The options are (practically) endless!
Part 1: What is your “plan” for your phone plan
Make the choice as to what YOU want to do about your American phone plan and then choosing a plan once you arrive in Europe!
This assumes that you have a two-year plan that you have signed up for in the states. My two-year plan is Sept 2012-Sept 2014 (that’s a long time!). I will be gone from Oct 2013-June 2014 (roughly 9 months of my 24 month plan!). I am going to discuss some options that I have debated for my personal cell phone plan and the advantages and disadvantages of each option. This is an unbiased but TOTALLY biased post. I want YOU to be practical and try not to waste money on international calls, texting, data, etc. (you already have PLENTY of other expenses, HELLO student loans, traveling around Europe and shopping!). I am going to try to break this down for you by cost and effectiveness of each option.
Vocabulary to learn before reading on (I didn’t know what word to use!):
Ticking: signifying that your phone plan is still functioning and you (or your mom) will still be paying for your American phone plan. Also, if you went back to the states you will be able to use this particular phone as “normal”.
Assumptions before reading on: I am roughly estimating that the cost of my extra line on the family plan is $30/per month…(we have the unlimited everything data plan from Sprint and all smartphones require a data plan so I am going to assume most phones, no matter the company, are roughly the same if not more and $30 each month!)
What are my options for my American phone? For a smartphone (Pricing depend on your company):
-
Option 1: Leave your American plan ALONE!
Advantages:
No fee for breaking your contract!
Your plan will still keep ticking.
You can use your phone right away when you arrive back in the states.
Disadvantages
$30/per month for a phone line you aren’t using ($270 for the 9 months!) -
Option 2: Get an International Plan (VERY EXPENSIVE OPTION)
Advantages:
No fee for breaking your contract!
Your plan will still keep ticking.
You won’t have an extra 9 months added to your plan.
You can use your 3G, 4G, LTE or whatever it is in the US and Europe
You can text and call in the US and Europe
Disadvantages:$30/per month for your line
$20 more/per month for international capabilities
-
Option 3: Activate a non-smartphone on your American plan (A phone that DOESNT REQUIRE INTERNET!)
Advantages:
No fee for breaking your contract!
Your plan will still keep ticking.
$10 less a month for your phone line (saves about $90)
You will be able to make calls and send texts on your non-smartphone right away when returning to the US.
Can activate your smartphone as soon as you want (or as soon as you are able)!
Disadvantages
You won’t have a smart phone right away when you arrive in the US
You will have to unlock your phone (for some companies it’s difficult, click here for AT&T unlock request) -
Option 4: Suspend your phone (Here is my bias…DO NOT MAKE THIS CHOICE!)
Advantages
No fee for breaking your contract!
$0-10 a month for your phone line (depending on your phone company)
You can reactivate your phone WHENEVER you want!
Disadvantages
Your phone will NOT keep ticking
You will NOT be able to use it until you take it off of suspension
Max $10 a month for the suspended months ($90 for the time your are one)
Adds the months your phone is suspended onto your plan (Ex. Suspension for 9 months, your contract is now 2 years + 9 months)
9 months more of your phone plan when you get home (9x$30=270)
Some companies make you call back every 6 months to continue the suspension -
Option 5: Cancel your American plan 100% (DON’T DO THIS EITHER…it’s not like you are leaving forever!)
Advantages
No worrying about having to pay any amount for an American phone that you aren’t using
Disadvantages
$$$$$$ break your two-year contract and it will cost you ($300+) *Update: I was told that if you are moving out of the country your fee for breaking your contract could potentially be waived*
You won’t have quick access to am American cell phone when you arrive home
You lose your American phone number! );
Part 2: Choose your choices and unlock your phone!
I chose option 3.
CALL YOUR PHONE COMPANY. CALL YOUR PHONE COMPANY! CALL. YOUR. PHONE. COMPANY! I promise they will help you with any difficulties you may have when trying to figure out your options when it comes to your american plan. I personally UNLOCKED my iPhone through Sprint super quick and easy!), later on I will ACTIVATE a non-smartphone and then get a SPANISH SIM CARD once I arrive in Europe. Take a look at your options, but I think I am taking one of the most practical routes! Also, a friend of mine unlocked her AT&T Phone, so here is her advice as to how to get an AT&T phone unlocked WHILE still keeping your contract and while not having to pay the fee! In addition, I have found that iPhone 5’s come unlocked! So, any 5S or 5C should come unlocked too!
In addition to planning on getting a Spanish SIM card, I also had an international plan on my phone for a couple of days so that when I arrived in the airport I would be able to send a couple quick texts or if something crazy happened then I would be able to make a call or something. The idea of arriving in an airport and having no contact to the outside world makes me so afraid. The problem with that was I didn’t have my settings right on my iPhone when I arrived in Europe. When I got to the terminal in Barajas, I connected to free 15 minutes of WIFI and whatsapped everyone and tell them that I hate the world because I can’t figure out why my phone won’t connect to Spanish networks! I called Sprint (with their toll free number) and I was told that I had my settings wrong. Make sure your settings are right! Then a new section under settings will pop up called “carrier” and you will receive a text from your company telling you the costs of your calls/texts/data usage. Good luck!
What “Options” did you choose? Anyone choose an option that I did not mention? Also, Did you unlock your phone for international use? Was it THAT easy for you too? Any typos? Anything? Let me know!
la rubita perdida 