Upcoming Trip / Mobile Phone Information

I'll start by saying that I've read through about a gazillion posts here on IM regarding the hows/whys/wheres/etc to mobile phones. I'm more confused than ever!!

We are coming to New Delhi, doing the typical bopping round Delhi, to Agra, to Jaipur and then back to Delhi. From there we fly to Nagpur for a wedding, stay one week then back to New Delhi to prepare for trip back to East Coast.

As I am TRYING to understand ... I can get a phone, get a SIM ... but that SIM may not work everywhere we go? Is there a SIM that WILL work. Our friends in Nagpur want to keep in touch with us regarding our plans and we want to be able to call hotels, cars, AND our spouses back in the U.S. We are staying at the Oberoi Maidens Hotel and want to work out the phone business on our first morning. So please ... if someone could detail the process ... starting with WHERE to go to purchase the phone (new or used), how to get the SIM, what we need to have with us to do so, and any other pertinent details.

THANK YOU.

ScarletLSG

hmmm yes....the volume of information in IM re mobiles is a bit daunting isn't it. If you intend buying both the phone and sim here in India then you shouldn't have any problem getting a deal that covers the whole country (and allows overseas calls). Just be aware that while in other parts of the world - when you purchase a phone all the services are automatically provided (i.e - national tolls, international calling, roaming, voice mail, etc) - here they are extras and you have to specify that they are made available. In some cases they may be an extra charge (hence for international calls you may be required to provide a deposit for that service). Browse some of the mobile websites and you'll soon see.

http://www.airtel.in/
http://www.vodafone.in/vodafone/main.aspx
http://www.rcom.co.in/Communications..._homepage.html
http://www.tataindicom.com/t-personal-mobile.aspx


In terms of providers - Airtel seem to be a favourite both in terms of coverage and service. Vodafone is here as well. On the CDMA side you have Reliance and Tata indicom.

The most difficult part will be going through all the processes/ paperwork to actually get the phone up and running (especially if you only have a limited time to get that done). Copy of your passport and visa are minimum requirements for a prepay. Re location to get this done? If you're staying at the Oberoi than they could probably advise where the nearest cell phone shop is (you will not be first hotel guest to ask for help with this, so chances are they probably have an established relationship with a shop nearby). I'm sure one of the other Delhi regulars (Shashank, Dilliwalla, etc) will be able to provide some ideas on shops to go to as well.

happy travels

Mobile connections are very easy to procure and you can easilt spot the shops that have them...

I guess this would the last thing you should be worried about..keep the copy of your PP and a PP size photograph ready...

Go for a Airtel Pre-paid connection for complete peace of mind..

If I say that its as easy as buying a Cola in Delhi, then it would not be exaggerating !!

Bold mine.

An Airtel prepaid connection is ideal, will work almost everywhere in big cities and smaller ones too. BSNL/MTNL have better coverage in remote areas, hilly areas etc, but thats not on your beat.

International calls, roaming etc are automatic, no deposits.

Can be topped up in other cities too. Least headache.

Another question. Last year I've bought my SIM in Delhi - and the connection was good almost everywhere we were... but when our balance started to finish - we were told, that we can't refill it in Rajasthan... So our phone became useless - thanks god one of my friends went back to Delhi and refill our balance.

This time i'm goint to the South - Goa, Kerala, Tamil-Nadu, Karnataka. We'll get our SIM in Mumbai. Which mobile operator should we use in the region to have an ability to refill our balance in other cities of the South?

In Hyderabad, I have topped up an Airtel prepaid card bought in Delhi.

I understand this facility is widely available.

http://www.reachouthyderabad.com/bus...ews/atjan3.htm

In any case, this is not neccessary; anybody in Delhi can do this for you. The phone is not required.

THANKS ALL. I'll definitely look at the AirTel option upon arrival. Really appreciate hearing that this won't be a HUGE prblem. I've taken the time to ensure I have extra photocopies of Passport/Visa and also extra Photos taken, just for these types of things!!

AGAIN - Thanks to the fabulous India Mikers!!!!

ScarletLSG

This thread is helping us as well.
My wife and I will be traveling around India for a month in Jan 08. I was wondering if it was possible to purchase the AirTel SIM before leaving USA ?

How can you purchase before leaving ???? you need to physically have it to put in the mobile phone !!

Exactly -- Is there a distributor in the US for AirTel SIMS, so that when we arrive, we are ready to go ? We will have an unlocked quad band shortly.

Shubh Deepavali !

Doubt you will get an Airtel simcard distributor in the US.

Can we recharge our prepaid airtel cards online? through our credit card?

I was able to find a car/driver that has already purchased for us a used mobile phone and an AirTel Sim charged with R1000. The phone cost was R2000. After getting the phone and Sim, he sent us the number and will give it to us when we arrive. Don't get there until next Wednesday ... so can't say for sure if this is as good as it sounds ... but I'll let everyone know, for sure!

LisaG

Hi, I went to "the Mobile Store" in Connaught Place, Delhi, and got a new nokia phone for Rs1600, and a prepaid airtel card for Rs250 (it included Rs100 worth of minutes). I didn't have too much of a problem charging up my card from other places (I recharged in Agra and Aurangabad).

The only thing I'd recommend doing is asking for a copy of the taxes/top up. It's wierd, but apparently you get a different ratio of available Rs vs. paid Rs.

For example - say you pay Rs600 you may only get Rs400 worth of minutes available on your phone (66% of what you paid). But if you pay Rs400 you may get Rs300 worth of minutes (75%) of what you paid.

These ratios vary among cities or states (I'm not sure which), but you will pay the rates depending on where you buy your sim card - e.g. Delhi cards have different rating schemes than Agra ones and when in Agra, you will pay according to the Delhi scheme.
None of the places that I topped up at knew what the rates were for Delhi - this was a bit of a pain. I think that the rates can also be found online but I'm not sure.

My phone worked well everywhere - from Mt Abu, Jaisalmer, Varanasi, Delhi, Goa and Mumbai. I was quite impressed.

I hope this helps.

Yes, the taxes make it confusing. Also because Airtel has schemes on offer, sometimes. For example, I recently paid 1111 rupees for 1111 rupees talktime, no effective taxes- but this was for no additional validity (no of days the card stays active), which was ok, as my phone ran out of cash well before it ran out of time.

Rates can be found online, for example, in Andhra Pradesh as below.. you can select your location in the right hand drop box for elsewhere in India.

http://www.airtel.in/User_Voucher.as...1/6/6/2&cid=12