US smart phones in Russia

[Renee (Stillings) Huhs]

Mark,

Depends on your provider. I have T-Mobile (for Blackberry) and can call them
to activate an unlimited roaming feature when I am abroad - if I did not,
spam alone would bankrupt me. However, this only applies to emails. There
are still surcharges for web browsing and that can add up quickly. You also
need to be alert to this if using a wi-fi connection to use your phone to
make calls. I think also that opening attachments puts you into billable
download.

In short, you need to call your provider and get the specifics for Russia -
as fees for everything (calls, data/email, browser) can vary widely.

You can also just take your SIM out and replace it with a local SIM card and
have a local number. To do that you also need to have your provider here
"unblock" your phone.

Renee

-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
[mailto:SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of Mark Yoffe
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 11:24 AM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: [SEELANGS] US smart phones in Russia

Dear colleagues,
I have never yet traveled to Russia with a smart phone (Google,
Android platform). What happens to it there? Does it function with a
regular US sim card? Does it roam tirelessly leading to huge charges?
What is the best policy regarding that? To block roaming and turn it
into a regular cell phone? Would it even work in Russia?
Any advise on the subject is welcome.
Mark Yoffe, GWU

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