need data/voice in Poland

[dan330]

my work buddy is going on vacation to Poland for 2 weeks. we need to talk for work.

he is using an iphone5 on ATT, in usa.

can he call ATT and get them to unlock his phone, so he can use it over seas?

then purchase a prepaid SIM in Poland.. that lets him use voice and data..
plan to talk on WeChat.. to keep work info back and forth. WeChat needs Data/internet to work

 

[mikedt]

I think you can request an unlock from AT&T...

https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/
General Eligibility Requirements for Unlocking All AT&T Mobile Devices

AT&T will unlock an AT&T Mobile Device under the following circumstances:

• The person requesting the unlock must be one of the following:
  • a current AT&T customer
  • a former AT&T customer who can provide the phone number or account number for the account
• The AT&T Mobile Device was designed for use on AT&T's network.
• The AT&T Mobile Device has not been reported lost or stolen

Once it's unlocked the iPhone will work in Poland using a SIM from a Polish carrier. Although WeChat will work on WiFi even if the phone is still locked.

BTW I think WeChat/Weixin is great, I was using it all the time to talk(push-to-talk and IM) with my friends in China, when I was in the UK for a few weeks recently. And I was just using WiFi, didn't bother with mobile data in the UK.

 

[dan330]

thanks for the info, Mike.

i was pretty sure about the unlocking..
and knew about it being fully usable with WIFI/hotspot connection.

the main issue..
he does not believe that you can buy a perpaid SIM.. that lets you use DATA on cell towers. he thinks it is only for phone calls only.

 

[mikedt]

thanks for the info, Mike.

i was pretty sure about the unlocking..
and knew about it being fully usable with WIFI/hotspot connection.

the main issue..
he does not believe that you can buy a perpaid SIM.. that lets you use DATA on cell towers. he thinks it is only for phone calls only.

Don't know anything about Polish carriers. But as Poland is in the EU, they should offer mobile data with pre-paid SIMs. However it will more than likely be metered, pay by the MB. WeChat doesn't use much data.

When I was in the UK, I bought a pre-paid O2 international SIM at Heathrow Airport. Which offered very cheap calls to China, 1.5p GBP a minute. In fact it was cheaper to call China, than to call phones in the UK However mobile data on it was quite expensive, so I didn't bother. I found WiFi to be plentiful there.

 

[dan330]

that is what i thought...

but he is visiting his sis.. who is taking her vow to become a nun. he will be staying with her in convent area.. he thinks there will be now wifi/hotspots available.

 

[Thatdad]

Wifi+Skype, Tango, ooVoo=Smiles and calls without unlocks.