Cell Phones 101: Choose the best option for you

Cell phones have become popular among students, providing an easy means to communicate with fellow students and with friends and family back home. It is important to remember that all phone calls (especially cellular phone calls) are expensive!

There are fundamental differences between American and Italian cellular phone plans. The American concept of a monthly cell phone plan with “minutes” (free nights/weekends vs. daytime minutes) is not valid in Italy. Instead, you can either rent a cell phone which will cost a monthly rental fee + traffic incurred, or you can purchase a cell phone which will cost an upfront purchase price + traffc incurred. Either way, you must pay for all calls made from your cell phone to another phone number. You will not be charged for any incoming calls to your Italian cell phone.

There are three primary cellular communications service providers: TIM, Vodafone and Wind. The differences between the carriers are minimal and will probably not affect your choice of cellular plan.

Things to consider when renting a cell phone:

Often you have to leave an imprint of your credit card with the store.
Phone charges are automatically charged to your credit card—but necessarily in a timely or predictable manner.
Note whether there is a monthly rental fee. If not, be sure you are not getting charged more per minute.
Ask if you can access your billing account online or through email, and how often.
Ask how much the fee is for a lost or stolen phone—often these charges are very high!
How do you return the phone? Mail or in
person?
Take note of the store’s hours should you need assistance in the future.

Things to consider when buying a cell phone:

You have to physically recharge the phone yourself—either by buying a recharge card or taking your phone number and means of payment to a Tabacchi (some, not all, offer this second option).
The only way to see an itemized list of
your phone charges is by signing up for this service on the service provider’s website (TIM, Vodafone, Wind, etc).
Some phones/plans allow you to access
individual call costs, and some do not.
Ask at the store if you can sell back the phone at the end of your stay. If so, what are the conditions?
You may choose your phone model and
service provider.

Past students have rented cell phones from:

Cells4Rent—Corso Tintori, 29r,
www.cells4rent.com
PicCell—Via D. Alighieri, 22r
(c/o American Express)
www.piccell.com

Past Students have bought cell phones from:

Ritar—Via Buonvicini, 12-12a
Wind—Via degli Artisti, 19a/r
Nokia Point—Via degli Artisti, 45
Euronics—Viale dei Mille, 140

Tips & General Information:

Save all receipts, boxes, manuals, etc. as proof of purchase and to facilitate resale (if possible).
Read the instruction manual before using.
Be sure to read any contracts/agreements before signing them.
Ask to have the phone set to English language to facilitate use.
Cell phones are prime targets for pick-pockets so beware on buses and in crowded locales.
If your phone is lost or stolen, block your number immediately by contacting the store or service carrier to avoid fraudulent charges. Sometimes recuperating unused credit is possible.
All phone charges in Italy are more expensive than in the United States!
Be sure to turn off your cell phone during classes and while in the library. Other inappropriate places for use include churches, museums, libraries, etc.
Don’t forget to turn your phone number into room 25. It is important that SUF has your number on fle for any eventual urgent messages we may need to relay to you.

Please Note: Syracuse University in Florence provides this information as a courtesy to all interested parties. It is not offered as a recommendation. Consultations, contracts and all other relationships between buyer/client and vendor/service provider are considered private and payment for all services contracted is the sole responsibility of the student.