It seems to me that living in Basel, one would need a tri-country plan. As long as you're close to the border it seems roaming is almost inevitable. Any tips here about specific plans, tricks or pitfalls?
Why would it be inevitable? I'm often near to borders on the Swiss side, and sometimes actually just over in Germany and France, and don't have the roaming issue you outline.
I'm pretty sure I could switch roaming off, even on my pre historic 2000 Nokia - but I had to ask the guy at Swisscom how to do it. #12003# or something equally stupid.
With my new one, it is on a menu and I can choose on or off. Not that I can actually find it - but I'm sure I've seen it somewhere.
I'll clarify... Any tips for simply not worrying about roaming charges and still regularly cross the borders and use the phone as if you lived in a more regular area, using the phone regardless.
Hmm, depends on what is "regularly crossing the border". If you spend a lot of time in DE and FR, and you want to speak and read your emails/facebook, then you need something like this:
From my limited experience I got fairly good coverage in Basel with my German O2 when I came for interviews... given i will be based in Lörrach that will probably work for me ...or I might try ALDI talk which appears to be absurdly cheap for a DE based plan.
In July 2012 the EU began capping heavy roaming charges. I believe Switzerland is not obliged to follow the directive as we are not in EU, but it might be included in one of the bi-lateral agreements. Who knows?
The new roaming charges will progressively go down and by July 2014 the aim is that roaming consumers will pay no more than 19 cents (15p) to make a call and 20 cents (16p) per megabyte of data. The cost of receiving a call will fall to 5 cents (4p) and sending a text to 6 cents (5p).
I haven't found a plan that offers anything close to what you want. I even looked at plans in Luxembourg to see if there was a solution there but there isn't.
Sadly you will either have to not use your phone or pay high charges if you leave Switzerland.
Why are you groaning at people who challenge the OP, rather than quoting us explaining why you have a different point of view? Noone was rude on this thread. Everyone was reasonable.
The OP is vague about the problem in all posts here. Do you have a problem with people disagreeing and asking for clarity on the problem?
It's just a groan. Your post to this thread after the OP basically said "I don't agree with you" and didn't offer any help.
I also live in Basel and am often roaming. St Louis, Mulhouse, most of Lorrach and even Weil am Rhein usually result in a switch to a French or German network. These are all places often frequented by Basel folks. We live on the border of two other countries, public transport offers Tri-Regio tickets, but there isn't any mobile package that co-ordinates the same way. Unfortunately.
settings-wireless and networks-more-mobile networks-network operators select your network operator e.g. sunrise. If u do that, your cell will only connect to sunrise. I have tested that and Basel and even Basel Airport have pretty good signal. Even if a foreign network is stronger, your cellphone will remain connected to sunrise and If u loose signal with sunrise.. u will get a notification that your requested network provider is not available and that u can turn it back to automatic to access roaming networks but it will not be automatically connected to the foreign network. In any case u will never be charged for roaming..
that helps not to be charged with roaming in Basel or some kilometers away from the borders.. I think that is what the TS asked for. Of course if u go in the inner Germany or France this is not a solution..
Useful advice does emerge.... No suitable plan, but a few tricks to stay with your own network when all are available. Just remember to change it if you venture further into F or D. I hope future members will find this helpful.