Quote:
Originally Posted by supersnoop
petkow - I meant that most Prepaid GSM SIM's advertise "0.19 per minute" but, when you find the "to a mobile" price, it's "0.49," or 2.5 times higher.
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I'm still confused!
What operator is this? Can you post a link? Are you sure you are talking about normal European Prepaid SIM's from National operators? e.g.
PrePaidGSM.net: National GSM Operators
In the past it was quite common for mobile operators in Europe to have a rate for calling landlines and same network mobiles, and a separate rate for mobiles on other networks, but as far as I know, hardly any mobile operators anywhere in Europe now make this distinction.
Or are you taking about the rates for specialist roaming SIM's, such as EKit, GeoSIM, TravelSIM etc.? i.e. the ones that appear on
PrePaidGSM.net: International GSM Operators
These all have much higher prices for outgoing calls, and in many cases do make distinctions between landlines and mobile. This is because usually these rely on outgoing calls using callback technology, and generally wholesale rates of calling a mobile are more expensive than a landline.
However, I do not think a product like this is what you really need! As you are just going to a handful of countries, just pick up some inexpensive national SIMs in each country you visit, or if worst comes to worst, buy them in the first country and roam with them in the rest and be prepared to pay a small incoming call charge plus slightly higher outgoing rates. As long as you stay within the EU, the rates and incoming charges on these when roaming outside of their home country are now capped by legislation. Also, as your parents are only joining you later (I presume Germany), just pick up another bunch of SIM's there. SIM's are so cheap these days, that you can almost treat them as disposable items. They often come with at least the same amount in call credit than what you paid for them! You can also buy them in all sorts of convenient places like supermarkets or "grocery stores" to you Americans... e.g. The Medion (Aldi) SIM can be bought in Aldi supermarkets and gives you 10 Euros of credit for I think 15 Euros purchase price. Calling from one Aldi Mobile to another is only 3c/min. I am sure our German members will suggest even better deals!