Odds and Ends

[hrj]

It's way to early to have any feedback on the passport renewal process, but I talked to the folks here at the Big B making the travel arrangements and made sure they knew what my situation was. Since nobody said, "Oh, well, then we'll send someone else," I guess I'm still potentially on the team. And fortunately my life is organized such that I can cope with finding out at the last minute whether I'm going of not. The only annoying part will be trying to make tentative arrangements to see people while I'm there without dreadfully inconveniencing anyone if I end up not going. One of the things it occurs to me to look into is whether I can get short-term international access for my Cingular phone. (One of the reasons I went with Cingular was because they use the international standard for their network, but I'd still need to get a different SIM card or something.) Presumably I'll have internet access one way or another.

On an entirely different note, for the friends who are following along on my mother's myeloma, her oncologist went so far as to utter the word "remission" when discussing her current progress -- with the caveat that there are different types of remission. So that's good news, knowing how conservative doctors tend to be.

Comments

[maestrateresa.livejournal.com]

her oncologist went so far as to utter the word "remission"

Ooo! That *is* good news! :)

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

Our Cingular phones were supposed to be set up to work in Europe and they didn't. I have no idea whether that has any bearing on your phone.

That is pretty good news about your mom!

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

You can get Cingular short-term international service, but it will take a long time and a fight with customer "service", if my previous boss's experience is an example.

Fingers crossed for the good meaning of "remission".

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

We could buy pre-paid sims compatible with our phones in England in the grocery store. You might check it out with your friends and/or co-workers overseas.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

So how does that work -- does the phone still have your usual number (for incoming calls) or does it become a "different" phone for the duration (so that you'd have to give the new/temporary number to poeple you want to be able to call you)?

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

It had a different number, one that came with the SIM.

[egoldberg.livejournal.com]

I've done this a few times, so...

You need to make sure your phone is 'unlocked' before you can use it overseas. That is easy or hard based on what model of phone.

You definitely don't want to use Cingular as your mobile company overseas; they charge as much as $2-$3/minute. Instead, just buy a local SIM (as you now know.)

Note that GSM frequency bands also vary from country to country, so your phone may or may not work based on the country.

If this becomes something seriously on you rmind (e.g. trip is definitive), let me know and I can help you in detail.