Postcards! Cellphones!

[brigdh]

If anyone would like me to send them a postcard from Cyprus, send me your address! Comments are screened, or send an email to brigdh at gmail (or brigdh at yahoo, I'm using both email addresses at the moment). Everyone is welcome to, as I like sending letters! I'll have a filtered post up with my address later. ETA: You do not need to know me personally or well to request a postcard! Everyone join in.

Speaking of Cyprus, apparently American cellphones do not work in European countries. Who knew? Since I don't want to buy a new cellphone to use for just two months, no one happens to have a European cellphone they're not using, do they?

Comments

[chthonicsiren.livejournal.com]

When I was in Austria for a month I just used calling cards, which weren't too expensive, although you will be in Cyprus somewhat longer. I've heard international cellphones are expensive but I've never used one.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

You may be able to just buy a new GSM chip to use in an existing GSM phone; that may or not help.

[rinkori.livejournal.com]

You can activate your phone for use in Europe--it's what I did while traveling abroad. You have to call your company and see about changing your plan either temporarily or permanently, though.

[clari-clyde.livejournal.com]

Well, the CDMA (Sprint, Verizon, Virgin Mobile U.S.) phones won’t work but, the GSM (Cingular, T-Mobile) ones might as long as they’re unlocked (to take SIMs from other carriers) and have the right bands. For voice, U.S. is on the 850 Mhz and 1900 Mhz bands and Europe is on the 900 Mhz and 1800 Mhz bands — so a triband or quadband phone should work both places. As for data, that’s a can of worms I’m still trying to sort out.

You near northern California? I have a triband phone (850/1800/1900) I can loan out so long as you don’t mind the Hello Kitty theme. Just bring your own sim card.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I do have a Sprint, unfortunately, and am nowhere near California. Thank you for the technical explanation, byt the way; I was making up wild assumptions that it had something to do with satellites!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

That seems like I'll be most likely to do, as I apparently I have cellphone model particularly unsuited for international use. Thanks for reminding me of them!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I don't have a GSM unfortunately; I wish I'd known about all this back when I was buying my last cellphone. *grins*

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Most of the websites I've been looking at seem to think that it depends on what kind of phone you have (and I have the wrong kind, unfortunately), but it's certainly worth calling and checking! Thanks.

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

http://www.rangeroamer.com/countries/Cyprus.aspx?src=adw&gclid=CPGBxoPClowCFQGPWAodwm8k5w

I found this info for you. Perhaps you can rent a phone for your stay. The listed rate seems reasonable.

GOOD LUCK and have a blast!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Apparently European cellphones are set to a different frequency than American ones. Who knew? I might just end up buying some calling cards.

And hey, if I didn't want to send a card to everyone, I'd have filtered the post! I'd love to send you one.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Not creepy at all! I'd have filtered the post if I thought it was. I am all about sending cards to EVERYONE. XD

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm looking forward to it.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hooray!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hey, it saves me having to look up your zip code.

Re: directed here by rach

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I wish! But I apparently have the wrong kind of cellphone; I wish I'd realized this was an issue back when I was buying my phone. But I might just end up buying some calling cards.

And certainly you may!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I'll have to look into that!

Re: directed here by rach

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

Alas! I hope you can find a good solution.

Thank you! :)

[rayechu.livejournal.com]

Hmms. I have one friend who went somewhere, so I was going to ask her about phones, but she didn't answer or call me back. It is really useful to know though, because I have a co-worker going on a trip soon as well. I'll have to tell her about the phone thing.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! I'm excited.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Heh, sure. Should I say I'm a friend of yours, so it's not an utterly random post card?

It seems that most of the world uses one frequency, while America has another (and possibly Japan has a third, I don't know). As annoying as the metric system or Celsius temperatures, I suppose; I do wish sometimes that the US could get on the boat with the rest of the planet.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And I'd love to send you a card (though I didn't realize you lived so close to my parents!).

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee. But I'd love to see you a card, you've sent me ones for Christmas!

[aonekosama.livejournal.com]

Say or don't say, whatever you like. ^^ I think she will suspect me being involved, anyway.

I don't get that Fahrenheit thing. It's so... not logical at all! :D I have to goole every temperature you mention to know how hot or cold it is, because I can't for the life of me remember the Fahrenheit readings... I leafed through the Wikipedia article on it just now, and I have to say it now makes even less sense to me. ^^'

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee. Okay.

Yeah, I'm the same with regards to Celsius. I try to remember that body temperature is around 37, and then figure how warm a temperature is by how far away it is from 37, but that's usually not all that helpful. I can think in the metric system because I'm used to using it for science, but Celsius remains foreign to me. Maybe I'll get used to it while I'm in Cyprus, though!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

And I want to send you one!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Sure! I'll just be sure to send yours early, so you get it in time.

I'm still waiting to get one of my addresses back, but when I do, I'm going to post it so everyone can send me mail! Though a postcard from Japan would be especially cool.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee. I'm going to end up sending cards to several people I don't know. But it's nice to feel popular!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee. Of course I'll send you a postcard!

Apparently, European cellphones run on a different frequency than American ones. I'd assume Poland and Cyprus are close enough to be the same frequency, but I think you're right and there's probably not enough time for you to send. Heh, I suppose I really should have posted about this earlier. #^^# Thank you so much for the offer, though!

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee. And hey- it's an address that's two for one now! I can write to both of you.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

Thank you for my card, it is beautiful! Also I friended you, though I am unlikely to have a ton to say on any of the HP/slash stuff :)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it made it to you! And feel free to friend me, though I won't actually be saying much about HP: it's not one of my fandoms. Hee. But regardless, you're welcome to just read and comment on what you like.