Lesson learned: must unlock phone to use a European SIM Card (My Fail)

Maurice Frank · Sep 14, 2023

My mistake today: I should have checked with my US cell provider T-Mobile to find out if my phone is unlocked and able to accept another SIM card.

My iPhone is on a payment plan with significant promotional benefits so it cannot be unlocked until it’s fully paid off (I’m half way through the payments).

This means the Orange SIM card I purchased for 20 Euros is unusable and money wasted. I didn’t learn this until after I purchased the SIM and the staff person discovered it could not be activated.

It’s my fault for not checking ahead of time so I don’t blame Orange or T-Mobile

The SIM is linked to my passport so I can’t even give it away

Tip: if you plan to buy a SIM card in Europe make sure your phone is unlocked and fully able to use a second SIM.

I do have a T-Mobile international plan so I can communicate with friends and family at home. And I can use WhatsApp too because I have a data allowance.

I’m here for my first Camino so I’ll just think of this as a 20 Euro learning experience.

cruiser75 · Sep 14, 2023

Maurice Frank said:
My mistake today: I should have checked with my US cell provider T-Mobile to find out if my phone is unlocked and able to accept another SIM card.

My iPhone is on a payment plan with significant promotional benefits so it cannot be unlocked until it’s fully paid off (I’m half way through the payments).

This means the Orange SIM card I purchased for 20 Euros is unusable and money wasted. I didn’t learn this until after I purchased the SIM and the staff person discovered it could not be activated.

It’s my fault for not checking ahead of time so I don’t blame Orange or T-Mobile

The SIM is linked to my passport so I can’t even give it away

Tip: if you plan to buy a SIM card in Europe make sure your phone is unlocked and fully able to use a second SIM.

I do have a T-Mobile international plan so I can communicate with friends and family at home. And I can use WhatsApp too because I have a data allowance.

I’m here for my first Camino so I’ll just think of this as a 20 Euro learning experience.

I wasn't sure if my phone was unlocked or not because I couldn't remember which phone I had with me (I never get a "free" phone on a plan). The Orange dealer in Oviedo was kind enough to pop my SIM out and try an Orange SIM in my phone to verify. Fortunately this phone was also unlocked and compatible with the Euro networks. They were also able to somehow use my Canadian number to allow my WhatsApp contacts etc to still work. I used to know all this detail but I can't keep up with it anymore!

I would add that I did pay Orange for a USB C wall charger that worked out to roughly $60CDN so that was my mistake for not buying one on Amazon before I left. It is very fast at charging though!

trecile · Sep 14, 2023

cruiser75 said:
They were also able to somehow use my Canadian number to allow my WhatsApp contacts etc to still work.

That's how WhatsApp works - the person at the Orange store didn't do anything special.

cruiser75 · Sep 15, 2023

trecile said:
That's how WhatsApp works - the person at the Orange store didn't do anything special

I wasn't aware of this. Very cool.
I just figured with my sim card removed and a new one in its place my phone number would no longer be connected to the phone and thus the apps.

Dennis Pack · Sep 15, 2023

What about buying a cheap unlocked phone to put your sim card in?
I love it when amerikans discover how screwed their telecommunications are

Gringazolana · Sep 15, 2023

Yep. I bought a new iPhone for my Camino so I could take good photos, then learned that I couldn’t actually use it as a phone! Ended up taking two phones: my son’s old (unlocked) phone for communication and my new one for photos. Not the best set-up, but it worked.

SFHoneybee · Sep 15, 2023

Maurice Frank said:
My mistake today: I should have checked with my US cell provider T-Mobile to find out if my phone is unlocked and able to accept another SIM card.

My iPhone is on a payment plan with significant promotional benefits so it cannot be unlocked until it’s fully paid off (I’m half way through the payments).

This means the Orange SIM card I purchased for 20 Euros is unusable and money wasted. I didn’t learn this until after I purchased the SIM and the staff person discovered it could not be activated.

It’s my fault for not checking ahead of time so I don’t blame Orange or T-Mobile

The SIM is linked to my passport so I can’t even give it away

Tip: if you plan to buy a SIM card in Europe make sure your phone is unlocked and fully able to use a second SIM.

I do have a T-Mobile international plan so I can communicate with friends and family at home. And I can use WhatsApp too because I have a data allowance.

I’m here for my first Camino so I’ll just think of this as a 20 Euro learning experience.

Thank you— we can all learn— it’s €20 well spent.

I’ve got t-Mobile- and I know theirs don’t do E-Sim..
I’ll turn in the International Plan— but have a local SIM card would/could be handy too…

trecile · Sep 15, 2023

SFHoneybee said:
I’ve got t-Mobile- and I know theirs don’t do E-Sim..
I’ll turn in the International Plan— but have a local SIM card would/could be handy too…

You can have an e-sim with T-Mobile if your phone supports it.
I have always just used my T-Mobile plan's free roaming data while I'm in Spain, but this year I have a new "Max" plan that comes with 5GB of high speed data each month while abroad. I did get quite used to the higher speed, do when I ran out I topped it off with another 15GB package from T-Mobile. My phone was locked (I got a killer deal on my new phone this way) so I wasn't able to use another sim.

dougfitz · Sep 15, 2023

Dennis Pack said:
I love it when amerikans discover how screwed their telecommunications are

To be fair, locking devices to the carrier that provided you with a handset still being paid for is a pretty common business model. You might still find things about the US telecommunications marketplace that you think are dysfunctional in its differences to the rest of the world, but this is not one.

SFHoneybee · Sep 15, 2023

trecile said:
You can have an e-sim with T-Mobile if your phone supports it.
I have always just used my T-Mobile plan's free roaming data while I'm in Spain, but this year I have a new "Max" plan that comes with 5GB of high speed data each month while abroad. I did get quite used to the higher speed, do when I ran out I topped it off with another 15GB package from T-Mobile. My phone was locked (I got a killer deal on my new phone this way) so I wasn't able to use another sim.

Ahh.. good info-
I tried to go to my Phones settings (iPhone12) and it indicated no E-sim- I can't even remember where i looked on my phone..?-- I'll take a closer look at their Plans- do you remember roughly what the costs were to add the 15GB- I'm wondering if i'm just better going with Roaming on my phone now-- or if its better - price wise to get another Sim card?- if I did get another Sim card- we know they cost 20E- is it the same SIM car in Italy and Spain- where i will be before i start my Camino?

Bradypus · Sep 15, 2023

dougfitz said:
To be fair, locking devices to the carrier that provided you with a handset still being paid for is a pretty common business model.

Not in the UK any more. New phones sold here since December 2021 are unlocked even if sold by a mobile network as part of a contract or pre-paid deal.

Sanman · Sep 15, 2023

Maurice Frank said:
My mistake today: I should have checked with my US cell provider T-Mobile to find out if my phone is unlocked and able to accept another SIM card.

My iPhone is on a payment plan with significant promotional benefits so it cannot be unlocked until it’s fully paid off (I’m half way through the payments).

This means the Orange SIM card I purchased for 20 Euros is unusable and money wasted. I didn’t learn this until after I purchased the SIM and the staff person discovered it could not be activated.

It’s my fault for not checking ahead of time so I don’t blame Orange or T-Mobile

The SIM is linked to my passport so I can’t even give it away

Tip: if you plan to buy a SIM card in Europe make sure your phone is unlocked and fully able to use a second SIM.

I do have a T-Mobile international plan so I can communicate with friends and family at home. And I can use WhatsApp too because I have a data allowance.

I’m here for my first Camino so I’ll just think of this as a 20 Euro learning experience.

I always buy an eSIM in Canada before I leave then I activate it the day before to make sure everything is working. No need to pop any Sim cards in or out

trecile · Sep 15, 2023

SFHoneybee said:
Ahh.. good info-
I tried to go to my Phones settings (iPhone12) and it indicated no E-sim- I can't even remember where i looked on my phone..?-- I'll take a closer look at their Plans- do you remember roughly what the costs were to add the 15GB- I'm wondering if i'm just better going with Roaming on my phone now-- or if its better - price wise to get another Sim card?- if I did get another Sim card- we know they cost 20E- is it the same SIM car in Italy and Spain- where i will be before i start my Camino?

Do you have one of their unlimited plans that gives you free data roaming abroad? I think that most of them do. I have the Magenta Max plan which includes the 5 GB of high speed data while I'm abroad. I paid $50 for 15 more GB after I used up the 5 GB. More expensive than if I my phone was unlocked and I had been able to use a Spanish e-sim, but I did save a ton on the phone.

If I had been able to use a foreign e-sim I was going to use Airalo - they have regional plans that include all of Europe, and country specific plans. These are data only plans, and do not include phone calls. I get around that by using WhatsApp to make calls whenever possible. If I need to call a landline or other non-WhatsApp number I use the Viber app. I buy $5 worth of Viber Out credits, which enable me to make calls for about 2 cents a minute. I never come close to using all the credit and I don't think that it expires.

Maurice Frank · Sep 15, 2023

SFHoneybee said:
Ahh.. good info-
I tried to go to my Phones settings (iPhone12) and it indicated no E-sim- I can't even remember where i looked on my phone..?-- I'll take a closer look at their Plans- do you remember roughly what the costs were to add the 15GB- I'm wondering if i'm just better going with Roaming on my phone now-- or if its better - price wise to get another Sim card?- if I did get another Sim card- we know they cost 20E- is it the same SIM car in Italy and Spain- where i will be before i start my Camino?

The cost is $50 USD and there are taxes that add $5-7. Not cheap but convenient especially for my family and friends who need not make any changes to contact me

Maurice Frank · Sep 15, 2023

trecile said:
Do you have one of their unlimited plans that gives you free data roaming abroad? I think that most of them do. I have the Magenta Max plan which includes the 5 GB of high speed data while I'm abroad. I paid $50 for 15 more GB after I used up the 5 GB. More expensive than if I my phone was unlocked and I had been able to use a Spanish e-sim, but I did save a ton on the phone.

If I had been able to use a foreign e-sim I was going to use Airalo - they have regional plans that include all of Europe, and country specific plans. These are data only plans, and do not include phone calls. I get around that by using WhatsApp to make calls whenever possible. If I need to call a landline or other non-WhatsApp number I use the Viber app. I buy $5 worth of Viber Out credits, which enable me to make calls for about 2 cents a minute. I never come close to using all the credit and I don't think that it expires.

I have the Magenta Max for age 55+. Sounds similar to yours

trecile · Sep 15, 2023

Maurice Frank said:
The cost is $50 USD and there are taxes that add $5-7.

I don't remember being charged any taxes.

SFHoneybee · Sep 15, 2023

Maurice Frank said:
I have the Magenta Max for age 55+. Sounds similar to yours

What’s that monthly- if I can ask. I’ve been with T-Mobile when they were Sprint. I’m clearly overpaying 2-lines..$160 with taxes monthly..

Rita Flower · Sep 15, 2023

SFHoneybee said:
Ahh.. good info-
I tried to go to my Phones settings (iPhone12) and it indicated no E-sim-

iPhone 12 should be e-sim compatible. I tried a few e-sim providers on my last Europe trip / Camino (trial and error on my e-sim learning curve.)
This is what it looks like on my iPhone 11.

trecile · Sep 15, 2023

SFHoneybee said:
What’s that monthly- if I can ask. I’ve been with T-Mobile when they were Sprint. I’m clearly overpaying 2-lines..$160 with taxes monthly..

I have the 55+ plan - it's $90/month for two lines of unlimited calls, texts, and data (in the US) with no additional taxes or fees.

dougfitz · Sep 16, 2023

Bradypus said:
Not in the UK any more. New phones sold here since December 2021 are unlocked even if sold by a mobile network as part of a contract or pre-paid deal.

Still not a good reason to have a shot at our US cousins for a practice that still exists is many other countries.

Maurice Frank · Sep 16, 2023

SFHoneybee said:
What’s that monthly- if I can ask. I’ve been with T-Mobile when they were Sprint. I’m clearly overpaying 2-lines..$160 with taxes monthly..

For my wife and I the base rate for two lines is $90, taxes on this rate are included. We switched one year ago

SFHoneybee · Sep 16, 2023

trecile said:
I have the 55+ plan - it's $90/month for two lines of unlimited calls, texts, and data (in the US) with no additional taxes or fees.

I think technically the account is under my name- let me see what I can do to get this switched to my buddy- they will probably recognize their own numbers- but - I knew I was paying too much..

SFHoneybee · Sep 16, 2023

Rita Flower said:
iPhone 12 should be e-sim compatible. I tried a few e-sim providers on my last Europe trip / Camino (trial and error on my e-sim learning curve.)
This is what it looks like on my iPhone 11.

i"ll look into it again...thanks

Mycroft · Sep 16, 2023

Dennis Pack said:
What about buying a cheap unlocked phone to put your sim card in?
I love it when amerikans discover how screwed their telecommunications are

Glad it makes you happy. We in the US are stuck. If you know a work-around, we'd be happy to hear it.

I even bought an iPhone SE to replace my beloved iPod (that 'disappeared' from church last March) and even though I bought it outright (not on payments or contract) there's still some nonsense that I have to pay Verizon 60 days' worth of service before they'll unlock it. I only want it unlocked for the time I am traveling outside the US just in case I need to call because of an emergency, but no, Verizon refuses to unlock it.
Can anyone tell me if in Europe they have the same set up as in the US that one can call 911 (112 in Spain) without a SIM card and get through to the police/ambulance?

JCLima · Sep 16, 2023

Mycroft said:
Can anyone tell me if in Europe they have the same set up as in the US that one can call 911 (112 in Spain) without a SIM card and get through to the police/ambulance?

Yes

Mycroft · Sep 16, 2023

JCLima said:
Yes

Hooray! I won't worry about it then--I can simply dial 112 if needed.
Many thanks!!

Maurice Frank · Sep 17, 2023

trecile said:
I don't remember being charged any taxes.

On my plan taxes are included in the regular monthly rate, but they are extra with the international add on I have

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Lesson learned: must unlock phone to use a European SIM Card (My Fail)

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