Is there any way to get a temporary cell phone and service to use for a month while in India (Pune)? What are the options?
Can I also get a good internet connection for a month? What are the options here.
Thanks.
Cell phone and internet for 1 month in India
-
fellowtraveler
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:33 pm
-
maadhuribiscuit
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:19 pm
Cell phone and internet for 1 month in India
fellowtraveler;65992Is there any way to get a temporary cell phone and service to use for a month while in India (Pune)? What are the options?
Can I also get a good internet connection for a month? What are the options here.
Thanks.[/quote]
Cellphones/sim cards are very easy to obtain, unfortunately in most cases you will need a proof of address. Or they will disconnect your service abruptly within week to 10 days. Your best bet is to obtain sim card in name of a relative. With regards to Internet connection, most good hotels have wifi connectivity these days, Alternatively you will be able to buy data card, it would be a slow connection but you will have internet connection on the go.
Right now I am in UK so dont' have much info. on providers but I will be meeting someone from Pune within next 3 or 4 days, I will try to get more info. from him and try to post it here.
-
anony_mouse
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:35 pm
Cell phone and internet for 1 month in India
for cellphone:
the most hassle-free option is to rent a cellphone. they quickly get expensive so use with care. the last time I rented (about 6 months back in bombay) they were about INR 50 per day and then about INR 1 per minute for local outgoing call (incoming is free in india).
Alternatively, you can buy a cheap phone+prepaid connection for about INR 1700 (or just the connection for under INR 300) which will keep your incoming calls free and then you pay about INR 0.5-1 per minute (cellphone plans in india are shockingly complex).
a prepaid connection does not require address proof but they still require identity proof (a copy of passport should work) and a photograph. there should be people selling these at or around airport itself. IMHO, the best service in pune is from airtel - though not by much.
for internet:
they can enable internet for you on the phone itself. this even works on many pre-paid connection. the speeds are not that great but I get about 144kbps on a good day. the cheapest phone will not work as a modem but if you have a good unlocked phone handy this is probably the way to go.
else, try to check if your neighborhood cable guy offers internet (many do but they are slowly disappearing). they will be most flexible with the duration, address proof etc given a little money in advance though the quality of the service suck.
else, talk to airtel, they will need address proof but there are ways around that (I got mine "made" for an extra INR 50 or you can get the connection in the name of whoever owns the place you are staying). the cost is about INR 1400 to set up and then about INR 2000/month for 512 kbps unlimited. you can get it disconnected after a month.
the most hassle-free option is to rent a cellphone. they quickly get expensive so use with care. the last time I rented (about 6 months back in bombay) they were about INR 50 per day and then about INR 1 per minute for local outgoing call (incoming is free in india).
Alternatively, you can buy a cheap phone+prepaid connection for about INR 1700 (or just the connection for under INR 300) which will keep your incoming calls free and then you pay about INR 0.5-1 per minute (cellphone plans in india are shockingly complex).
a prepaid connection does not require address proof but they still require identity proof (a copy of passport should work) and a photograph. there should be people selling these at or around airport itself. IMHO, the best service in pune is from airtel - though not by much.
for internet:
they can enable internet for you on the phone itself. this even works on many pre-paid connection. the speeds are not that great but I get about 144kbps on a good day. the cheapest phone will not work as a modem but if you have a good unlocked phone handy this is probably the way to go.
else, try to check if your neighborhood cable guy offers internet (many do but they are slowly disappearing). they will be most flexible with the duration, address proof etc given a little money in advance though the quality of the service suck.
else, talk to airtel, they will need address proof but there are ways around that (I got mine "made" for an extra INR 50 or you can get the connection in the name of whoever owns the place you are staying). the cost is about INR 1400 to set up and then about INR 2000/month for 512 kbps unlimited. you can get it disconnected after a month.
Cell phone and internet for 1 month in India
1. Get a GSM phone from the US. Even 2nd hand is fine. You cange get it unlocked here.
2. Ask one of your close relatives to buy a SIM card for you (Rs. 500 with free incomming)
or else just borrow from one of your close family or friends.
2. Ask one of your close relatives to buy a SIM card for you (Rs. 500 with free incomming)
or else just borrow from one of your close family or friends.
-
rajsriadit
- Posts: 1274
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:53 pm
Cell phone and internet for 1 month in India
fellowtraveler;65992Is there any way to get a temporary cell phone and service to use for a month while in India (Pune)? What are the options?
Can I also get a good internet connection for a month? What are the options here.
Thanks.[/quote]
There is another option. You can buy this prepaid phone from AT&T for $30. The model is samsung A437 (you can even get a rebate for $20 to make it $10). When you get the phone, you can activate it (it comes with $10 card) to keep AT&T happy and then unlock it very easily for free. There are unlock codes for this phone on the web and you can unlock in 5 minutes. It is a quadband phone and once unlocked can be used anywhere with any carrier.
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/go-phones/pyg-plans-phones.jsp?WT.svl=calltoaction&ContentId=900310&_requestid=52068
-
fellowtraveler
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:33 pm
Cell phone and internet for 1 month in India
Thank you all for the helpful responses. I will let you know what I end up using. Wi-fi spots/hotels is not an option for me. My parents don't have a landline.