Hi again,
Can anyone tell me about mobile phones in the Algarve? Can I buy a cheap local phone that I would be able to use for local calls in the area?
I think if I use my Irish mobile, the call is routed through Ireland and back to Cvo. I could be wrong so feel free to correct me if I am.
I would want one for myself and one for my good lady.
We are hoping to come out for a long stay next March.

Dal...
Go to Algarve Shopping Center, Guia, ground floor shops for all mobiles/servers etc. English speaking on the whole helpful staff will talk you through any questions you may have. Hope this information is of some help.
Nightrider.

Advice as per 'nightrider' - but all you need is a new sim card for your existing phone, not a complete new set-up.

Earlier this year we paid € 25 and got € 20 of calls included.

Thanks guys,
Sounds like a plan!
Next question. Is "Cheers" open in March? Is Cvo quiet in March?
Oops, that's two questions.

You must make sure your UK phone is unlocked otherwise it won't accept another SIM

Not necessarily true. If you buy a phone in the UK, without a sim card for a particular mobile company, then the phone should theoretically take any sim card!

Well not necessarily true that it will be locked but you should certainly check to make sure it is unlocked before you come out because generally Portuguese companies will not unlock it for you

On the subject of unlocking... my wife and I have a Nokia and a Panasonic mobile that we bought here in Portugal and that are on the Vodafone network. We want to be able to put our english mobile SIM cards in them (which are on the Orange network) so does anyone know if there is a way to unlock them for this? Any websites where you download unlock codes for free?

Great! If anybody knows of a website where you can download unlock codes for free, let me know!
There is a guy in a Dublin back street who performs these operations for a small fee and is making a fortune. What he does is a closely guarded secret. He takes your phone into the back room to "adjust" it. Ten minutes later and your unlocked. No receipt or guarantee.

There is a forum within "Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert" website which deals with unlocking Nokia phones - have a look at

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/for ... .html?f=14

There may be other links within the vast site to other phones, but at least it's a start. And the emphasis on the site is - save money!
www.moneysavingexpert.com

G

Thanks Graham! Followed a link on the website you reccommended to www.trycktill.com and have unlocked my Portuguese Nokia mobile! Unfortunately it doesnt have my wifes Panasonic model on it so will have to try elsewhere.
Dalcassian, try the above link - its free!!

Hi,

I’ve got a Samsung with a pt provider (TMN) and I want to unlock (unblock) it, and connect to a UK network. I’ve found a site giving free instructions, but I’m not getting very far

Could some confirm my suspicions: do I need to be connected to the existing pt network when unlocking it? (or is that a stupid question?)

cheers

Try this site. It has free software to unlock any phone. Only thing is that some phones need selective cables to do it, like Sony Ericsson.

http://simlock.techgsm.com/simlock/u/

In reply to Digger's question you do not connect to any existing network when you unlock your cell phone. Another easy source for unlocking is try EBAY. You can pick up a cheap onetime remote code unlock for certain makes like Nokia just by giving the seller on line the IMEI number.

Another method is go to TMN and ask them if they will unlock it as you wish to use the phone outside Portugal. A lot of times the phone companies will do this free or for a small price. Can't hurt to try.

Alternatively, there is a mobile phone shop in Lagoa that will unlock your phone for €25.

We have tried both routes with this subject - 1st time round we bought a Portuguese sim card (around £20 I think) to put in my 'English' mobile, arranged with Vodafone to unlock my phone which they said they were going to charge for but don't think they ever did - then ended up losing the sim card. 2nd time round just bought the whole phone which came with 25 euros credit, from the Faro airport shop and now just top it up via our (Portuguese) bank card. As Roy says (nice to see you back by the way Roy ! - how was 'sunny' England ?!) - loads of shops in the Guia shopping centre will sort you out no problem.

Oops, just spotted Roy's post was last year - it must be getting late !