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The major mobile telephony operators
in Spain are Telefónica and Vodafone.
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Cellular coverage and service in Spain is, in a word,
excellent. In Spain, as well as in most other countries in
the world, the predominant cellular system is called GSM.
The digital quality of the system permits cellular quality
so good that it is very difficult to perceive if one is talking
on a cell phone or a landline. Until very recently, if you
needed cell phone service in Spain you would have to either
roam with your current carrier or rent a cellular phone through
one of the many cell phone rental companies. Both of these
two solutions are still available yet they continue to be
expensive and therefore, only those that had a real necessity
for cellular service, or who have deep pockets, were willing
to bear the expense. Luckily, there is now a solution that
makes cell phone service in Spain affordable to anyone. This
is good news since the necessity of staying in contact, especially
while overseas, is only increasing.
The inexpensive solution for cell phone service in
Spain is utilizing the same service as the Spaniards use.
The majority of cell phone users in Spain utilize what is
known as a prepaid SIM Card. A SIM card, rather than a card,
is actually a little chip that inserts into an overseas GSM
phone, giving you a local phone number plus all the conveniences
of a cellphone such as call log, an address book and so forth
and, of course, the possibility to make and receive calls.
Since the chip is prepaid, you do not need to sign a contract
nor have any long-term commitment - and plus you can control
your expenditures. Prepaid Spain SIM cards come with an initial
amount of call credit, that, when expires, can easily be added.
Once you have the initial chip in your phone, you may purchase
a "reload" voucher at magazine stands and convenience
stores. These vouchers are available in different units, generally
in 15, 30 and 50 Euro denominations. Think of it as filling
up at the gas station. You can put $10 or $20 or more and
the gas you receive will give you a certain amount of miles
depending on how you drive. Recharge vouchers give you a certain
amount of time depending on where you call. In any event,
the rates are advantageous and fractions of the conventional
methods such as renting a cell phone. Rates are approximately
$0.50 per minute to call back to the US and as low as about
$0.15 or less to call domestically. In addition, all incoming
calls are free, regardless of the call's origin or time of
day. Even if your card has run out of credit, since incoming
calls are free anyway, you can still receive calls. Incidentally,
this is one major reason why everyone in Spain, even pre-teenagers,
has a cell phone. You too could theoretically have someone
from the United States or Canada or anywhere else call you
back and you will not incur a penny of charges.
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While this method of obtaining cellular service in Spain
is little known, it is certain to become the predominant way
of overseas communication.
In order to obtain this service you must rent or purchase
a GSM mobile handset and purchase the SIM card. If you purchase
the phone, bear in mind that not only will you be able to
use it in Spain but in every other country in the world excluding
Japan. If it is a tri-band phone you can also use it in North
America provided your domestic carrier is AT&T, T-Mobile
or Cingular. Once you have the phone, in order to use it in
another country, all you need to do is swap out the SIM chip,
which is easy to do, and put in a SIM chip for that country.
It is finally possible to travel the world (except for Japan)
with one phone without paying an arm and a leg in order to
do so.
For more information or to purchase or rent a cell
phone for Spain, visit Cellular
Abroad.
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