We are moving to Madrid in September. We have two Blackberry 7290s with the quad frequencies but we kind of want to buy newer cell phones anyway. We understand the frequency differences but have some questions about buying phones and service.
1. Should we wait to purchase the actual phones after we move to Madrid or can we get a good deal buying the phones in the US before we go, making sure we purchase the correct phones with the right frequencies (800, 1800 & 1900)?
2. We assume the service plans over there are better than what I could buy here, but, are there any restrictions with getting plans for whatever type of phones we buy?
3. The new iphones are coming out here this Friday and they have quad frequencies but I read on this site that it would be better to insure we got the 800, 1600 and 1900 frequencies rather than the 850, 900, 1800, 1900. The European version of iphones does not come out until end of 2007. Should we just wait on these to see what happens?
4. We will have NIEs and I have read here we can get better service plans if the charges are taking from our Spanish bank accounts. Is this still true and what are the best service plans?
Thanks for all of the help. This is a great site. We don't post very much but we read a lot.
1) phones and ALL other tech items are a LOT cheaper in the u.s.a. so if you have the chance, get them there. make sure they are unlocked or they will not take a spanish SIM card.
3) the 800, 1600 and 1900 frequencies will not cut it here. your phone needs to have at least one of the 2 freq. here which are 900 and 1800 or it will not work. not sure why anyone would advise to get the 800, 1600, 1900 freq when what you need is the 850, 900, 1800, 1900.
4) in this case, you should head to a vodafone store as soon as you get here. they will inform you as to the available contract plans, rates, etc...
Hello everyone and thanks to this forum again. My partner and I have arrived in Madrid safe and sound with our two cats. Special thanks to Shawn for helping us out and showing us the sites. Found my way to Jer's office to talk about sims and cells but heard he was out of town for awhile.
We went to a Phone House today seeking to get two cell phones on a contract if possible. We were denied as we did not have "residencia". We were referred to Movistar because they would allow contracts with US passports and VISAs but we were denied there also. We were also denied buying "prepaid" phones. We do have a La Caixa bank account but that did not seem to matter.
So, I think the only option until our "residencias" arrive is to buy unlocked phones and get rechargeable sims.
We are only a few blocks from Plaza Major and I am hoping Jer may see this and send advice. We need to get the phones soon so we can go apt hunting.
i am working from home for a while as my wife and i are enjoying our newborn baby boy so will not be able to set ya up with phones. my business is internet based and i only really deal with clients who order from my websites before they come over.
quote:
We were also denied buying "prepaid" phones.
that is not possible. you must have misunderstood or they did not have the model you wanted in stock. you cannot be denied a pre-paid phone. all you have to do is go into a shop (fnac in callao for example), take one off the shelf and go to the cash register. nobody has ever been refused a purchase of a pre-paid cell phone.
I sent an email yesterday to sim@spainsim.com but have not heard back from you. Was hoping that was your Sim business website.
I bought two new unlocked phones at FNAC today and one temporary SIM card at The Phone House for this weekend. Interested in the Dual-Linked SIM Vodafone package on your site.
I´m hoping you can give me some direction. I just arrived in Madrid and need a cell phone. I have a Cingular Motorolla Razr phone, which I think is GSM and will work in spain. I need to have it unlocked and buy a sim package. Do you know where I can have my phone unlocked and are you still celling SIMS. Do I need to order from your online store? I´ll be in Spain for at least a year, from your other posts I gather that the vodafone cards might work best. Let me know thanks.
Posts: 2 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 31 August 2007
Gary, i responded to your e-mail just now. sorry for the delay but with the new addition to the family, i have not been working on weekends.
hey ncdeac05. i can unlock the razr, cost is 12 euros (have to confirm) if you buy a SIM card from me. yes, you can order the SIM on the website. once you do, i will contact you as to when you can bring your phone into my office (puerta del sol) so i can have it unlocked.
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
so will not be able to set ya up with phones. my business is internet based and i only really deal with clients who order from my websites before they come over.
