Cell phones in Ukraine

[Evgeni]

Does anyone have a suggestion about cell phones?  Since I am a Luddite, I do not own one now, but I think it will much more convenient in Ukraine.  I know that I will need a tri-band phone to use in Ukraine and in the States after I return.
 
I am thinking about buying an "unlocked" phone here, and taking it with me to Ukraine to use a Ukrainian SIM card.  Or should I buy a tri-band phone in Ukraine?
 
Any suggestions?
 
Thank,
 
Evgeni

[Bruce]

Look at the old threads.  Here is one of them, but there are more on the board:

http://russianwomendiscussion.com/view_topic.php?id=159&forum_id=4

[Jack]

Go to E-Bay and look for a GSM, tri-band, un-locked. Some of the Nokia's can be bought pretty cheap. You can actually get by with a duel band if it is 900/1800.

Or if you want to rent one let me know when you land in Kiev. We have about 35 cell phones that are just for rental. Most guys swear by them and wouldn't travel in Ukr or Russia without one once they have had one.

 

 

[philb]

Yeah, I bought a triband Motorola a few months ago on ebay for $39.00.  It isn't pretty but it works great.  More recently I bought a Sony/Ericsson for $60.00 also on ebay.  It is a little bit nicer phone.

The sim card will cost about $10.00 in Kiev.  If you get a Kiev Star sim card there are instructions for activating it on their web site in English. 

[Evgeni]

Thanks for the advice!

[Son of Clyde]

Jack, Can you tell me more about the rentals in Kiev? Send me a PM if you don't want to list prices here. Will it have a limited range? I will probably be visiting Simforopol from now on, to visit Irina's family.

Is renting cheaper than purchasing a phone that can only be used a limited time?

Can these cheap tri-bands be used over and over, each time you visit?

I'm not much into cellphones, although I do own a Nokia which I keep for emergencies. I have no need for a cellphone here except for when I'm on the road late at night and might have an emergency.

[philb]

You can use an unlocked triband everytime you go to Ukraine.  The only thing you have to watch is the expiration date of the sim card.  This is 365 days from your last outgoing call for Kyiv Star Ace and Base sim cards.  I believe you can also pay a fee of 10 griv. to keep it activated for a longer period of time.  If you will be going over there more than once a year I think that buying a cheap unlocked triband phone is definately the way to go.

Both of the telephones I mentioned above were purchased new.  You can also find a lot of refurbished phones on ebay.  Here is the link to  the Kyiv Star english web site.

http://www.kyivstar.net/site.php/en