Database Info

[Q] Taking my captivate overseas

Hello all,
This fall I will be travelling overseas to Sweden for a semester of study. I'd like to be able to take my captivate with me and just buy a pay-as-you-go or contractless phone/data plan from a provider in europe when I get there.
However I have no experience with european providers or what the cheapest and most effective way to communicate internationally and locally(in Sweden and across Europe) would be. Even less where to start looking, so:
Can anyone point in the right direction for some resources to find out what my easiest options would be?
Do I have to unlock my phone(at&t) in order to use another provider?
Does the Captivate support the bands needed for 3G/calling in Europe?
Could I potentially buy a data-only plan and use skype over 3G for calling?
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks!

I would also like to know, hope this goes somewhere

You may want to ask in the i9000 forum. But to my knowledge you can add a overseas plan to your att plan and you get charged a lesser amt for your minutes.
You should be able to buy a pay as you go sim when you get over there as well.

I'm not sure about Sweden, but I recently went to the U.K. for work and I took my unlocked captivate with me. I got a local SIM card when I got there and had absolutely no problems at all and it was a lot cheaper than any plan AT&T had.
I went to Mexico once for a week and used one of those plans from AT&T and my bill was $150 higher that month.

When I visited France I hadn't yet unlocked my phone (which would be my first recommendation, then buy just data once there) and I used GVoice Callback (GV Dialer does the same) in conjunction with Sipdroid (of Fring) and a SIP phone number from SipGate to make free calls from France to US landlines via hotel wifi.
Here are some links with info to configure what I describe:
http://goo.gl/M1vj1 (this is a summary of my configuration)
http://goo.gl/sZhVw
http://goo.gl/63yD
http://goo.gl/gUIHF
Staying w/ AT&T when overseas will be expensive.

socrated13 said:
Hello all,
This fall I will be travelling overseas to Sweden for a semester of study. I'd like to be able to take my captivate with me and just buy a pay-as-you-go or contractless phone/data plan from a provider in europe when I get there.
However I have no experience with european providers or what the cheapest and most effective way to communicate internationally and locally(in Sweden and across Europe) would be. Even less where to start looking, so:
Can anyone point in the right direction for some resources to find out what my easiest options would be?
Do I have to unlock my phone(at&t) in order to use another provider?
Does the Captivate support the bands needed for 3G/calling in Europe?
Could I potentially buy a data-only plan and use skype over 3G for calling?
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe this link will answer your question:
http://www.worldtimezone.com/gsm.html
They use the 2100Mhz UMTS band, (which we also use over here in Malaysia)
And it will work.
( got mine unlocked by default though, get superoneclick to unlock your cappy)

Call ATT and ask them to give you an unlock code. Otherwise it won't accept a non-ATT simcard

I used my unlocked Captivate in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic. No problems in any of the countries roaming on an AT&T SIM or a local pre-paid card. I used an O2 MVNO in Germany and Vodafone in Prague.
Some of the common carriers in Europe are T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2, and Orange. I'd check carriers local to where you are. Vodafone was much more expensive in Germany than it was in Czech Republic. T-Mobile tended to be on the expensive side anywhere.
Vodafone in Czech Republic was $30 for unlimited data. Most carriers will charge you 5 or 10 euros (of the equivalent in local currency) to buy the SIM, and there will be about 10 euros of credit on there.
I'd get Google Voice and use that to call back to the US. That way you only pay for data and avoid text/voice charges.
Good luck!

DarkDvr said:
Call ATT and ask them to give you an unlock code. Otherwise it won't accept a non-ATT simcard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or just use SGS unlock tool and you can unlock it in less than 5 minutes.

[Q] Travel to Europe

Ok... Questions. I'm going to Europe in a few months. Currently on T-MO US with a Radar. What is the best way to get internet over there? I'll be in Italy, London, etc. I know what to do once I'm online, i.e., via Skype, Google Talk, SIP clients, etc. but what is the best solution for internet access on the go? I don't care whether it is tablet, phone or laptop. I can figure out tethering and what not. I just need to know how to have broadband internet from wherever I am. Is it something like this: http://www.trustive.com/price-plans/?
Are there other solution? Should I just put an overseas sim in an unlocked device? Are there better carriers? Best roaming? Etc.
THANKS

Bump........

The radar i believe has the capability of roaming in Italy but i would recommend you unlock it and get a sim when you get there.

Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A

I think the roaming is pretty expensive - so I'd buy a prepaid simcard.
If you visit Germany I'd recommend "AldiTalk" - it's not the best mobile network but the cheapest simcard with cheap flatrates.

So there isn't one good global solution, huh? No one used Trustive?

Uuuhmm... I don't think so - but I've heard about an Irish Carrier - don't know the name yet - which you could use. The roaming fee's aren't as high as on the other carriers...

The best thing you can do is get a SIM card in each of the countries you are gonna visit and use their system. Roaming would be very expensive.

i think the cheapest solution is to get new sim, pre-payed one for each country, so you got the whole connectivity in mobile data with no issue and no fees with roaming and other things like this
edit :just checked on the link you posted, even more confident in a new sim, in Italy you can get a new one for 1Gb month, with something like 5 euros with most of the carriers

Ah i found it - you can buy an irish sim card via ebay - i think the carrier is meteor or vodafone with very cheap roaming fees...

BUMP........

[Q] Best SIM card for UK Travel

I will be in the UK (London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness...) in a couple weeks and trying to figure out where to get a SIM card for my P5100.
Which providers will have the best coverage in the bands that P5100 supports?
I have been told “wait and buy a SIM card once you arrive in London”... But what stores can I walk into to buy a SIM?
Vodafone is the only provider I found that has stores you can walk into. Others (GiffGaff, Three, ...) you must have the SIM shipped to a UK address.
Thanks!

Go into any phone shop , o2 , Orange , Tmobile , Carphone Wharehouse , Phones4U. Websites have full details of plans and sim specs.
I have an 02 phone and a Tmobile one. Both pretty similar in service. o2 would be best for o2 to o2 calls and texts , maybe data .
T mobile is fairly cheap for cross network calls and data. Think Orange is fairly decent for Data , not sure about calls to be honest. I take it you will be using a " pay as you go" top up service ? Sims start at around £1.00 , Sometimes the shops give them away for free, just to get some custom as you normally top up with credit when you get a sim.Obviously check out the sims first to make sure they are what you want.Not really sure what kind of usage you need ?
Argos ( general store that sells absolutely everything) sell all sims at £1.00, just checked for you. They have stores nationwide and have branches in most towns. They even have a store locator on the website.Not sure if that would be any good for you , but its an option.
If your coming to London , bring a water proof jacket with you lol Oooh I love London :laugh:

Using phone in Turkey

Hi guys, im going to turkey for a 2 weeks next month. I was hoping to pick up a micro sim on PAYG or such so I can have 3G while im away without ending up getting a bill that would make a lottery winner choke.
From what I've read you have to register your IMEI number over there if you dont your phone stops working after 15 days, but as Im not staying for that long Im not sure it would matter. Though id appreciate some advice on that.
Also any advice on network to use to give cheap or unlimited data (I dont care about texts and calls), and possibly coverage (im staying around Marmaris) would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

I'm from Holland and staying in turkey for some time. It's true after some days your phone gets blocked from using Turkish network, if you don't register it here. However as you said that won't be a problem for you. I suggest you to get an Avea sim card since I have had the best experience with them coverage wise. As far as I remember you can get 500mb and 100 minutes/SMS for 20 Turkish lira. Which is rather cheap. So I really suggest you to take an Avea sim card
Sent from a galaxy far away.

When I went to turkey i ended up using an Ekit international SIM (Get them on EBAY),
Data is 0.25gbp per Mb
I topped up by 10gbp online and got another 30gbp or so free to use, came back from turkey with about 6gbp left on the SIM.
It was a lot easier than trying to find the tax office, register the IMEI then find an mobile phone shop and get a SIM - more time to be on the beach/by the pool
Enjoy Turkey, Happy travels
Gavin

Returning for refund via Digital River (HTC UK)

So I bought a Sapphire Blue 128/6GB Dual Sim U11 and discovered it does not have Wifi Calling and Voice Over LTE for the EE network in the UK.
I only bought this phone just before Christmas day and trying to get a response from HTC is like trying to get blood out of a stone.
I tried through the support pages on HTC UK and got no response, then tried through the Digital River page to contact HTC.
Eventually get a response and they want me to post the phone to Janki, ul. Falencka 1B, Raszyn, 05-090, Poland
Is this correct?
I then received a separate ticket with a sheet to attach to the order, I opened the PDF and it's for a repair! I don't want the device repaired as it is working perfectly fine, just not adequate for my needs and want to return it for a refund.
Tempted to stick the thing on eBay and cut my losses if this is how incompetent HTC are at customer service.

Digitalriver seems to be a software delivery company. Do not send it to them unless you bought it from them.
The problem isn't the phone. It is the carrier. EE only allow branded phones to use their facilities on pay monthly contracts. WiFi calling isn't available on ee payg.
As the phone isn't faulty you're not entitled to a refund. If the phone is capable of wifi calling in the advertising but you can't find *excluding ee* then it isn't sold as advertised under the Trade Descriptions Act. The seller would have to either make it work or refund you.
If you bought it from HTC directly then you'll have to contact them. You can contact HTC via their .com website and choose the support section, live chat. This is best at around 7pm UK time as this works out around 2pm Eastern USA, 9am Western. I spoke to them myself yesterday at that time for a question I had.
You could ask EE if there is any way that they can manually provision the phone to use wifi calling..

shivadow said:
Digitalriver seems to be a software delivery company. Do not send it to them unless you bought it from them.
The problem isn't the phone. It is the carrier. EE only allow branded phones to use their facilities on pay monthly contracts. WiFi calling isn't available on ee payg.
As the phone isn't faulty you're not entitled to a refund. If the phone is capable of wifi calling in the advertising but you can't find *excluding ee* then it isn't sold as advertised under the Trade Descriptions Act. The seller would have to either make it work or refund you.
If you bought it from HTC directly then you'll have to contact them. You can contact HTC via their .com website and choose the support section, live chat. This is best at around 7pm UK time as this works out around 2pm Eastern USA, 9am Western. I spoke to them myself yesterday at that time for a question I had.
You could ask EE if there is any way that they can manually provision the phone to use wifi calling..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling works fine on the U11 on stock unbranded firmware. The reason it isn't there on the dual sim model is simply because EE carrier settings seem to be amiss on dual sim firmware. Wouldn't surprise me if op flashed custom ROMs that support dual sim firmware and managed to get both working.
2. You have 14 days to return any product or cancel any contract for ANY reason apart from personalised products or earphones
Op, contact them again via live chat between 9am-6pm or phone them 0203 684 5000 and talk to them directly

Galactus said:
1. VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling works fine on the U11 on stock unbranded firmware. The reason it isn't there on the dual sim model is simply because EE carrier settings seem to be amiss on dual sim firmware. Wouldn't surprise me if op flashed custom ROMs that support dual sim firmware and managed to get both working.
2. You have 14 days to return any product or cancel any contract for ANY reason apart from personalised products or earphones
Op, contact them again via live chat between 9am-6pm or phone them 0203 684 5000 and talk to them directly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
14 days only if it is faulty, not as described, not satisfactory or not fit for purpose and you must tell them in writing within 14 days but is not a given as it purely up to the "retailers" refund policy.
Please give correct information as you are another who doesn't know the law.
Here is a link that will break it down to layman's so you can understand it in future: https://www.money.co.uk/guides/your-refund-rights-explained.htm
Also the 30 day contract cooling off period doesn't apply as he didn't get it on contract from ee or htc. He bought the device direct and loaded his own sim.
Thanks.

shivadow said:
14 days only if it is faulty, not as described, not satisfactory or not fit for purpose and you must tell them in writing within 14 days but is not a given as it purely up to the "retailers" refund policy.
Please give correct information as you are another who doesn't know the law.
Here is a link that will break it down to layman's so you can understand it in future: https://www.money.co.uk/guides/your-refund-rights-explained.htm
Also the 30 day contract cooling off period doesn't apply as he didn't get it on contract from ee or htc. He bought the device direct and loaded his own sim.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you talking about.
Firstly, your own link states
When you buy goods online, over the phone or by post you have 14 days' grace after receiving your order (or signing up to a service) to change your mind and cancel, and this can be for any reason.
You will be protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which apply if you buy something away from the seller's premises, such as at home or at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Secondly, I have returned many products purchased online within 14 days with zero hassle from everyone apart from very.co.uk who crumbled too once I mentioned the distance selling regulations.
It would seem you are the one who doesn't know UK law lol
Let me also add my own source
Online, mail and phone order sales
Online, mail and telephone order customers have the right to cancel their order for a limited time even if the goods aren’t faulty. Sales of this kind are known as ‘distance selling’.
You must offer a refund to customers if they’ve told you within 14 days of receiving their goods that they want to cancel. They have another 14 days to return the goods once they’ve told you.
You must refund the customer within 14 days of receiving the goods back. They don’t have to provide a reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.gov.uk/accepting-returns-and-giving-refunds
Op, you're dangerously close to being outside of the 14 day window.

Let me explain myself a little better, I was in a bit of a rush when I wrote the original message. I already own a Black U11 4GB UK model and wished I bought the Sapphire Blue when I saw one in the flesh, decided to for a small upgrade hence the 128GB, 6GB memory and dual sim. My Black 4GB model is still within the extended return window from Amazon as I bought it in December.
After reading around about a lot of hassle trying to get a refund from HTC directly I may just stick with the Blue 128GB phone as I don't want to be chasing a refund for months on end, I can still send back my 4GB black model to Amazon. Plus I'm pretty much past the 14 day window seeing as HTC took so long to respond to me.
My 4GB Black model is unbranded and HTC_001 and supports Wifi Calling and Voice Over LTE as it popped up when I put my EE sim in.
I guess I could always root the dual sim model if I really wanted the network features, I've not had Wifi Calling before so that's not so much an issue but I had Voice Over LTE on my HTC One M9, it's a feature I would miss but it's not the end of the world.
Has there been anyone that has managed to Wifi Calling + Voice Over LTE working after rooting the phone, what firmware to flash etc?

Just thought I'd add an update.
Updated the phone to Oreo, Wifi calling and Voice Over LTE is now working
I will be keeping this phone.