Hello - I have a Nextel cell phone (a higher end model) and have been doing some text messaging to friends over in Ireland. But sometimes the service is really terrible. For the past four days, I haven’t been able to receive or send texts overseas. I called tech support and was told there was a power outage in a data server or something like that. What the heck?? That’s unacceptable and totally unreliable!
I’m organizing a few concerts here in Vermont and trying to coordinate things with musicians overseas and it’s really great to be able to text back and forth! But right now I’m ready to throw my damn phone out the window!
So I’m seriously looking into switching my service to another company. Who here from the US does a lot of texting to Ireland?? How’s the service? Who would you recommend? I don’t mind paying extra for some decent service!
When I was in Ireland in 2003 I had a T-mobile phone from the states. I got it unlocked by T-Mobile, and bought a Vodafone pay-as-you-go SIM card.
By putting the international prefix on the phone number I was texting to, I was able to text to America. I think it cost me 25 cents (euro cents, that is) per message. In Ireland/England, receiving messages (and calls, for that matter) is free.
I was successfully able to send and receive messages with an american on T-Mobile. I was unsuccessful in attempts to text to/from another american using Verizon. I don’t know why.
Additionally, when I was in Italy I used the international roaming on my T-Mobile plan (a free add on, you just have to request it. Flat rates depending on your location). For 40 cents US I was able to send text messages overseas. I sent regular text messages to my T-Mobile friend as well as email text messages to several other people (texting to an email address is an option with T-Mobile, I don’t know about other phones).
Right now, I still have my T-mobile origin phone but no longer have a t-mobile account. I have a pay-as-you-go SIM card with a british system called Fresh (which I am told is run on the T-Mobile network, incidentally).
I think I have about 10 pence left on my account, so I can’t text a reply, but if you want to test sending a message to me you’re welcome to. I don’t know how much it costs to send an international text on Fresh. If you want to test at any point, email me.
Actually, in case anyone is interested, you can text to Ireland using Verizon Wireless. They are partners with Vodafone which explains the reason it’s been pretty reliable. I just got a new phone yesterday. So far so good!
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