How do I buy a pre-paid phone( with card) in Florence

clueless · **How do I buy a pre-paid phone( with card) in Florence -** 12-04-2013, 20:00

Help!!! I am completely clueless about mobile phones, but need to have one in Italy ( Florence) for 2 weeks. What is the best way of buying a phone ( no data required) for our time in Italy? Can I just buy a pre-paid simple "phone" at one of the big 3 suppliers? So far, this site has been very helpful...I have gone from no knowledge to at least some......

sperial · 13-04-2013, 11:55

You need a SIM free (=unlocked) phone supporting the European bands - GSM 900/1800. For certain netoworks (e.g. "Three") you will need a 3G phone supporting the 2100 band.
Canadian networks use different frequency bands, and AFAIK Canadian mobile carriers sell SIM locked phones, which will not accept a "foreign" SIM card. On the other hand, any Italian shop will be happy to sell you a SIM free phone.

clueless · 13-04-2013, 15:00

Thanks....very reassuring: amazing how difficult it is to actually find simple info from the sellers' website

any more info on price, best phones ( cheap), carrier, all appreciated

gkeeper · 13-04-2013, 15:47

if you just want something cheap and cheerful for calls and SMS back to Canada, piranha mobile do a basic handset and Sim with £5.00 credit for £24.00. Looks like its free shipping to Canada, Piranha Mobile. There are many roaming sim companies but i cannot see any that do an all in one solution. I cannot be 100% sure on this, you will have to research:>).
gkeeper.

clueless · 13-04-2013, 16:40

thanks for that...will investigate.....we actually just need it within Italy

rfranzq · 13-04-2013, 21:20

I would second the motion of getting the Piranha phone/SIM. Price: $36.85 US$
You would have it before your trip so no hassle when it Italy. [=peace of mind and more time]. It is a flashlight also! It is a dualband phone so you will not be able to test it in Canada. But getting it before you leave will save a lot of potential grief.

Effendi · 15-04-2013, 08:40

You can get the Nokia 100 for about 30€ including 5€ of prepaid airtime at Wind store in Italy. And probably also at TIM and Vodafone, if you prefer. It's really cheap.

Punk808 · 27-05-2013, 11:23

In many stores they have many basic cell phones, for like 30-40 euros in italy, and same as in canada we have Wind here in italy

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	(#1)
clueless (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 3 Join Date: 12 Apr 2013 Country:	How do I buy a pre-paid phone( with card) in Florence - 12-04-2013, 20:00 Help!!! I am completely clueless about mobile phones, but need to have one in Italy ( Florence) for 2 weeks. What is the best way of buying a phone ( no data required) for our time in Italy? Can I just buy a pre-paid simple "phone" at one of the big 3 suppliers? So far, this site has been very helpful...I have gone from no knowledge to at least some......

	(#2)
sperial (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 74 Join Date: 22 Jun 2011 Country:	13-04-2013, 11:55 You need a SIM free (=unlocked) phone supporting the European bands - GSM 900/1800. For certain netoworks (e.g. "Three") you will need a 3G phone supporting the 2100 band. Canadian networks use different frequency bands, and AFAIK Canadian mobile carriers sell SIM locked phones, which will not accept a "foreign" SIM card. On the other hand, any Italian shop will be happy to sell you a SIM free phone.

	(#3)
clueless (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 3 Join Date: 12 Apr 2013 Country:	13-04-2013, 15:00 Thanks....very reassuring: amazing how difficult it is to actually find simple info from the sellers' website any more info on price, best phones ( cheap), carrier, all appreciated

	(#4)
gkeeper (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Fan Posts: 112 Join Date: 27 Sep 2012 Country:	13-04-2013, 15:47 if you just want something cheap and cheerful for calls and SMS back to Canada, piranha mobile do a basic handset and Sim with £5.00 credit for £24.00. Looks like its free shipping to Canada, Piranha Mobile. There are many roaming sim companies but i cannot see any that do an all in one solution. I cannot be 100% sure on this, you will have to research:>). gkeeper.

	(#5)
clueless (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 3 Join Date: 12 Apr 2013 Country:	13-04-2013, 16:40 thanks for that...will investigate.....we actually just need it within Italy

	(#6)
rfranzq (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 774 Join Date: 21 Apr 2009 Country:	13-04-2013, 21:20 I would second the motion of getting the Piranha phone/SIM. Price: $36.85 US$ You would have it before your trip so no hassle when it Italy. [=peace of mind and more time]. It is a flashlight also! It is a dualband phone so you will not be able to test it in Canada. But getting it before you leave will save a lot of potential grief.

	(#7)
Effendi (Offline) The great Dictator! Prepaid Prophet Posts: 2,487 Join Date: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Trieste/Trst Country:	15-04-2013, 08:40 You can get the Nokia 100 for about 30€ including 5€ of prepaid airtime at Wind store in Italy. And probably also at TIM and Vodafone, if you prefer. It's really cheap. 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 630 dual sim

	(#8)
Punk808 (Offline) Junior Member Amateur Member Posts: 10 Join Date: 24 Jan 2013 Country:	27-05-2013, 11:23 In many stores they have many basic cell phones, for like 30-40 euros in italy, and same as in canada we have Wind here in italy