Generally, it is only North Americans who ask "Will my mobile phone work?" Others have either an unlocked phone or a common provider with one of the companies in Hungary, so buying a SIM card and getting it to work is not an issue. The mobile companies here are T-Mobile, Vodafone, and Pannon. All three have international agreements with companies by other names, so check with your local carrier.
If you did not buy your mobile phone through a phone service provider, chances are your phone is unlocked. This means your chances of adding a SIM card are better than if you have a dedicated phone, for example one that you bought from AT&T. However, your phone also needs to be a Tri-band to access European air signals.
BudgetTravel.com
Using Your Cell Phone in Europe
Traveling without a cell phone seems unbearable these
days. Here's our guide for avoiding pesky fees—because who factors "astronomical
cell phone bill" into their vacation budget?
WHAT TO ASK YOUR SERVICE PROVIDER
"Will my phone work?"
Ask your service provider to be certain, but generally
speaking, AT&T and T-Mobile operate on a wireless network that works in Europe
(it's called GSM). Verizon and Sprint don't, with a few exceptions. A key
question to ask about your device: Does it support quad-band frequencies? If the
answer is yes, your phone will work in Europe. Also, be sure to ask if
international roaming is enabled on your phone. If it's not, your provider can
turn it on simply by hitting a button.
"Does it make sense to buy an international voice,
text, and/or data plan?"
Think about how much you'll use your phone abroad. Is
it just for emergencies? Or are you using it for local calls and texts, say with
a group you're traveling with? If it's for emergencies only, going with your
provider's per-minute charges is probably your best bet; that's $1.29 per minute
in Europe. If you're likely to use your cell phone more extensively, see the
info below on rate plans, costs, and other alternatives.
"How do I turn off the data features on my phone
(e-mail, etc.), so I don't get hit with a huge charge?"
If your phone connects automatically to the Internet,
you'll pay data-plan rates whenever the phone downloads e-mail or connects to
the Web. The result can be an astronomical bill you didn't know you were racking
up. Every phone is different, so check the user manual or call customer service
to turn off these features. AT&T has a helpful guide for iPhone users who are
roaming internationally (and trust us—you can get hit with major fees). One
overall tip: Use Wi-Fi on your phone instead of a 3G network to check e-mail;
Wi-Fi is based in the local area (like the café you're in) and doesn't cost
anything.
"What other fees should I expect?"
Your destination country may charge you applicable
taxes and fees for using its networks locally. It's best to ask your provider.
"Should I buy a 'disposable' phone at my destination
instead?"Yes, if you don't want to worry about fees. You can get a phone at cell
phone stores in touristy areas, at cell phone counters in department stores, and
even at airports. Budget about $40 to $75 for a phone, which will usually
include some prepaid calling time. You'll also have a local number, which means
calls and texts within the country will be free.
"Will I get charged if someone calls my phone while
I'm in Europe, even if I don't answer it?"
If your phone works in Europe, you can be charged for
incoming calls, even if you don't answer them—and even if your phone is turned
off! Normal international airtime rates apply ($1.29 per minute for all
carriers), so tell people not to call or leave messages. You can also call your
service provider to disable your voice mail, but note that setting it up again
when you return will probably be a hassle.
PICK YOUR PROVIDER
AT&T
Will your phone work? Yes.
Costs $1.29 per minute for voice, 50˘ per text. Data
download (e-mail, apps, Internet usage) costs vary depending on the phone type.
Other options AT&T offers special international rate plans that bring the per-minute calling cost down to 99˘ and text messages to 20˘ (add the plan for about $6 a month).
Alternatively, you can swap out your SIM, the small card that acts as your phone's brain. It stores your number, your contacts, and other important info. A new SIM card will give you a local number, but your features (applications you've downloaded, namely) won't work.
You have to "unlock" your phone to replace the SIM. As
a protection against theft, service providers "lock" phones (meaning the phone
will work only with your specific SIM). AT&T will unlock your phone if you're a
long-term customer in good standing. It will take a few days to get your phone
unlocked, so plan ahead.
T-Mobile
Will your phone work? Yes (with a few exceptions, like
Sidekicks).
Costs T-Mobile customers can call for $1.29 a minute;
texts cost 35˘ to send and 20˘ to receive. Download data for $15 per megabyte.
Other options T-Mobile doesn't have any special rate
plans. If you plan to make a lot of calls, try using a new SIM card. T-Mobile
will unlock your phone if your account has been active for 90 days (it will take
one to two days to get it unlocked).
Verizon
Will your phone work? Maybe. Verizon has seven models
that use the GSM technology that works in Europe, such as the BlackBerry Tour
and HTC Touch Pro2.
Costs If you have one of the seven models, voice is
$1.29 a minute. You can add a monthly $5 plan to bring that down to 99˘ a
minute. Texts always cost 50˘ to send and 5˘ to receive. Download data for $20
per megabyte, or buy an international data plan that will offer a 100 megabyte
monthly allowance (rates vary depending on the phone type).
Other options Verizon offers a free rental phone for
up to three weeks. Standard calling rates apply. A new SIM card won't work in
phones that are not GSM-compatible, so buy a disposable phone at the airport.
Sprint
Will your phone work? Maybe. Sprint has five models
that are compatible with Europe's wireless technology.
Costs $1.29 per minute for voice; 20˘ per text. Data
download is about $16 per megabyte.
Other options Sprint has a rental program that includes three phones that will work in Europe. One-week rentals range from $29 to $70, and insurance is suggested (starting at $9 for a week's rental). Otherwise, buy a disposable phone when you get to your destination.