Cheapest Texts to Spain

expat_jo

Hi

I currently have a contract with Orange and do not use anywhere near my quota of minutes or texts. In fact, the person I text the most is my mum who lives in Spain which isn't covered in my contract!

Can anyone advise what Vodaphone and Orange charge for texts to Spain as I cannot seem to find any information online. I occassionally ( about 10-20 texts per month) text other UK numbers. I would like to keep with one of those networks because I know they work at home and at work.

I also occassionally use my phone to access the traffic info on my Tom Tom. Can I also access data through a PAYG and how much would that be on the cheapest text tariff?

Many thanks in advance.

Jo

will-in-estoril

Your best bet might well be Talkmobile from Carphone Warehouse: they piggy back on the Vodafone network, ensuring you will have good coverage. It costs £6 per month, includes 50 UK minutes, 50 UK texts (which can be commuted to texts to Spain using 2 of your allocation for each text sent there) and no tie in.

http://www.talkmobile.co.uk/home.php

expat_jo

That's great, Will. Exactly what I want. I will have a look now.

Hopefullyuseful1

Hi Jo,

If you're with Vodafone directly then the texts will cost 24p each. They can't be taken from any inclusive allowance but there is another option:

Have you thought of getting your mum a Vodafone UK Pay As You Talk SIM? Texting her would go from your inclusive allowance, and it's free to receive texts whilst roaming, although it would mean your mum carrying an extra phone around.

Hope this helps,

HopefullyUseful1

Vodafone UK

expat_jo

Thanks

That's a good idea although I am not sure she will like carrying a second phone. She forgets her Spanish one often enough!

Good idea for my husband who works in Spain a lot though ...

expat_jo

Hi

Just went online to get the £6 Talkmobile from Carphone Warehouse deal - as recommended by Will in Estoril - and can't see it now! All I can see are bundles with contracts. I only need a SIM card and now feel cheated spending £12!

Have I missed the deal by being too tardy - or am I just missing it completely? Any second pairs of eyes out there that can help me?

Many thanks - and I promise to have learnt my lesson in future !!

redux

Instead, there are some mobile Java programs that will send an equivalent via the phone's data connection, costing from 2 to about 6 cents each, plus a penny or so from your network for the data.

Look at smsbug, mobisms, vgsmail, voipbuster and vyke. Vyke is the cheapest at 2 US cents a message, and I certainly would have recommend their Lite version, although it's been a bit of a pain for some people with a recent upgrade (the new version isn't for all versions of Java in the phones, and they've stopped putting the sender ID). There are a few threads about these, including

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=528955