[ArmyGeorge]

Howdy folks, I am moving my family to Germany. I have the AT&T family plan (5 cell phones) including my Curve 8310. My daughter will come back to Philly to attend college and I need a service that lets the family text and call free. I looked up the T-Mobile site for Germany, but it's in, er, German

Anyone have any ideas what my choices are if I want to stay with Blackberry and maybe iPhones? I would like unlimited texting for my family (obviously) with a daughter in Sunny Philadelphia.

Help? Need advice! Thanks to all!

AG

[crisambo]

George,

Good Luck on your move. . .

If you have easy access to wi-fi in Germany, you might want to look at getting a TMobile (US) UMA device and subscribing to the Hotspot service. This way, you can call anyone in the US anytime via UMA. You will aso be able to text and email from your UMA-enabled BB via wi-fi connection.

You didnt specify how long you will be out there, but if its going to be extensive and you're tied to a contract with AT&T, you may be able to get out of it by providing some (unclassified) proof of your overseas deployment then hop on to TMobile for the Hotspot Calling Services.

Check out the links below:

T-Mobile Unlimited Hotspot Calling

T-Mobile @Home

[ArmyGeorge]

Thanks, I'll give that a look. I sure can't afford BB plans for three phones, so this may be a good option, thanks again. G

[Johnny909]

Good luck with your move, and with you cell plans.

[Dubdub]

Ask your sposnor in Germany about cell phone service. If you want to use your ATT phones in Germany, you will need to get them unlocked. ATT might provide the unlock codes for free if you explain the situation and your accounts are in good standing and up to date.

If your child is returning to the US, look into SKYPE on the PCs for free voice service. Put it on your PC and hers and as long as you talk SKYPE to SKYPE, its free. Doesn't work on the BB however. At least not yet anyway.

[dc/dc]

It is not possible to SMS for free or cheap between Europe and the U.S.A, and there are no real inexpensive mobile calling options other than T-Mobile USA @Home service, but there are other inexpensive calling options.

Your best bet for voice is to actually take a Vonage line with you. I also recommend setting up Skype. You can do video calls, calls to U.S. phones, chat, etc.