Posted by
fries174
17 yrs ago
Going to be spending two weeks in HK/Shanghai/Beijing (mostly HK). Live in NY but have old UK cell phone w/SIM card slot. Will this work in China if I get the card? Where can I purchase this?
Also, renting an international blackberry, has anyone done this? Don't need the email feature, but am very keen on having google maps with GPS. Any alternatives to renting a blackberry but keeping a gps?
Many thanks.
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Yes, if you buy a SIM card in HK (for example pay as you go) your phone will work. The only caveat is that it must be unlocked. Note that HK and China are not the same market though. If you then take the phone and card to the Mainland, you will pay roaming charges. So perhaps you will want to buy another card on the mainland.
As for GPS, my guess is that it is cheaper to buy a detailed map book in every location. In HK this would be the "Hong Kong Guidebook".
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Thanks for letting me know about the roaming charges. Do you think it is cheaper to buy an HK sim card in the US or in HK? With regard to the GPS, the beauty of it is that it shows you where you are on the map, and can also give you transit and walking directions. Thanks for your help!
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Could you even find an HK sim card in the US?
Deffo get one when you get here. Any 7-11 will have a selection. If memory serves 60 Honkies gets you a few hundred prepaid minutes so it's no biggie.
GPS - Sure, you can try it, but I would add that in much of HK, GPS is a tricky proposition. All the tall buildings and the VERY hilly terrain means reception is often quite spotty. I have left my home and haven't gotten reception for 20 minutes. A good map book (not the useless tourist maps), the excellent signage on the streets, the superlative area maps in every MTR station, and the helpful passersby you can ask are a better combination in my opinion. I have never been in a city where there is better information available when it comes to directions.
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I would add that in general, you can't get a local sim card with data services (as needed for GPS) unless you get a contract. As you say you can rent an "international" Blackberry in the US. The roaming charges will tend to be rather nasty though, even just for GPS data.
You could of course buy a non-phone GPS in the US, get the map pack with HK and Mainland China, and bring that along. Useful when you get back as well. ;)
Other notes:
- At 7-11 you have to ask the cashiers for the card, as they keep them behind the counter. You can also go to any cell phone provider shop of course.
- The prepaid cards don't always give you international calling, so check that (and the charges). You do get a phone number though so people can call you.
- Check carefully the charges for texting before you decide on a particular card.
- Have you considered a WiFi Skype phone (the no computer needed variety)? You can prepay on your Skype account) and use then use the phone anywhere with WiFi, which is a lot of places nowadays. Calling rates to the US are just over 2 US cents/minute. If you get a subscription you get unlimited calling for US$ 6-8/month. You can also get a US phone number so people can call you on that and it rings on your Skype phone (or wherever you are logged in).
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Thank you so much for your help, axptguy38--I'm really glad you told me GPS may not work (before I spend money on it!). I'm staying in midlevels, on Robinson Road (realize it's a very, very long road), so not sure if that will make a difference in reception. Naturally though, I'll be making my way all around HK.
You probably could find an HK simcard here in chinatown (NYC), although I am sure it's cheaper in HK. My one concern is that I'd like to make a call from the HK airport when I arrive, and at present, my UK phone--which I think would work in HK but would be roaming--has no $$ on it. You can't top up from inside the US, either. Tricky, right?
So just to confirm what you've said, I can get an HK simcard and stick it in my UK phone? Thanks!!
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"So just to confirm what you've said, I can get an HK simcard and stick it in my UK phone? Thanks!!"
As long as it's unlocked yes.
You could send a text message from your US phone when you arrive. Much less expensive than calling. Anyway if memory serves there is a 7-11 in the airport arrival hall. Not sure if they stock sim cards but most 7-11s do.
And btw most of Midlevels definitely isn't the area for GPS. Tall buildings plus steep hills.
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Don't think my US blackberry will work in HK, but my UK phone should, with roaming. Thanks again for all your help!
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Depends if your Blackberry is GSM or not. If it is GSM it will work.
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It's not unfortunately--they are less common than they should be! Many thanks again
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You need to move to Asia, where (apart from Japan) GSM/GPRS/3G prevails. ;)
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