totally contrary, as you, I cannot recommend using the home carrier with its overpriced roaming rates -- except for those who would be travelling once for just a short time. My Riiing card is currently loaned out in Jamaica. My theory is that if you ask around, someone can usually help out with a loaner SIM/phone. A friend was going to Portugal on business and he declined the offer of the Riiing card as he had access to a Portugese SIM.
Stan