phone and tech information badly needed

[peregrina2000]

Hi, everyone,
I am sorry that I just don't have time to search the forum and all the many posts I've seen on this topic. So please forgive me asking you to give the same advice again.

I am supposed to leave the US on Wed. My mom (aged 88) was just released from the hospital yesterday and will have some follow-up tests on heart issues, etc. She and my dad are telling me to go to the Camino.

Several months ago, I posted with some questions about maybe bringing an ipad equipment-questions/topic17209.html
I decided to stay low-tech and rely on computers in libraries and casas culturales. And I confess, I didn't understand a lot of the discussion, but some sensible comments by evanlow convinced me that I should just stick to the old low-tech approach. I do have a cheap cell phone bought in Spain years ago and every year I just load 20-30 euros on it and use that for calling in Spain. So I don't need a phone to use in Spain.

Now it is much more important that I have phone/internet access to the US. I can upgrade to an iphone5 for a reasonable price and wonder if that is the way to go. I am sure I can find people in Spain to help me figure it out.

Can you give me your advice as to what is the best way to have regular phone contact with the US? Can I get a good plan with my provider (Verizon)? Can I take the iphone 5 to Spain and get a good plan put into it by a Spanish provider?

Please please remember that the person asking these questions is the village idiot of technology. I do not understand locked vs. unlocked, SIM card , 4G, none of that.

I really appreciate the help and sorry to be so burdensome. Laurie

 

[NicoZ]

I can't remember if the Verizon Iphone is a world phone or not. Even if it is the LTE (4G High speed data) aren't likely EU standard.

Okay did a bit of searching.

Supposedly the Verizon Iphone 5 is unlocked. Ask the shop to confirm this. If this is true you'll be able to buy a Spanish SIM and use the phone to call home/access the internet. When you get to Spain install the Spanish SIM you'll purchase.

You won't get the highest data speeds but I doubt you'll notice or care. So don't worry about that.


http://support.verizonwireless.com/clc/ ... l?id=64918

That shows how to insert the SIM and remove it .

Only a couple of things. The phone uses a smaller SIM. There is a risk a small rural shop might not have them. So best to buy the SIM in a bigger city.

Ask in Spain about LD calling plans. The providers will likely have a call home plan. If you're lucky it'll include the US.

Ask about the smartphone plans. Then at worst you'll be able to email home. Total cost for a smart phone plan for a month is going to be less then you've been spending in past years for just voice.