Hi! I recently relocated to CH and need a cell phone plan that will allow me to send text messages to Europe and the USA rather cheaply.

I don't expect to be using the phone for outgoing calls at all - only ingoing.

What's the best option?? I would like to avoid signing a long contract if possible... Are pre-paid just as cheap (for texting) as plans? And where do I go to get either?

Finally, what do I need to get the number? (a bank account? permanent address?)

Thanks for your help!

I recommend Yallo - its a "pay as you go" provider. You can get a SIM card at any Mobile Zone outlet - they are in shopping malls and on the Bahnhofstrasse. (You will need your own phone.) International calls and texts are cheaper than the other providers in Switzerland.

They ask for an address when you get one - not sure why. I didn't have to show a passport or resident permit or anything.

Because before when no address was required they were a popular "Al Qaeda" item.

www.orangeclick.ch
Obviously from Orange. It's not a plan, it's only prepaid; but you can handle everything online (which is convenient to me). Additionally, you can call the US for .39 CHF; with the international option (3 CHF per month) even for .29 CHF (cheaper than calling any swiss mobile or landline).

Ahhhhh - how silly. Didn't mention the SMS fees. It's 0.1 CHF per SMS as long as you send it withing Switzerland (no matter if the destination number is in a foreign country). If you send it while being abroad it's some .45 CHF or so...

I'd go with one of the prepay options too - I asked in The Phone House for Yallo, but they were sold out. I needed a number, so I took what they offered me and it was Sunrise. I had no problems. I've since signed a contract though (purely to get a new handset) and I'm with orange on an optima plan. I do pay 25 rp per SMS, but if you are regularly near a computer, you can use the website 10787.ch to SMS anywhere for 6 rp/message. Your account is registered to your number, so the replies come direct to your phone.

See comparis.ch for a full comparison of the costs from the different providers and their offered plans.

Bring some solid ID like a passport for a prepay phone, and at least a B permit if you want to sign a contract.

you might also want to check the Migros option. http://www.m-budget-mobile.ch/

They have same tariff for Switzerland and most of Europe at 28 rappen/min with SMS at 10 rappen/min.

Just to get the SIM card costs SFR 19.8 which includes SFR 15 in free calls/SMS

These tariffs are also the same for USA!

Maybe this helps.

For calling from a landline every time I check http://www.10787.ch/index2.php is the best option.

Since I got my smartphone I just use the built-in MSN messenger instead of SMS. So it's more or less free except for those few bytes of data traffic.
Most my friends are on MSN or Skype and I can use both from my phone.

Don't get a Tele2 pre-payed phone, though - I got me one of those and am able to send, but not receive, sms messages from Sweden.

First I wanted to ask if the sender maybe forgot the Swiss +41 prefix, but a quick web search showed that Tele2 has a history of SMS recieving problems from other European countries, starting in 2005! Unbelievable!

This is the answer I got from their customer service:

Thank you for your recent e-mail as well as for your interest in Tele2.

Normally, it should be possible to receive SMS from abroad. Despite this, we can unfortunately not guarantee this in all of the cases.

We thank you for your understanding. For any additional questions and information we are gladly at your disposal on our free hotline under the number 0800 24 24 34 (Monday-Friday, 7am-11pm / Saturday-Sunday, 8am-10pm).

Best regards
Tele2 Telecommunication Services AG
Customer Service Team


When explaining that I did in fact not have any "understanding" for this and I wanted my money back, they didn't reply. Guess I'll be changing to another operator when I've used up my credit.