Cell phone or no cell phone?

D.B.

I'll be traveling around India for 3 weeks. I can rent a cell phone in the united states from verizon that uses my normal cell phone (verizon) number that works in India. Should I bother?

I was thinking if i'm going to be catching trains, planes, etc it would be worth it to check schedules, fairs, etc and also to keep in touch with my family just in case. If i use land lines in India i could call people, but of course, they couldn't call me because i'll be on the move.

Thoughts?

Dr.Barai

having a cell phone is always better.

emilii

Both times I´ve been to India I´ve had my cell phone with me. It proved itself to be important when we happened to be in Tamil Nadu area just in the time of Tsunami in Dec`04. My mother, father and relatives we all really worired and eased them to be able to contact us right away. On our next trip too the cell phone will definitely be in our rucksack.

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eater

I looked at the cost of renting a "world-wide"
cell phone a couple of years ago on my first trip to India after almost 8 years....

after adding up all the costs of renting....I decided it was a better deal to buy a quad band BlackBerry (BB), have it unlocked.

BB has e-mail capability etc....fun "talking" to family, children via e-mail, text messaging etc. Check it out: (I am not an agent....wish !!)

http://www.discoverblackberry.com/en...vId=H0,C61,P62

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edwardseco

Never, I go to India to be away from the crap. Its meant to be an enlightening experience not a trip to a thrill park for a day. However, my neices there couldn't be away from one for more than an hour and they threaten to teach me SMS. Groan..

capt_mahajan

if money is not a problem, carry a mobile phone, indian or your verizon

otherwise you could do both, carry one, use landlines etc for outgoing calls (may be much cheaper) and leave the cellphone on for your folks calling you.

robotvoice

it is probably cheaper to buy a phone in india than renting one from the states, the rates are also very cheap

narsimha

Why bring a cell phone? There are perfectly good international land lines for hire every 50 meters or so, at very reasonable prices....even in small towns.

shanthi

I'd never be without a cell phone in India! I'm with Aircel and to call Ireland OR the USA (South Carolina and Georgia) for half an hour costs the same - 185/- approx - Now, that's cheap! It's also private and you don't have to run off down the road to make a call! I also call Australia for the same money - for about 20 minutes. Can't ask for better than that

nycank

The advantage of taking your cellphone is that your friends and relatives will have to make a normal call, and you pick the roaming and international rates (you will get hosed on the per minute charges)

On the otherhand you could rent a phone for india from a an NJ outfit called Eazy Wireless and they will deliver it to you overnight in NYC. The advantage is that you know the tel.no in advance and it is an indian tel.no. that you can give your friends and relatives.

You can rent a cellphone on arrival at BOM airport; or ask someone in india to buy you a prepaid SIM (I think it is 999Rs with a tel no: for life) and insert it in a elcheapo phone that you can buy from vendors in NYC.

When are you planning to be in India ?

fsg

I dont think you can get prepaid sims for life, certainly not with BSNL. Mine has totally expired.
You can purchase an unlocked phone for about 2000/-.

any info on which company sells prepaids simms for life?
Thanks

nycank

In my last trip to India (BOM/DEL) earlier this year, there were these banners etc. all over both these ciies that advertised Rs999/- for such SIMS -

praks

Most of them do, if not all. Incoming is free for life while outgoing is charged as per the tariff plan. Technically, it is free upto a certain time after which there is a nominal charge for renewal.

http://www.airtel.in/lifeprepaid.htm
http://hutch.in/prepaid/offers_forever.asp
BPL Mobile Easy MOTS Unlimited.

Nick-H

You can get pre-paid "life validity" sims.

(as Praks was saying just as I was typing...)

Not necessarilly the best deal: check carefuly what the rates are!

International roaming on your home SIM will cost a fortune. Don't expect the people who are calling you to understand that you are paying to receive the call!

An unlocked phone, and Indian SIM... that's the way to go

Or else be happy that no-one can interrupt you!!!!!!

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mercedes10

Take a cell phone but buy a local Indian SIM card (make sure your phone is unlocked) - or buy the cell phone in India too. Calls and SMS are cheap, even internationally. As for people from home calling you, if they buy a calling card at home they'll be able to ring you for pennies.