Posted by p900 lover
Right so im going to live in amsterdam for a year and need to sort out a new mobile phone number, don't really need a new phone but don't want a contract, ideally a sim only kinda plan or at the very longest a 12 month plan.
Any idea if companies offer like a sim only tariff like all the network in the Uk offer? I have had a look online but all the website are in Dutch so it might have to wait till I get there. Also a BB service would be great.
Posted by domipost
A blackberry service with sim only is a bit hard I think. Look at Simpel or Ben, they have some great no-nonsense sim-only's. I know KPN has BlackBerry services, but you won't get a really cheap sim-only from them...
Posted by Marly
You can have a prepaid BlackBerry service from Vodafone, the simcard costs 19,95 euro, BlackBerry service is free till 01.01.2011, after this date it's 12,50 euro a month.
Posted by p900 lover
@Marly Is this like a pay as you go card? No minutes or text included?
@ Ah i see, what if i went for a 12 month plan? with or without a new phone im not too bothered i alredy have a bb i will use.
Posted by hihihans
You can get 1 year sim-only from every provider. Ben is the only one without long contract. Basicly there are only 3 networks KPN Vodafone and T-Mobile the rest use their antennas. pt020 lives in Amsterdam.
Posted by hihihans
Come to think of it. For a 1 year contract, you'll probably need a Dutch bank-account. And, calls and texts to England are not included. They come on top of your bill!!
I'll pop into a shop tomorrow and ask for their opinion.
Posted by p900 lover
I will have a Dutch bank account as ill be studying there and the University help us out with setting one up so that should be ok. Cool thank you for your help and let me know what they say.
Posted by hihihans
What subject do you study?
Posted by p900 lover
I do International Business at Brighton University in the UK an will be doing my 3rd year at HES in Amsterdam doing Management and Economics.
Posted by Marly
On 2010-08-11 19:10:34, p900 lover wrote:
@Marly Is this like a pay as you go card? No minutes or text included?
Yes, prepaid is the same, as pay and go, when you buy a new simcard, you usually have 10 euros credit (5 on the card, the other 5 after registering it with your name and address), which you can use for calls, texts, internet, etc. You can top up with 10 or 20 euros, some networks will give you some free minutes or texts after you've topped up, but less, than in the UK.
With Vodafone prepaid or contract you'll be able to use Passport, for cheaper calls abroad.
Check the Vodafone.nl site, most of the info is in English aswell.
A sim-only contract will be cheaper, though, but you won't get BB services for 12,50 a month then, this is a great offer from Vodafone.
Imo the cheapest solution would be, to use two phones : one with a cheap sim-only 1-year contract, for calls and texts, and your BB with a Voda BB prepaid sim.
Dunno, whether you'd like to carry two phones with you, I'm used to it, have been doing it for years, one for cheap calls, the other for cheap internet, both on contract, though.
Posted by hihihans
Sorry mate I didn't make it to a shop to pop the question. To make things harder, there is an internet war here. KPN €2.50 a month. Vodafone €0.00 on a 2 year contract. T-Mobile is also in it but I didn't see a price-tag.
Posted by Marly
On 2010-08-13 01:21:54, hihihans wrote:
To make things harder, there is an internet war here. KPN €2.50 a month. Vodafone €0.00 on a 2 year contract.
BB internet is now with KPN 7,50 euro/month, with 1 year contract aswell, but I don't know about sim-only. You could take it with a phone and sell it.
When you use internet a lot, KPN and Vodafone are the best options with KPN having the most reliable network and Vodafone being second best, but with faster internet.
T-Mobile's 3G coverage is not as good as KPN and Vodafone.
Posted by hihihans
Funny. I think Vodafone is better as KPN. But it's not much of a difference. T-Mobile does nothing where I work, not even calls
Posted by p900 lover
So ill leave T-Mobile out the question then completely lol. I don't mind a one year contract and an extra 7.50 is cool to pay. I guess the best thing is for me to wait till i get there and have my Dutch bank account up and running. One more question, what kind of information do i need to get a contract? Same as the UK, proof of identification and address?
Posted by hihihans
Running bank account and proof of id is enough
Posted by hihihans
I was at PhoneHouse, not my favorite
. He said things like €450 deposit because you are not Dutch 
Best idea is to take a friend to some shop and let them find out. Take some time for it
Posted by p900 lover
Wow thats a bit high, thank you though for going in. I think ill check it out on Thursday and see what they say. Again thanks for all your help ill let you know how it goes.
Posted by hihihans
When do you arrive in Holland?
Posted by p900 lover
This Thursday, leaving Harwich late on Wednesday and getting the boat over.
Iv just found out that we will get a free sim card during our induction but im guessing it will be pay as you, ill have to see if its worth getting s contract but i will be there for a year and do want BB and internet hmmm.
Posted by hihihans
Oh dear. Sail'10 starts Thursday. Big tallships arrive at the harbour that day.
Posted by p900 lover
That could be quite cool, apart from the congestion lol
Posted by hihihans
Welcome in Holland P9
I hope you enjoy your stay. Amsterdam is ready for it. The sun is shining and there are lots of party's this weekend
Posted by p900 lover
Thank you, ys got here this morning and its cool already, so there parties where do i find info? lol
Also im going to go tow tomorrow and find out about these tariffs.
The one from Voda does that include internet too or just email?
Posted by Marly
Welcome to NL, hope you'll enjoy your stay here !
Oh, and watch out for pickpockets in Amsterdam, especially, when it's busy on the streets and in the shops !
On 2010-08-19 20:00:54, p900 lover wrote:
The one from Voda does that include internet too or just email?
You mean the prepaid (PAYNGO) BlackBerry simcard ? The prepaid BlackBerry Blox (free till 31.12.2010, later 12,50/month) include the complete BlackBerry services, with internet.
You'll receive a total of 10,- euro credit on the new simcard, which you can use for texts and/or calls. The amount of 5 euro is already on the card, the other 5 you'll receive a few days after registering with name and address as a new user on their NL website.
edit: Link to the English summary of the Vodafone NL website :
http://www.vodafone.nl/englis[....]munication_in_the_netherlands/
[ This Message was edited by: Marly on 2010-08-22 15:45 ]
Posted by hihihans
Sail'10 party's will be at "Javaeiland" (java island)
Let of know if or when you want to visit the "Zaanse Schans" it's near my home
I think Vodafone may be the best choice.
Posted by p900 lover
Did you go to the Sail party?
We went a watched the fireworks yesterday was really good, also i went to voda and they have said they have completly sold out of these bb pre pay sim card and that i would need to wait 3 weeks, also tried phone house and they too said they were sold out. i guess ill just try in a few weeks.
Posted by hihihans
Sold out?
I didn't visit Sail but I was in Artis (the Zoo) yesterday. I'll see some ships tomorrow as I work near the Northseacanal
Posted by hihihans
What is your first impression of Holland? Besides wet and cold
Posted by p900 lover
Well iv managed to get hold of the voda bb sim card so im well happy with that, altho i have managed to delete my email folder so i need to go to a a voda shop and see what they can do.
And Holland is really cool, i love the place already and the university is cool too. I also look forward to exploring the Netherlands further. Did you manage to see the Sail?
Posted by hihihans
I didn't see any boats. They were all gone when I arrived at 1pm.
Have fun and look out when you cross the road
tot ziens