iPhone PAYG sim cards in Italy and Spain?

TraceyJ_2

Does anyone know if it's possible to get PAYG iPhone sims for Italy and Spain please?

I'll only need to use it for around 17 days in each country. My iPhone has been unlocked officially and I'd like to be able to use it in each of these countries just as I do at home (web browsing is more important than calling/texting charges). I don't want to worry about how much data I'm downloading hence this question!

Thank you
Tracey

DUTR

When I was in Spain, I used my movistar sim card, hate to tell you , the iphone does not require a special sim card, just the same sim that will work in a £20 phone.
Anyway although many say rip off Britain, you won't find the same data offers as you do here (eg £1 day) more like €1 for 10mb, or if you get a dongle for €40+10 then you have 1gb of data to use for 1 month and the sim stays live for 6 months.

TraceyJ_2

Thank you, that's really useful to know. I've done so much searching but haven't really found definitive answers yet so all information from people with actual experience is very valuable.

codetown

DUTR wrote: »

Anyway although many say rip off Britain, you won't find the same data offers as you do here (eg £1 day) more like €1 for 10mb, or if you get a dongle for €40+10 then you have 1gb of data to use for 1 month and the sim stays live for 6 months.

I think the problem is local information.
There are excellent offers in Italy for data sim cards.
Far better than the UK ones. The problem might be there are so many that one get confused!

In any case for a casual traveller to Italy needing iPhone Internet connection I would recommend:
*Wind Internet No Stop
http://www.wind.it/it/internetmobile/scheda542.phtml?sez=Privati

It is an option on a prepay SIM card you can activate with 9 euro/month and have unlimited traffic.
(slightly slowed down after the first 1GB to avoid abuse).

You just get into any general mobile phone shop and ask for a Wind prepay Sim (they usually come at 3 euros empty or with xx euros and xx available balance) and at the same time to activate this Internet No Stop option.
It will be ready in a few minutes (wait sms confirming activation is done).

When you are about to leave you can send a free SMS to 4033 with text "NO STOP NO" and it automatically books the deactivation of the Internet option at the first deadline (e.g. after 30 days after activation or latest renewal). So your Sim will not get any further charges and could be reused for the next trip to Italy....

There are also good alternatives with 3, but it won't work on a normal iPhone (you need a 3G iPhone for those).

TraceyJ_2

Wow, thank you so much codetown, that's so helpful. Now to brush up on my Italian to buy the sim card!!