Portugal SIM cards/service

[lambretta76]

Anyone know of a decent place to get a SIM card and prepaid service in Portugal? I've seen that TMN's Pako service seems to be the best, but no way of ordering it (as far as I can tell) from TMN's site... also, is TMN the only game in Portugal, or are there other wireless providers? I've picked up a cheap T68i for use in Europe and would like to have a local (European) number while over there. Or, if someone could recommend another country's service that has free incoming and decent rates in Portugal...

[Andy]

Originally posted by: lambretta76
Anyone know of a decent place to get a SIM card and prepaid service in Portugal? I've seen that TMN's Pako service seems to be the best, but no way of ordering it (as far as I can tell) from TMN's site... also, is TMN the only game in Portugal, or are there other wireless providers? I've picked up a cheap T68i for use in Europe and would like to have a local (European) number while over there. Or, if someone could recommend another country's service that has free incoming and decent rates in Portugal...

Free incoming in Portugal with a foreign SIM is not possible...let me find out a little more info for you [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I'll be back!

[Andy]

All right....I'm back already.
There are three mobile phone operators in Portugal:

Optimus Telecomunicacoes, S.A

Telecomunicacoes Moveis Nacionais S.A (TMN)

Vodafone Portugal

Coverage Maps:
Optimus Telecomunicacoes, S.A


Telecomunicacoes Moveis Nacionais S.A (TMN)


Vodafone Portugal


Optimus is the newest wireless operator in Portugal, whereas TMN and Vodafone went live in October of 1992... only thing I'm confused on myself is how can Vodafone have less nationwide coverage then Optimus, who went live in 1998??? I guess something might be wrong.
Anyways, hope this helped a little.
Andy

[lambretta76]

Alright - now it seems that I just have to figure out how to purchase a SIM card from them. Ideally, I'd like to have it before I head over there, but if I were to purchase one there - it would probably be as easy as going to a Optimus/TMN/Vodaphone store and buying one? Thanks much for your help!

[ZaphodB]

No, you can't buy them here (not nearly as cheaply anyway)... but once you get there, any airport news stand, any kiosk, any telecom store, and any music/video store will have prepaid cards and you can get a SIM too.

[ShoresGuy]

I tried navigating the site to see if I could find out how much a prepaid SIM costs but the language is just too complex. Best of Luck though [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[Andy]

Originally posted by: ShoresGuy
I tried navigating the site to see if I could find out how much a prepaid SIM costs but the language is just too complex. Best of Luck though [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

You have too much free time [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[ShoresGuy]

Originally posted by: Andy84094

Originally posted by: ShoresGuy
I tried navigating the site to see if I could find out how much a prepaid SIM costs but the language is just too complex. Best of Luck though [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

You have too much free time [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

It depends on the day, college graduation is in 3 weeks but I still like to try and help people out [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[ZaphodB]

Well, I can parse Portuguese well enough to be able to figure some of it out from www.tmn.pt so here it is:

Prepaid service is called "mimo" and if you call another TMN phone it's EUR0,25 for the first minute and EUR0,15 for each minute thereafter. Calls to other networks (including landlines) are EUR0,40 a minute. Now here's the fantastic part... calls to the United States and Canada are slightly under EUR0,42 per minute weekdays and slightly under EUR0,21 weekends and (Portuguese) national holidays. That is an absolutely outstanding rate, you couldn't do better with a calling card by the time you add in per-call charges.

Free incoming calls. 800 "numeros verdes" and emergency (112 and 117) are free.

Billing is per ten-seconds after the first minute. You must recharge your Mimo plan with at least EUR25,00 every 90 days. Apparently the SIM costs EUR25,00.

[ShoresGuy]

Nice I wish I would get better prepaid rates from Vodafone UK Pay As You Talk for British holidays such as Bank Holidays [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]......weekends are pretty cheap though.

[ZaphodB]

Actually, I found one even better, the "Passaporte" prepaid service has EUR0,33 to the US, EUR0,46 in-Portugal calls, and EUR0,20 on weekends no matter where you call.

[Andy]

Originally posted by: ZaphodB
You must recharge your Mimo plan with at least EUR25,00 every 90 days. Apparently the SIM costs EUR25,00.

And that's the catch I guess, but if you go to Portugal quite frequently this is an outstanding deal!!!!!

[Andy]

Originally posted by: ShoresGuy

Originally posted by: Andy84094

Originally posted by: ShoresGuy
I tried navigating the site to see if I could find out how much a prepaid SIM costs but the language is just too complex. Best of Luck though [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

You have too much free time [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

It depends on the day, college graduation is in 3 weeks but I still like to try and help people out [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Everybody does [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[starshoot]

I can't see the date on this but I have a TMN sim card in my phone that I got in PT. I am trying to avoid going back to Portugal to unblock my phone. Does anyone know if they will unblock it if i go. I don't have international service here in the states and can't call them. I have a number for samsung 808 200 128 but need contact fot TMN to see if they will unblock if I go there. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I have the IMEI number.