What is the best way to get temporary cell phone service while traveling? I’m most interested in New Zealand. I hear that you can get a prepaid SIM card. Where do I get those? Will that work in my ATT phone? Can you get those cheap prepaid phones? Will that allow me to call the US?
Just get a cheap prepaid phone
I have a US AT&T phone and buy a prepaid SIM from NZ VodaFone when I go to NZ on business.
Works great for local calls in NZ.
I *think *the charge to call back to the States on that SIM is stupid expensive. OTOH, it might be reasonable; I’ve haven’t checked in a long time. When I’m in NZ & need to call the US I use my laptop & our company VOIP system.
Ok, first off make sure your GSM phone is unlocked and can handle either 850/2100 MHz (Telecom) or 900/1800/2100 MHz (Vodafone and friends) (from GSM World)
We’ve had a couple of new companies start up on 900/1800 MHz. Look at 2degreesmobile. For pre-paid, I don’t think you can get much better. NZ$0.49 local or USA, NZ$0.09 texts, NZ$0.50 MB
But Vodafone has 100MB “free” data on new prepay right now, so it may be worth the higher rates if your hardware will work.
If you need to be on the Telecom XT Network, rates are similar to VF at NZ$0.89min local and USA, NZ$0.20 local text/NZ$0.30 international text, and NZ$1.00 per day for 10MB max.
Just had a quick poke around the Pirate shop and there’s some sub NZ$100 Nokia phones (1650,1202,1208) though these are pretty basic. Some of these parallel imported phones aren’t fully compatible with our networks too. My brother talked to them about what he wanted to do and they told him to get the same model from VF as their version was crippled.
The VF 1208 is NZ$99, Parallel Imported is NZ$72, plus you got to get to the one shop, where VF shops are everywhere. 2degrees has cheap phones too. Can’t say if these are locked.
Or you might be able to borrow a phone from someone? Most people have something spare lying around, though the battery may be dead. A pirate battery isn’t much. I gave a phone to a tourist a couple of years ago. My new-new one died a few months ago, so I’m back to my solid 5140i.