LuvSlav
4/7/2016 16:39 EST
Just kinda spit ballin' some ideas on cell phone plans. Here's my thought process. I want to get a cell phone plan that will work in nearly every part of UA.
I am pretty certain I'll be traveling to the Carpathians and later to parts East, to Kharkiv or Sumy at some point and I don't want to buy 3 different sim cards and always be wondering which one has cash on it. Although on second thought, I could act like a sailor: different gal in every port, different phone for each. haha
Ok, back to reality, just wondering if there was a cell provider that covers the entire country or is it better to just get a cheapo phone and plan before I go to wherever. Wouldn't care if it got lost or stolen that way...
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extremevx
4/7/2016 16:43 EST
I have "life 3G". I live in nikolaev and have been to odessa, kiev, kherson, lviv, Ivan franciska, kharkiv, bokevel and it worked in all those places. 4 bucks a month ultimate talk, 500 SMS and 1gb data.
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smmoravec
4/7/2016 23:12 EST
I bought a dual SIM international phone (i.e.: unlocked). I have my U.S. SIM (T-Mobile) and my Kyivstar SIM in it. Works nice as T-Mobile covers all of Europe so my family can still text me for free, I have free data roaming on 2G and voice is $.20 a minute. I don't have to carry three phones around...convenient.
Just a thought...
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LuvSlav
4/8/2016 09:31 EST
Thanks for your insights guys.
@Smmoravec, how much does the Kyivstar cell plan cost (for calls, how many texts, data if any). Sorry. Your post doesn't actually separate what you get from t-mobile vs Kyivstar so it's hard to tell. I'm not keeping my US cell plan so I'll be going "full native" with the cell situation)))
Also, does Kyivstar work everywhere in Ukraine to make and receive calls and texts?
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LuvSlav
4/8/2016 09:32 EST
I might be overthinking all this. Probably best to figure all this out when I get there, right?
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smmoravec
4/8/2016 10:11 EST
Hmmm...I really wish I could tell you...LOL! I always just put 500 grivna on it and it lasts me a month for data, voice and text. Sorry...
Yeah, I have T-mobile coverage anywhere I go in Ukraine so my family and boss can get a hold of me without it being a big deal, it's nice. But when I am here, I use the Kyivstar for local calls, text and for data. Most of the time though, there is free wireless everywhere I go, not like in the U.S. seriously, almost every restaurant, coffee shop or public place has free wi-fi. You really do not need data on your cell unless, like me, I have to have it in case the boss calls and I know it's going to be a long call, then I call back with my Skype and use data.
If you do not need access to a U.S. number, I would just go with Life or Kyivstar. Ken uses Life, he's been here 10 years so I think that would be your best bet.
Just FYI, they do not have unlimited plans here. When I ask, everyone always looks at me like I am crazy. Remember, they just barely got 3G....they are just a little behind the 8-ball is all. But it's so cheap, it's not really something to fret over too much.
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extremevx
4/8/2016 10:18 EST
I have Life 3G but I can't really tell the difference between 4g lte in america. My phone which is a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 says I am on H+ most of the time which somwhere in between 3g and 4g. But I honestly can't tell the difference. Like the previous poster said, wifi is everywhere so connection speed is not an issue to me. If you have life 3G you can pay online or easier to pay at any ibox 100uah. Ibox are everywhere and you can even pat at the register at the supermarket.
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LuvSlav
4/8/2016 12:32 EST
Thank you extreme, it's like you read my mind. I've been wondering about that ever since I went to some UA cell provider websites. They all say they provide 3G data but the speeds they quote are higher (waaay higher) than the actual speed I get with 4G LTE anywhere here in the Dallas area.
This is good news!
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Russophile
4/10/2016 02:18 EST
You are overthinking the problem. After being repeatedly raped by the internet providers in the US, it is hard to fathom a plan like mine. When I came to Odessa last year I bought a phone for $11 and my plan gives me virtually unlimited nationwide access (more than I would ever use) on LifeCell and 200 minutes and unlimited sms on KyivStar. All this for 50 grivna per month. Unlimited Broadband internet costs $5 per month. The bottom line is: Connectivity will be one of your lowest expenses in Ukraine.
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LuvSlav
4/11/2016 10:11 EST
Russo, in other words I'm suffering from the cell phone equvalent of Stockholm Syndrome. haha. Thanks for the straight talk..)))
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LuvSlav
4/14/2016 22:16 EST
@Russo. Please post or send a PM with the name of your cell provider. Living on a fixed income is difficult enough without being gouged by the electric company, cell company, internet company, etc.
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