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Using Mobile Phones in the USA
Many UK visitors now take their mobile phones with them to use
in Orlando.
If you intend to do this, before you leave you need to do the
following:
- Make sure your phone is tri-band or quad-band. Older phones
that aren't at least tri-band won't work in the USA.
- Contact your mobile phone company and ask them to enable your
phone for international roaming.
Costs vary depending on the mobile phone company, but generally
the cost of calls from a UK mobile are very high, and usually around
£1.50 per minute or more.
Don't be fooled into thinking that if you're using your mobile
in the US (whether calling a US or UK phone) you'll be charged
at local US rates, as you won't. All calls you make on a UK mobile
need to be routed back via the UK, and will therefore be charged
at the international rate.
Texts work out much cheaper than voice calls, but are still more
expensive than if you're in the UK.
Some mobile companies also charge you for receiving calls on your
mobile whilst in the USA, so beware if anyone calls you. If you
don't want to rack up large bills, make sure you tell anyone that's
likely to call you not to do so.
If you're calling the UK from the USA using your mobile phone
you will need to change the number you dial on your phone:
Take the 0 off the start of the number, and add 044 or +44
If the UK number is 01234 123456 you would dial 044 1234 123456
or +44 1234 123456.
Even if the phone you're calling is a UK mobile, but in the USA
at the time, you will still need to follow the above rule of adding
044.
If you want to call a USA number from your UK mobile, you will
need to add 001 or +1 in front of the number you're calling, as
the call will still be routed via the UK.
If the USA number you want to call is 407 123456, you will need
to call 001 407 123456 or +1 407 123456.
If you want to send a text to a USA mobile phone, check with the
person you're sending it to, as some networks won't accept texts
from UK mobiles.
If you intend to use your mobile a lot whilst there, it may be
cheaper to buy an inexpensive mobile phone from Walmart over there.
UK Mobile Phone Company Charges:
O2
Pay Monthly
O2 Pay & Go
Vodafone
3
T-Mobile
Orange
Virgin Mobile
Some mobile companies may offer a special rate on international
calls if you pay an extra monthly fee.
Remember to take your battery charger with you!
Phone Cards and Pay Phones
If you plan on making regular calls back to the UK, it may be
worth buying a phone card, as they usually work out cheaper, and
mean that you don't have to keep feeding change into the phone.
You can purchase a phone card before you leave, the Post Office
sell a Holiday phone card. You can also purchase them at the theme
parks, Walmart, Publix, gas stations, etc. They usually come in
different denominations (£10, $20) and each time you use it, will
tell you how many minutes you have left. Once it runs out you have
the option to call a number and top it up using your credit card.
Warning - do not make a direct international call from your hotel
room! I once made this mistake whilst staying at a Disney Resort
and got charged $15 for a 2 minute phone call!!! You can use a
phone card to call from your in-room phone by following the instructions
on the phone guide provided, just don't dial an international number
direct.
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