Cell Phone information for Greece

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Until recently, the only way to have a cell phone for Greece, or any other international destination for that matter, was to rent a cell phone. In recent years, other more convenient and less expensive options have become available – especially one very recent yet lesser known option that allows virtually anyone going to Greece to be able to afford a cell phone, but first, let’s take a look at all of the approaches.

Ironically, the most common way to obtain cell phone access in Greece--renting a cell phone--is also the most expensive as well as the least convenient. There are many cell phone rental companies that offer service for Greece. Typically, you will need to rent the physical cell phone for the required amount of time plus pay for the airtime usage. Airtime rates do vary among the cell phone rental companies but typically they average $1.50-$2.00 per minute for incoming calls and calls within Greece with calls placed internationally slightly higher. With your rented phone, you usually receive a UK phone number but sometimes the number will be a Greek one. In any case, you will almost always inevitably receive phone calls intended for prior renters. Conventional cell phone rentals also require you to sign lengthy and verbose contractual agreements with the cellular rental company plus you will be required to leave a hefty deposit on your credit card. More than one cell phone renter has found themselves unable to use their credit card due to high deposit holds on their credit card. They also usually make a few dollars on insurance which they encourage you to purchase due to the risk of paying hundreds of dollars if the phone is lost or stolen. Cell phone rental agencies are commonly found in most international airports and can be rented prior to the departure or usually upon arrival. Renting a cell phone may be a practical solution for those who decide they need a cell phone at the spur of the moment and for those who didn't have time to make other less-expensive arrangements.

Another alternative is to "roam" with your current US or Canadian carrier - provided they offer international service. Depending on the carrier, rates will be slightly less expensive than the cell phone rental option and the procedure is usually also less cumbersome. Unless you are with a GSM carrier and have what is known as a tri-band cell phone, they will need to provide you with a GSM phone that is compatible for use overseas. T-Mobile, Nextel, Cingular and AT&T all offer international service but it tends to be expensive. They will either rent or sell you an international cell phone and you will be billed directly on your statement. On top of this, most of these carriers will also require you to pay a fee just for signing up for their international service. Keep in mind that you will retain your usual US number. While this is convenient for some, inevitably you will be receiving non-essential calls while you are in Greece so if you are looking to economize, this tends to be an expensive solution. This approach is most suitable for those who absolutely need to be reached at their US cell phone number and at any expense. It is very important to note that with this option every outgoing call will be an international call and there is also a greater possibility of network error due to more complex routing. For example, if you are in your hotel in Athens and call to a restaurant in Athens, that call will be routed back to North America.

The third approach, although the least known, is by far the most cost-effective for obtaining cellular service while in Greece and is also the solution of choice for many of the savvy journalists and television networks covering the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Basically, this involves utilizing the same cell phone service as the Greeks and therefore paying the same rates they pay and getting access to the same local and direct cellular lines as they do. One of the greatest benefits with this option is being able to receive unlimited free incoming calls from anywhere in the world. Just this single aspect alone makes obtaining a cell phone worthwhile for many travelers needing to stay in touch while in Greece. However, there are also a number of other advantages in using a local cellular system. These other benefits include pay-as-you-go service (no contracts), low domestic and international outgoing rates and fantastic coverage and reception. Rates are approximately $0.35 for domestic calls anywhere within Greece and $0.80 to call internationally within Europe or to the US or Canada. Using the local cellular system means you will also have a local phone number. Having a local number is useful for a couple of reasons. First, if the airline or hotel needs to get in touch with you, sometimes they can only make outgoing calls to Greek numbers. Secondly, if you meet Greek locals and want to give your phone number out, they are not forced to dial an international number. Another convenience is that since this is the method that the locals use, if you have any question about the phone service, chances are they will be familiar with it and can help you.

The pre paid or “pay-as-you-go” paying system has distinct advantages as well although you do have to take caution not to run out of credit if you want to be able to place an outgoing call (since incoming is free, you can still receive incoming calls with zero balance). Similar to the way we are used to purchasing gas for a car (on an “as needed” basis), you will never get a surprise phone bill. Also, if the phone is lost or stolen, there is no risk that a huge phone bill will be rung up – you just lose the credit that you have on the phone and the phone itself.

In order to obtain this type of phone service, you will need to have two basic elements--a GSM cell phone that is compatible for Greece and as well as a SIM card for Greece. In Greece, as in over 200 other countries in the world, cellular service providers have decided to utilize the GSM system (Global System for Mobile Communications). GSM is the world's predominant mobile phone standard, which was first adopted in Europe and then spread throughout Asia, Africa and the Pacific Rim (Australia, New Zealand, etc.). This explains why the same cell phone that works in Athens also works in Paris, Rome, Hong Kong and Sydney. The United States however decided not standardize and it was left to the competing wire carriers to create whatever standard they wished including CDMA and TDMA. Only recently has the US aggressively embraced the GSM standard. Carriers such as T-Mobile, Cingular and AT&T now use the GSM standard in the majority of the markets they serve. However, even the GSM standard that we use in the US and Canada is not compatible overseas. This is why many US outbound travelers have difficulty getting wireless coverage when they are overseas without paying $1-$7/minute. Once you have a GSM phone, and if it has the capability of working on all three of the GSM frequencies (called a tri band phone), you can use it virtually all over the world. Please note that the phone must be “unlocked.” A locked phone means that the phone will only accept a SIM card from a specific carrier, hence it is "locked" into that carrier. Many cellular providers around the world, as well as all US carriers, lock their cell phones before distributing them. Therefore, if you do get a tri-band GSM cell phone, make sure that it is unlocked so that you can freely use it the way you please in any country featuring GSM service.

The other necessary element for having cellular service with a GSM phone is the SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module). This electronic chip is what gives you the service Greece, including the low Greek cell phone rates as well as a Greek number. Once you have a SIM card for a Greek carrier, you simply slip it into your GSM phone and you are automatically on the local system. SIM cards come with some initial talk time to which additional credit can be added at any time. You can add more minutes to the SIM card by purchasing a recharge card, available in various denominations at most convenience stores, gas stations, magazine stands and cell phone stores. You must, of course, be in Greece to get the benefits of the Greek system including the low rates and unlimited free incoming calls.

You can order a SIM card for Greece and an unlocked GSM phone from Cellular Abroad, based in Santa Monica, California (www.cellularabroad.com). They will sell you a SIM card and either rent or sell you a GSM cell phone. If you are planning on going to Greece for a short visit and do not plan on traveling overseas again and have no use for a GSM cellular phone in the US or Canada, then renting is the better option. Cellular Abroad also offers convenient package deals with a tri-band GSM cell phone and a Greece card along with all the plug adapters you need, all at a low, discount price. If you purchase a tri-band GSM phone, not only can you use it in Greece but anywhere in the world where the GSM system is used. That way, next time you go to another destination, you only need to purchase a SIM card for that specific country, or, you can also purchase an international SIM card if you travel to many countries. Keep in mind that with an international SIM card, while convenient since you will have one phone number regardless of what country you are in, you will be roaming and therefore you won’t be benefiting from the local service and rates. If you do happen to use one of the domestic cellular carriers who utilizes the GSM standard, as an added bonus, you can travel the world with just one phone, simply swapping SIM cards from country to country in order to take advantage of the local rates.

Cellular Abroad is offering a $10 discount to all Greece.com visitors. Be sure to mention Greece.com when you call (1-800.287.3020) or, if ordering online, enter promo code Greece.com. Go to www.cellularabroad.com.