[el tel]

Christy11 if you plan on taking out a contract with 3 mobile during your visit to Belfast it won't be possible without a credit or debit card.

Buying a pay-as-you-go sim is a different matter - cash will do.

on the subject of 048 dailing code for calling Northern Ireland from the Republic: dailing 048 to land lines gives you national call rates, dailing 0044 results in International call rates.

048 is not usable with mobile numbers.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by christy11

i am getting it up north as it is a lot cheaper. the phone down south is €170 but up north it is £100 which works out as around €126 (according to google).

€44 less!

Yes... But it'll be locked to 3 UK. It'll come with a UK SIM, which will mean when you go home it'll be roaming, so very expensive. An Irish SIM (from 3 or any other network) WON'T WORK.

It would be a waste of money.

[awec]

You can get it unlocked as far as I know but you have to pay.

[christy11]

Originally Posted by Richard

Yes... But it'll be locked to 3 UK. It'll come with a UK SIM, which will mean when you go home it'll be roaming, so very expensive. An Irish SIM (from 3 or any other network) WON'T WORK.

It would be a waste of money.

yes i know that but i have a friend who knows how to unlock phones so im sorted there.

i rang them there anyway and they dont accept euro and dont have my phone in stock

thanks everyone for the help anyway!

[Richard]

Originally Posted by christy11

yes i know that but i have a friend who knows how to unlock phones so im sorted there.

Ok, fair enough.

Have you tried the Three store in CastleCourt? It's about 5-10 mins walk from Victoria Square. There are also many other shops from various networks in the vicinity.

[Joeyjoejoe83]

Don't just try a 3 store, try a carphone warehouse or phones 4 u etc, tons of places to buy phones, a few would maybe sell unlocked one too. AlsO if your mates unlocking it anyway, surely you can try any network phoneshop in north, Vodafone, o2, orange, virgin to name a few.

Also, I don't understand the issue with changing money, get sterling in south, head north and if it doesn't work out change it back when you get home. If you know someone with a student bank account this can be done for free.

[The Guvnor]

Plenty of currency exchange places on the way to belfast just around newry.

Other option might be a perfect card from Dundrum which you can use like a credit card or failing that a victoria store card which may accept euros.

Let us know how you get on? What are you looking to get in the store up there?

[The Guvnor]

^ Only just read the thread now! Got my answers. :-)