using as Satallite phone?

[pechroc1]

Going to Europe and was wondering since i have a sprint phone can i...

A) hook up to a cdma carrier out there or
B) is there some way to convert it to use a satellite signal for phone calls?

I'm obviously new to this and it may sound ridiculous but maybe there's a quick answer, or another idea besides getting a pre-paid?

thnks guys!

Originally Posted by pechroc1

Going to Europe and was wondering since i have a sprint phone can i...

A) hook up to a cdma carrier out there or
B) is there some way to convert it to use a satellite signal for phone calls?

I'm obviously new to this and it may sound ridiculous but maybe there's a quick answer, or another idea besides getting a pre-paid?

thnks guys!

I don't think there are any European CDMA carriers. No satellite phone capability either, the phone just doesn't have the hardware.

If you need to use it to make calls, consider getting a Skype account, installing the client, and just bumming wifi to make calls?

Edit: I mention Skype because the WinMo client works GREAT!

[stevedusa]

CDMA? Europe? They don't mix.

Satellite? Not a chance on this phone. Besides if you want to pay about what, $12 a minute and lag a giant battery pack and an antenna that's bigger than the phone itself.

[MadlyAlive]

Pick up a GSM rental while over there. You can get pre-paid SIM cards for decent prices. That'll be the way to go.

[pechroc1]

thanks bro. We'll probably wind up getting a pre-paid NEway but it a good idea in case we get split up (going with a couple of friends to Amsterdam and Ibiza in June) lots of hotels and other wifi sources around so its probly not a bad option (if the networks are unsecured???)

how about text messaging?

thanks again

[pechroc1]

O... and if i have a gsm phone from here can i use a prepaid sim from there?

[stevedusa]

Originally Posted by pechroc1

O... and if i have a gsm phone from here can i use a prepaid sim from there?

As long as that phone has no network (subsidy) lock on it.

[MadlyAlive]

Originally Posted by pechroc1

thanks bro. We'll probably wind up getting a pre-paid NEway but it a good idea in case we get split up (going with a couple of friends to Amsterdam and Ibiza in June) lots of hotels and other wifi sources around so its probly not a bad option (if the networks are unsecured???)

how about text messaging?

thanks again

Ah...Ibiza...I miss it so much there! Amsterdam isn't bad either

I really don't care if they are unsecured or not...just use it when you need to. Skype has built in security, so you should be OK there.

On a side note, Skype will work great while you're over there. It'll be hella cheap when you're calling back to the states and you'll sound like you're right next to the person. My boss was just in the Netherlands and people came up to me to ask where he was and when I told them they almost didn't believe me.

[CountryDevil]

Originally Posted by MadlyAlive

Ah...Ibiza...I miss it so much there! Amsterdam isn't bad either

I really don't care if they are unsecured or not...just use it when you need to. Skype has built in security, so you should be OK there.

On a side note, Skype will work great while you're over there. It'll be hella cheap when you're calling back to the states and you'll sound like you're right next to the person. My boss was just in the Netherlands and people came up to me to ask where he was and when I told them they almost didn't believe me.

Agree.. Skype is the best way to go for a lower price. But if you can pick up a couple of "unlocked" GSM phones here cheap. Then you can get a couple of pre-paid cards over there.

Originally Posted by MadlyAlive

Ah...Ibiza...I miss it so much there! Amsterdam isn't bad either

I really don't care if they are unsecured or not...just use it when you need to. Skype has built in security, so you should be OK there.

On a side note, Skype will work great while you're over there. It'll be hella cheap when you're calling back to the states and you'll sound like you're right next to the person. My boss was just in the Netherlands and people came up to me to ask where he was and when I told them they almost didn't believe me.

He means as long as the wifi networks are unsecured Not that a WEP-secured network is a problem, it only takes about 3 minutes to crack most WEP passwords, but it's just as much of a hassle to carry a laptop with a copy of aircrack on it. Skype will be cheap for US calls If you're going to be talking to people who may have Skype anyway, skype-to-skype calls are free.