Using UK Mobiles in Italy

polybear

Hi,
Will our uk mobiles work ok in Italy please? One is on contract with Vodaphone, the other is on PAYG with ASDA (using the Vodaphone network). My questions include:

1. To phone UK do we simply prefix with the UK code 0044 and drop the first zero, or is there no need to do any of this?

2. To be contacted from the UK will it be necessary to prefix with the Italy code 0039 and drop the first zero, or just dial the number as usual?

3. To dial between the two phones whilst in Italy will we have to include any prefixes etc. (Italy or UK?).

4. What about sending text messages to/from UK? Will prefixes be required in the same way as for calls?

5. Are we likely to be clobbered for call costs - especially the PAYG?

Many thanks!

Brian

paddyrg

polybear wrote: »

Hi,
Will our uk mobiles work ok in Italy please? One is on contract with Vodaphone, the other is on PAYG with ASDA (using the Vodaphone network). My questions include:

1. To phone UK do we simply prefix with the UK code 0044 and drop the first zero, or is there no need to do any of this?

2. To be contacted from the UK will it be necessary to prefix with the Italy code 0039 and drop the first zero, or just dial the number as usual?

3. To dial between the two phones whilst in Italy will we have to include any prefixes etc. (Italy or UK?).

4. What about sending text messages to/from UK? Will prefixes be required in the same way as for calls?

5. Are we likely to be clobbered for call costs - especially the PAYG?

Many thanks!

Brian

1 - no, but you can.
2 - no, just as usual
3 - no, but you can use +44 if you wish
4 - no
5 - heck yeah! Actually it may not be too outrageous but the only way to be sure is to check with your network in advance. They may have a short-term package with much lower roaming rates, for instance. Beware voicemail can be particularly expensive overseas, so again ask your network to switch it off for the duration. Texts will probably be 20-40p each-ish to send, but free to receive overseas - again the only people who can say for sure are the network operator.

Dave_C_2

Just follow the links on this vodaphone web page.

As paddrg says, texting is the cheapest option. And don't forget to switch data roaming off!

Dave

Figment

....and check with the network BEFORE you go that your SIM cards are provisioned for international roaming, otherwise they won't work and there's nowt they can do to make them work until you return to the UK.

spannerzone

I know Voda can activate international roaming when you're already abroad because we do this a lot for our staff who forget to do it before they travel, this is a Voda corporate account though. What you can't do is set your voda voicemail when abroad, you'll need a pin and this has to be setup before leaving the UK....otherwise you'd probably have to call Voda UK support to get them to send you a Pin reset text.

Asda may have different ways though so check before leaving, especially the costs and mind any data you might use.

tronator

paddyrg wrote: »

1 - no, but you can.
2 - no, just as usual
3 - no, but you can use +44 if you wish
4 - no
5 - heck yeah! Actually it may not be too outrageous but the only way to be sure is to check with your network in advance. They may have a short-term package with much lower roaming rates, for instance. Beware voicemail can be particularly expensive overseas, so again ask your network to switch it off for the duration. Texts will probably be 20-40p each-ish to send, but free to receive overseas - again the only people who can say for sure are the network operator.

I doesn't really make sense to answer "or" questions with yes or no ;-)

To answer question 1, of course you need to dial the 0044 in front of any UK number. How else would the Italian network know whether you want to dial a UK number or an Italian one?

I store all my telephone numbers with the international dialling code in my mobile, when I create a new contact. This way you never have to worry about it when you travel.

5. roaming prices have come down quite a lot thanks to EU regulations, check with Vodafone. You will get an SMS with all the costs the first time your phone connects to a network abroad. Last time I travelled T-Mobile sent me this message

"It will cost £0.366/min to make & £0.115/min to receive calls. Send texts for £0.115 each a message, picture messages for £0.20 each. Internet browsing costs from £1 for 3Mb & is excluded from UK allowances. ..."

aerostar

To answer question 1, of course you need to dial the 0044 in front of any UK number. How else would the Italian network know whether you want to dial a UK number or an Italian one?

Tesco mobile does not need 0044 you just dial the UK number as normal, and for other countries you use the 00xx prefix.

"Simples"!

All Telco operators know that you are using a UK based phone sim.

tronator

aerostar wrote: »

Tesco mobile does not need 0044 you just dial the UK number as normal, and for other countries you use the 00xx prefix.

"Simples"!

All Telco operators know that you are using a UK based phone sim.

Then this must be (relatively) new. I'm pretty sure in the past it didn't work. Since I'm storing all telephone numbers in international format for years now I can't say when this changed and I don't need to care...

paddyrg

tronator wrote: »

Then this must be (relatively) new. I'm pretty sure in the past it didn't work. Since I'm storing all telephone numbers in international format for years now I can't say when this changed and I don't need to care...

For the past decade at least I haven't needed to +44 any UK numbers when calling from France/New Zealand/Seattle/Kathmandu/etc when using a UK SIM. Perhaps your network was/is a bit behind?