Hello All,

My wife and I are coming across next week to see what we're getting ourselves into . I'd like to get a local prepaid SIM card so that I've got mobile internet access for the 4 days that we'll be there.

Any suggestions about what I should get and where I can get it? If the answer is region-specific, we'll be within the Zurich-St Gallen corridor.

I am happy with my m budget mobile sim card which can be purchased from the supermarket Migros.

http://www.migros.ch/de/supermarkt/m...FUgTfAodozZdLg

One of the things I like is that it is not too expensive when making a quick call to someone from my home country of England (think it is still 28Rappen per minute). Check the link for further details.

There are other options - this has just suited me till now.

I also am on M Budget, but I don't know what their mobile internet charges are like...

Coop Mobile is comparable to M-Budget Mobile but includes mobile Internet options, e.g., CHF 19.00/month with 1 GB or CHF 10.00/month with 100 MB.

http://coopmobilefriends.coop.ch/coo...owUeberPage.do

Martin

Very true - classic case of me not reading the post properly and not noticing that a key thing for the OP was internet access on the mobile.

I just tried looking into the possiblities of internet access with m-budget and I struggled to find the answers - it wouldn't surprise me if that is not an option at all with M-budget as I can't even send a picture message on the prepaid option and no answer phone is possible.

OP - if your looking for something really simple and cheap for just a short period then I would still recommend m-budget. But possibly not if the main reason for the sim card is internet access on your mobile. I reckon someone else should be able to point you to a better option (sorry only used m-budget so far). M budget is like a no frills prepaid mobile service which suits me at the moment.

I have just sorted a client out who will be here for just 2 months. Swisscom was the simplest and best option.

Mobile Phone: Natel Easy Be Free - The rates are capped per day.


http://www.swisscom.ch/res/mobile/ta...free&#Overview

Refilling it is very simple. You can do so at any post office (you have to pay in cash and you need to remember the PIN) or at a Swisscom shop, where you need no PIN. The system will not accept foreign credit cards.
If you visit the Swisscom shop at the airport when you arrive, you will be sorted out right away.

On a related note, in case you like, I can recommend a relocation colleague in the St. Gallen area if you would like some help during your look/see visit. I only cover Kt. Aargau so I refer business to her.

You are fortunate to have the opportunit to visit before taking the plunge.
Good luck with everything.


Edit: You can convert the pre paid SIM to a plan once you have your residency permit.

__________________

True, CoopMobile does seem to have better data options, but CoopMobile uses the Orange network, which can be spotty due to Orange having only 1800MHz, and M-Budget uses Swisscom's network, which definitely has the best coverage in CH.

If you're going to be in cities only and use data, I'd go with CoopMobile. If you are going to be using mainly voice, and travelling in rural areas, I'd go with M-Budget.

don't forget that you need a social ID to get the SIM card. Your passport will do

I would recommend Lebara, which can be bought at SBB. Very cheap to call among lebara numbers and to other countries.

About m budget, I bought a sim with a phone last year, but the phone is sim-locked forever

Actually, after 2 years you can get the unlock code from Swisscom/M-Budget. But the reason it's locked for 2 years, is because the phone is being subsidized (ie: you pay 30 CHF or something for a phone, SIM card and some credit). If you want to buy just the SIM card you can get one for 10 CHF or something like that, and put it in any unlocked GSM phone you have.

easy:

http://www.okmobile.ch/de/mobile/index.php?id=sim

15chfs and you get free internet for 60 days. you can even send the SIM card to me afterwards for testing