Cell phone in Russia?

[Amanda Ewington]

Hello all,

I will be in Moscow and St. Petersburg for six weeks this summer  
leading Davidson’s summer program and would like to work out a cell  
phone plan before I go.  Last time I led the group, in 2003, I borrowed  
a phone from a Russian colleague and then had to navigate Megafon’s  
office bureaucracy and long lines.  Given the ubiquity of cell phones  
around Moscow, I assume there must be an easier way!  Does anyone out  
there have experience with buying a phone here that works with a  
Russian SIM card?  If so, was it a hassle to get the card in Moscow?   
In other words, can a Megafon office visit be avoided?  I’m also  
wondering about rentals.   I found  several options on the web and  
would be grateful to hear your  experiences with any of the following  
companies:

http://www.cellularabroad.com/russiasg.html
https://www.gotorussia.com/cell_phone_rentals.htm
http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?PRODUCT_ID=LSIM-RU01
http://www.waytorussia.net/Services/Extra/Mobile.html
http://www.travelcell.com/tcrates.asp? 
ID=CIJETFZVXG1138664798773&COUNTRY=131&cntitle=Russia
http://www.bootsnall.com/guides/05-09/russia-cell-phone-rental.html
Shercomservice : Sheremetevo Airport

Thank you!

Amanda Ewington
____________________________________
Amanda Ewington, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Russian
Davidson College
Department of German and Russian
Box 6936
Davidson, NC 28035-6936
tel:  (704)894-2397
fax: (704)894-2782
amewington at davidson.edu
http://www.davidson.edu/russian/index.htm

Courier:
209 Ridge Road
Davidson, NC 28036
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