Hi all, Just a quick tip for Europeans traveling to the US show in June...
If you want to bring your mobile phone with you, I would like to remind you that only Tri-band or 1,9 GHz enabled dual band phones can work in the US. These include the Motorola P7xxx series and the T250, Siemens S20 and the older Bosch World 719i among others. The show area is serviced by Voicestream Wireless (A T-Mobile/Deutsche Telecom AG company) and Cingular Wireless. Check your local providers to see if they have roaming agreements with the US. If you do not have a 1.9 GHz GSM (It's called PCS here - beats me why) phone you can rent one in advance from the Airport usually. Now to the tips: 1. Make sure your phones are charged. You will be asked to turn your phones on/off at security points both at exit and entry to the airport (The exit doesn't make too much sense but has happened to me). Avoid misunderstandings (and a lot of trouble) by having your batteries charged if you carry your phones on you. 2. If you are using a GRPS or WAP phone be almost certain that these features will NOT work in the US. 3. If you have features like Call barring and diverting, it's best you shut it off BEFORE you leave your countries. Advanced GSM features are not usually implemented in the US and if they are they cost money to turn on or off. (Not to mention the roaming charges) 4. If you plan on using SMS messages, its best that you use Cingular's network (Your phone will find both) as the Voicestream one plainly said SUCKS! Half the time international messages get lost or bounced. 5. If you want to call Customer Service of the network that you will be logged on, (By calling your standard customer service no that is diverted to the local 611 here) just forget it. You will spend hours trying to figure out what's wrong (and it's usually their fault) and customer service for both GSM providers is below sub-standard. You will only get frustrated and will end up paying extreme fees.. (A whole different story best left unsaid) 6. If you are in need of assistance of the Police, Fire Dept. or anything else DO NOT call 911 from your mobile phone. Instead use 112 which is free :-) (Hey why pay?) Finally for ONE "lucky" person that's interested I have an extra Bosch 718i which I can lend to anyone that wants to use his SIM card here. It's not much and in semi-shaky state (Battery is not exactly hanging on the phone right) but otherwise works fine and has served me in addition to my Timeports fine since 1999 :-) (it will be totally unlocked too and already preprogrammed with OmniPoint's SMS gateway in it as well :-) Send me an email. First come first serve basis of course but do it quickly because I am leaving for Greece in two weeks... That is all, PhOEbus R. (and Not L. as Roy wants me ;-) Just saw that one!) DokOs
