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sending SMS from US to Ukraine
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Posted by: Pin Boy

i know it's possible to send SMS from the US to Ukraine, but I have not been able to figure it out. my cell phone provider is Verizon and i want to send SMS to someone using Jeans mobile phone service in Ukraine.

advice appreciated. thanks.

pin boy

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

i know it's possible to send SMS from the US to Ukraine, but I have not been able to figure it out. my cell phone provider is Verizon and i want to send SMS to someone using Jeans mobile phone service in Ukraine.

advice appreciated. thanks.

pin boy

If you have been successful in sending sms messages on your phone than the problem lies in your receivers phone. I never heard of Jeans mobile phone service. I know that my girl in Odessa receives all of my sms messages.

Check out if the person you are sending the messages to has their sms ready to receive the messages. It could be their phone is not set up ad ready to receive sms messages.

It should be easy.

Posted by: EasyTarget

PB: Verizon does NOT connect to Jeans. No way -- no how.
HOWEVER...you are in luck...you can use their website and send the SMS for free. :-)
Plus their website is English...how lucky are we?

Jeans is a subsidiary of UMC so this will work. At least it always worked for me when I was talking to E.

http://umc.ua/eng/umc_messenger.php?

And she can reply, the reply will go back to the website, and you can see the reply on the website.

If you want to switch carriers, AT&T (Cingular) can send to UMC. You might want to check T-Mobile, also.

Posted by: Pin Boy

thanks easy! i tried it, so we'll see if i get a message back to my email add. my contract is up with verizon, so maybe i will do some comparison shopping and switch to at&t.

pin boy

Posted by: GoingToRussia

I was in the Ukraine last May and I have ATT and could send SMS to USA and to Moldova to my girl's son. I tried 2 other carriers and none of them could SMS to Europe. ATT is the best for European SMSs.

Funny thing though, I couldn't SMS when I had a layover in Vienna Austria last month.

Posted by: Pin Boy

i wonder if the people at the At&T cell phone store will know much about sending SMS overseas. i'll be sure to ask. thanks!

pb

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Every store I went to said they could connect me to Europe via SMS but only ATT could do it.

Posted by: EasyTarget

PB: it won't reply back to your email. You have to go back to the website to see if she replied. That's how it worked for me.

The reason verizon can not connect is that they are CDMA. And almost all of Europe uses GSM.
If you do switch, you might want to look at the new tri-band GSM phones. They are pretty amazing, small, with lots of features. This way when you go back you can just pop out the sim card and use your phone on the local Ukraine network.

I have a samsung phone that works very reliably. I am really impressed with it.

Posted by: Pin Boy

thanks GTR and easy. it seems i was able to send SMS, but could not find a way to see if i get a reply???i tried to register on the site, but for some reason could not get that part of the website to open.

i'm gonna try again. appreciate the advice about the phones. i'm due for a new one right about now anyway.

pb

Posted by: Longfellow

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasyTarget

PB: it won't reply back to your email. You have to go back to the website to see if she replied. That's how it worked for me.

The reason verizon can not connect is that they are CDMA. And almost all of Europe uses GSM.
If you do switch, you might want to look at the new tri-band GSM phones. They are pretty amazing, small, with lots of features. This way when you go back you can just pop out the sim card and use your phone on the local Ukraine network.

My phones are tri-band GSM also.
What did you go through to get a local SIM chip for Ukraine network?
Annual contract? can you get on pre-paid, per-minute?
Also, what is cost of SMS from USA (AT&T) number to Ukraine carrier? Just standard text charge?
i haven't explored this since I assumed (probably wrongly) that international charges would put each message at $3.50 and I can get more out a minute of conversation than SMS.
What are your experiences?

Posted by: Pin Boy

okay, looks like i was able to register. now if my friend registers, we can send SMS from her phone to my email and vice versa. not a bad thing since i use a computer at work almost daily. THANKS!! now to shop for a GMS phone.

pb

Posted by: EasyTarget

LF: To get a local SIM card is super easy. You stop at any one of the million different cell phone shops and just give them you phone. They pop out your US sim card, hand it back to you, then pop one in for the local network.

Mobile phones in Ukraine, and Russia are on a pre-paid basis. You pay $10 or $20 or however much you want...and you will get a normal amount of minutes. You can get 500 or 1000 minutes of talk time pretty cheap.

International SMS is $0.25

Posted by: Pin Boy

here's some useful info on SIM cards and GSM phones.

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/e...ans/review.html

Posted by: Pin Boy

currently on eBay there is a new, unlocked samsung quad band phone (with camera and MP3 player) for $85 plus $15 for shipping. it can be used with T-Mobile or AT&T. this might be what i need if i decide to switch from Verizon.

question: what is the cost to send SMS from US to Ukraine via mobile phone? would it cost the person in Ukraine more than the standard, in country rate??

thanks

PB

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

currently on eBay there is a new, unlocked samsung quad band phone (with camera and MP3 player) for $85 plus $15 for shipping. it can be used with T-Mobile or AT&T. this might be what i need if i decide to switch from Verizon.

question: what is the cost to send SMS from US to Ukraine via mobile phone? would it cost the person in Ukraine more than the standard, in country rate??

thanks

PB

Hi Pin,
I'm on T-Mobile and it costs me 15 cents to send an sms to Ukraine. My girl said when she sends me a sms from Odessa it costs her 15 or 20 cents.

Posted by: Longfellow

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasyTarget

LF: To get a local SIM card is super easy. You stop at any one of the million different cell phone shops and just give them you phone. They pop out your US sim card, hand it back to you, then pop one in for the local network.

Mobile phones in Ukraine, and Russia are on a pre-paid basis. You pay $10 or $20 or however much you want...and you will get a normal amount of minutes. You can get 500 or 1000 minutes of talk time pretty cheap.

Thanks ET!

You are always a great source as well as real bro to all of us in the forum!

Posted by: Pin Boy

thanks RP, that info is a great help!

PB

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

thanks RP, that info is a great help!

PB

Hi Pin,
The only bad thing I had happen with t-mobile was when I got back home and received my phone bill. I did not answer any VOICEMAIL MESSAGES. But I was still charged $2.99 for every message left on my phone when I was in Odessa even though I did not listen to the messages.

I racked up $180.00 in VOICE MAIL messages that I did not even listen to. I thought that if I did not listen or answer them there would be NO CHARGE. I was wrong. I called T-Mobile and I went crazy on them. They said I should of turned my phone off or used a sim card from Ukraine . I could not believe they would charge me after I have been with them since they started.

They said Just the fact that my phone received the voice mail I was charged. They would not budge a bit on that.

Just make sure that if you get T MOBILe and you are in another country to buy a sim card. Other than that nightmare T_MOBILE has got great coverage everywhere in Europe I have been. As soon as I landed in any country and turned my phone on the local network came up instantly.

But it is crazy to pay $2.99 for someone just sending you a voicemail eeven if you dont listen to the message.

I'm thinking about switching to AT&T also. I need to check it out.

Posted by: Pin Boy

hey RP,

sounds like you got robbed on the voice mail messages!! i was with t-mobile about 3 years back, but switched because i didn't get good coverage in some places i go on my bicycle and x-country skis. maybe it's better now.

i use verizon to bundle my internet service, landline, and cell phone. i don't have cable TV. i hate to switch all over if i switch my cell phone provider so maybe i'll just switch the cell phone and keep verizon for the other two.

yes, i think the thing to do when arriving in ukraine would be as Easytarget suggested - switch out the SIM card and buy minutes on a local ukrainian card. as you know, most people do not use voice mail in ukraine because of the cost associated with leaving and listening to messages. i think i used text messaging ONE time here in the US in my 5 years of a having a cell phone. i used it fairly often this summer during my nine weeks in kiev.

pb

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

hey RP,

sounds like you got robbed on the voice mail messages!! i was with t-mobile about 3 years back, but switched because i didn't get good coverage in some places i go on my bicycle and x-country skis. maybe it's better now.

i use verizon to bundle my internet service, landline, and cell phone. i don't have cable TV. i hate to switch all over if i switch my cell phone provider so maybe i'll just switch the cell phone and keep verizon for the other two.

yes, i think the thing to do when arriving in ukraine would be as Easytarget suggested - switch out the SIM card and buy minutes on a local ukrainian card. as you know, most people do not use voice mail in ukraine because of the cost associated with leaving and listening to messages. i think i used text messaging ONE time here in the US in my 5 years of a having a cell phone. i used it fairly often this summer during my nine weeks in kiev.

pb

Hi PIN,
The only good thing I can say for T-MOBILE is that the coverage is A1. I was in Paris, Vienna, Odessa, Warsaw, Turkey and I had immediate coverage as soon as the phone was turned on when getting off a plane. It's very comforting having service everywhere in the world I go. But I did get ripped off on those VOICE MAILS that I did not even listen to.

My only worry is I have a plan from day one that gives me 3000 anytime minutes for $49.00 a month. I pay for long distance if I call out of my hometown. It' still good because I have a calling card ready to call if I need it.

So I am 50/50 as far as switching. Next time I go to see my girl I will get the sim card in my phone and not get in that situation again.

I just threw $180 in the toilet and I hate them for it. But the coverage is incredible and I know what to do next time.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

RP, I never get charged for voice messages with AT&T ... you are getting robbed!

I've never had a problem calling or hearing anyone when I use AT&T.

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

RP, I never get charged for voice messages with AT&T ... you are getting robbed!

I've never had a problem calling or hearing anyone when I use AT&T.

Hi GTR,
I only got charged for voice messages when I left the U S. $3.00 for each one , whether I listened to the message or didn't listen to it.

Do you get charged for voice messages on AT&T when you leave the U S>

Other than them robbing me for out of the country voice messages, the coverage is great and my phone is great. I'm seriously thinking of going to at&t.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

I don't answer phone when I am out of country so I am not charged. When I don't use my phone, I turn it off.

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

I don't answer phone when I am out of country so I am not charged. When I don't use my phone, I turn it off.

But even if you turn your phone off, when you turn it back on the voice mail messages will appear just because you turned the phone on. I don't answer the phone either. What I am asking you is this: Do you ever use your phone for anything such as sms messages ? Does AT&T charge you for your phone receiving voicemail messages even if you don't listen to the messages when out of the U S ?

Posted by: Pin Boy

okay, here is a question....

let's assume you take your US tri or quad band phone overseas, when you replace the SIM card with a ukrainian one, will you get a new phone number to use while in ukraine?

can anyone please dumb it down for me? i may go look at some new phones after work tomorrow.

pb

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

okay, here is a question....

let's assume you take your US tri or quad band phone overseas, when you replace the SIM card with a ukrainian one, will you get a new phone number to use while in ukraine?

can anyone please dumb it down for me? i may go look at some new phones after work tomorrow.

pb

Yes, If you get a Ukraine SIM card you now have a new phone number that works with the new SIM card. You just have to tell anyone calling you that you have a new number. But they give you a local Ukraine phone number.

Great for calling people in Ukraine!

I should have done that when I was in Odessa last month. But I used my phone for sending and receiving SMS . My only problem was getting VOICE MAIL and having the phone on to retrieve it even though I did not listen to any messages. It's the worst thing about T-MOBILE. Other than that T_MOBILE is great at everything else. Great worldwide coverage! They only rio you off for VOICEMAIL when you are out of the U S>

Posted by: Longfellow

so here's a dilemma...

My girl uses BeeLine (mobile provider for VimpelCom)... I went to their site, which has a page for free SMS and response to my email.
So far, great prospect...

requires 10 digit phone number (hers is only 9 in Ukraine) but tried it anyhow... no go
so then tried with a leading '0' (first 10 of her national area code and local number)... no go.
Any ideas?

I sent her the link and suggested she see if she could interpret the Russian better than I and make it work.
I don't pay for SMS service, so this is the only way to send a quick SMS to her, and I'd love that option.

Posted by: Pin Boy

got it RP! thanks for the 4-1-1

you're so helpful on this subject! now if you don't mind, another issue if you know the answer...

i assume you must go to a mobile phone provider shop to get the SIM card as opposed to stopping by a kiosk to buy a phone card. i wonder if there would be a shop at the airport in odessa so i can swap the SIM cards and use the phone right away to call the lady i'm meeting in case she cannot travel to the airport from her home a few hours away....??

pin boy

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

got it RP! thanks for the 4-1-1

Hi Pin,
I don't think Odessa airport has any kind of Mobile Phone provider shop. I am at least 95% sure of that. I have been there 3 times and the Odessa airport is very small with nothing except airline counters and offices of different airlines.

Also you need to make sure that your phone is UNLOCKED. In April when I went into a phone shop to buy a sim card they took my sim card out and put a new one in. But it did not work because my phone was LOCKED.

And I called T-MOBILE from my SKYPE to get the code. They told me we will email it to you. Well they did not email me anything so I just used my phone for sms to and from my girl in Odessa and my friends in the U S>

So when I got home to Florida I contacted my phone provider T MOBILE and they gave me the code of numbers to unlock my phone when a new sim card is put in. YOU CAN NOT USE NEW SIM CARD IF YOUR PHONE IS LOCKED!

This is very important.

When you buy your new phone you might want to find out immediately if your phone is all ready unlocked or if you need to get the code to unlock it.

Posted by: Longfellow

Quote:

Originally Posted by royalpalace774

I decided long ago to never buy a phone from my provider (AT&T) and only purchase new, unlocked phones and move my SIM.
I now have a plan with ATT&T they must honor, cheaper than any other plan they currently offer ($23.00 per month).
I don't have or want additionals like SMS or unlimited co-op plans... I have 600 minutes a month and use maybe 7.
But I can have a new phone anytime I want without needing their inflated prices or contract changes.
I got my newest, state of the art, Windows Mobile 5 , touchscreen, voice activated, etc phone on eBay for under $150. Nothing I don't want, everything I do... all the whistles of the iPhone without the limitations and expense.
I called and asked for a plan with fewer minutes... I was told that best I could get now would cost $6.50 per month more.
Never thought I'd feel so good holding those 'heuvos' in my hand!

Posted by: EasyTarget

LF: I am surprised your having trouble with the bee line phone number. Most likely you are looking at the Russian BeeLine website and not the one for the Ukraine? Russian phone numbers are 10 digits.

Posted by: EasyTarget

PB: You will definitely need to go to a more of a store type place, but if you ask the Taxi Driver he will most likely know of a place close by. I don't know if there is a place in the Odessa airport but there was definitely a place in the Kiev airport.

Key point -- DO get your phone unlocked before going back to Ukraine. Although if it is a popular phone Nokia's or Samsung's there is a good chance the local shop in Ukraine can unlock it for you.

OR do a quick search on the web and you can almost always find the unlock codes. It took me about 30 seconds to find the code via my good friend Google.

Posted by: Longfellow

Quote:

Originally Posted by EasyTarget

LF: I am surprised your having trouble with the bee line phone number. Most likely you are looking at the Russian BeeLine website and not the one for the Ukraine? Russian phone numbers are 10 digits.

Absolutely correct.
After a little digging, I found the UA site and SMS worked like a charm! (Less translateable, but there isn't a lot to read to get the idea how to use)
Thanks, ET!

Posted by: firemansam

Quote:

Originally Posted by royalpalace774

You should be able to turn off your voice mail and avoid this problem. Instead of going to message bank, anyone calling you will only get a "busy" tone and not an option to leave a message.

Many providers will let you do this with a few key strokes on your mobile phone, others, you will have to call them to turn of your voice mail. Either way, this problem should be able to be avoided

Sam.

Posted by: Longfellow

Quote:

Originally Posted by royalpalace774

Sounds like the charges were to notify you of voicemail message when you were roaming so far away.

Posted by: Pin Boy

just got back from the AT&T store. helpful guy there said that most carriers in the US will not sell unlocked phones and a good way to go is to buy an unlocked phone on the net (ebay has many) and then it can be activated with a carrier that uses GSM like AT&T or T-Mobile. he said any phone they sell in their stores will not be unlocked.

pb

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by royalpalace774

Yes I use my phone for SMS and to get my e-mail. I'm never charged for voice mail.

When I was in Kiev, you could get your phone unlocked and a SIM card at many places that sell SIM cards.

Posted by: waiting123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

PB, if I was you I would use AT&T/Cingular, it is a GSM network and is much bigger than T-Mobile.

I have been using my cingular phone while I was all over Europe, Egypt and Russia, I never had a problem.

Also as long as the phone is unlocked, you can purchase a sim card for the country you are in.

Posted by: EasyTarget

PB:
Buy an unlocked phone on EBay --> make sure it is a brand new phone, I would look for quad band for max flexibility. Samsung and Nokia are very popular in Ukraine and Russia. They will most likely work with no issues in UA.

For the more daring out there if you know the IMEI number *#06#; some places on the web will sell you the unlock code. And of course there is some other ways to get the unlock code for free.

Posted by: freebird

I hope anyone planning to go to FSU will read this first! I had a friend with the same problem, T-mobile are CROOKS when it comes to voicemail! Does anyone have an opinion on thw two major cell companies in Ukraine, UMC + Kievstar? I tried calling back to North America but the reception was not great. (on Ace/Base)

Quote:

Originally Posted by royalpalace774

Posted by: EasyTarget

UMC is the largest cell provider in Ukraine. Where were you when the reception was poor? The major cities are usually covered well, but once you get out to the sunflower fields forget it.

Also it could have just been the international line back to the US. I had hit and miss when calling towards the Ukraine, but calling from Hawaii is always an adventure.