If you are traveling to the UK for a short trip, you may be wondering if you can use your cell phone (called ‘mobile phones’ or simply ‘mobiles’ in London). You actually have three options when it comes to UK mobile calling: 1) Activate an international plan with your cell phone provider; 2) Rent an international cell phone; or 3) Buy an unlocked phone and a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card that works in another country.
The first option, buying an international plan, seems the simplest, but it will probably be the most expensive. Most carriers charge a monthly fee (or a one-time fee), plus a per-minute call fee, text message fee, and data fee (which can be a lot of money for a little bit of data). The second option, renting an international cell phone, is convenient: the phone is shipped to your home with an initial airtime balance, but you will have to return the phone when you return to the United States; Since there is a daily fee, you may end up paying for the days you don’t use the phone.
Fortunately, pay-as-you-go mobile phones are very popular in London, and there are several places to pick up a pay-as-you-go cell phone with many plan options.
Your phone, new SIM
If your phone is unlocked, you may be able to buy a new SIM card (the phone number and network information card found inside the phone), but it depends on compatibility with your current network and the UK network. That you choose. Talk to your current phone company to see if they know which UK SIM cards will work in your phone.
Virgin’s SIM card packages, for example, cost between £ 5 and £ 10 ($ 6.50 and $ 10.30), and will fit in an existing phone. SIM cards can also be used again. Cellular Abroad offers a worldwide SIM that has a cheaper rate for calls abroad, so it could be a good option to keep in touch with your home. The local rate is a bit higher, so think about your needs before choosing a SIM deal.
New phone (earphone), new SIM
If your phone isn’t unlocked or you can’t find a compatible SIM card, or you just don’t want to use your phone, then the best way to pay for use with phones and SIM cards is the best way to go (and you’ll often get free credit for calls).
The main mobile phone companies in the UK are Vodaphone, Orange, T Mobile, O 2 , Virgin Mobile and Three. Call prices vary with each company, so check to see what meets your requirements. Londoners are big enough at texting to save on calling costs (which can be five times the price on texting).
Pay per use plan
If you only need a phone to make international calls, London has many shops that sell prepaid phones. These inexpensive, no-frills phones come with a pay-as-you-go plan. A pay-as-you-go plan is a very sensible idea for a short trip, as you don’t need a contract (just buy phone credit at kiosks or phone stores), look for the “Recharge” signs. To get a better idea of what’s available, check out Carphone Warehouse and Argos for pay-as-you-go offers.
