Forums > Social Discussion > The HOP UK Visitor's Phone

Posted: 31st May 2005
Actually you may not even need to mail it Mike-

I've discovered that that simm needs to be registered, thus why it wouldn't work in your phone (though it would have done.)

Anyway, I've recently got a new phone (samsung D500) which I have to say i thought was pretty average, so I've gone back to my lovely PDA Phone instead- this means I have a SIMM and a phone which i'm happy to donate to the HOP UK Visitors Phone cause. The plan is as Lightning has outlined- basically, anyone coming into the country will have a phone at their disposal for the duration of their visit- all they'll need to do is add call credit and mail it back once they're done. Also seeing as it wil pass through the hands of several hoppers (Mikes Simm already has many numbers on it) there will be plenty of poiple readily contactable with the phone. Other local numbers (Cabs, travel details etc) will almost certainly end up on it as well, so it should be a prety handy little tool for anyone passing through.

2 possible problems are a-
1.someone finds out about the scheme and tries to knick it posing as a Hopper

2. the numbers get abused-

obviously I could just factory reset the phone eachtime someone is done with it, but I'm guessing several of us wouldn't mind being callable to catch up with or help out a spinner from a foreign land

I'm going to register the SIMM by the end of the week- i suppose I'll have to find someway of booking the phone out (maybe against the HOP calendar) and then we'll iron out the details from there.

Your thoughts?

Posted: 31st May 2005
What do you mean by 'registering' the SIM? The dude at the phone store took out his own SIM, popped it in my phone, and then it rang... And we had a laugh because it was one of his mates calling him.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura

Posted: 31st May 2005
- The SIMM is brand new, so it needs to activated and registered with Orange before it'll be allowed to talk to the Orange mobile network



It even said so in the little book supplied with the SIMM

Posted: 31st May 2005
anyone can abuse my number, although its not on the phone. doh.

put it on, put it on

passing through, this world still lives.

Posted: 1st Jun 2005
"1.someone finds out about the scheme and tries to knick it posing as a Hopper"- Are yoiu saying a non Hopper would browse HOP, see this thread, and go to the effort of trying to trick everyone into giving them it?

2." the numbers get abused"- Dont hurt the numbers! What do you mean the numbers will get abused?

Posted: 1st Jun 2005
1.- Yes that what i'm saying - There aren't many places that will send you a sparkley new handset and then trust you to send it back- I dunno, I'm with Hobbes on much of human nature so call me a pessimist if you wish.

2. The 'number abuse' this is just a further of point one I guess- should someone get the phone there would be lots of people to randomly text and call ad in the wrong hands that could end up with lots of nuisance calls etc.

Again, I'm looking at specifically bad points here.

On the plus side this is a really cool idea and everybody shoul be excited about it, especailly any foreigners with itchy feet.

Posted: 1st Jun 2005
If I want someone to have my number, then I'll let them have it personally. Lightning - please delete my mobile number from the phone. Thanks

Spoiling Christmas for small children since 2003.

Posted: 1st Jun 2005
Sir Sheep- thats exactly one of the problems I was trying to raise above- thanks for highlighting it

Just so everyone knows- as it is, Mike's Simm is in the US and not going anywhere fast- Now I'm looking at setting this up with a fresh SIMM and phone and so anyone with their number on Mike's phone can rest easy about it being put into the hands of others without their permission.

Posted: 1st Jun 2005
Thanks Mr Chutney Sir, I've had nasty experiences of random people obtaining my number and making obscene, upsetting phone calls. I feel better for knowing that my number will be safe

Spoiling Christmas for small children since 2003.

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
*BUMP*

Does this sound like something poiple would want? Is anyone planning on coming to the UK who might make use of such a thing (Mot for example is coming over soon).

Your thoughts are gratefully requested

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
OOOOOOOHHHHHH Synchronicity!!!!

We think it's a great idea!!!!!!!!





As it happens my daughter Elly is landing in London on 11th June and we were JUST talking about having to get her a phone!!! I am of course a HoPper, as is her brother Knoxious. We can also get 'local' references (that we aren't the phone nicking type!!) from Dom, BamBam, Garth....ummmm..... FireNix, BenJaMen, Parafinfairy... ummmmm...Bluecat, Coleman ( oh no hang on, we haven't actually met yet!) We would be more than happy to pay for at the very least calls... in order to know she has something that for sure will work in UK. I was going to send her with a dodgy old Nokia from here.....

She will be in UK till about 20th June, going to Ibiza to meet up with her FlameOz family for a few weeks, then back again to UK... she's 15 and good and responsible (otherwise I wouldn't be sending her to the UK on her own!! We'll even put some extra $$$ in if necessary or help Mike out with his .. especially if it is one we can use in Spain as well, Spanish SIM or whatever



Can we, can we?!?!?!

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
Ok, I need to move to New York before I can mail the phone back to our fine chopped-caned-fruited friend (Mr. Chutney), so 11th June may be too soon.

The phone itself is a low-end Nokia variety. It's no-frills, but it does what it's supposed to do. It doesn't pick up signal in the US, but it does in England, which leads me to believe that it would work anywhere in Europe.

The phone itself cost £40, but I'll donate it gladly. I guess it's just my way of thanking England for being such great hosts. But 11th June will be a bit tough to pull off.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
No worries Mike, and thanks for responding so quickly!! I guess if we can use the ChutneyChat one then yours could arrive in town for the next arrival....
Glad you had a great time in the UK and by the way BIG congratulations on getting your Dr quals

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
Mike- TBH you don't need to send the phone or the SIMM- I have both here and they're both up for grabs. If you do send it back we could run 2 phones I guess, which wouldn't be a problem.

Newgabe- as long as I can get the SIMM activated in time (which I don't see as being a problem) I'll mail the phone to a UK address with charger and instructions. Then all Elly will need to do is add credit to the service which is done on a prepay sytem- this way I can't be charged for any calls which is why this works so well

The only cost will be that of maiing the phone which I suppose could be recouped by a check being sent back with the phone, but its only a couple of pounds so no problems there either.

Bear in mind that calling the phone will actually cost her money from outside the UK- the way the call is routed will incur charges on the phone, and calling out of the UK will also be extremely expensive- it might be worth getting an international phonecard for her as well to call home with.

Other that, all sounds good- Let me know via PM how you wish to proceed

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
Wicked Mr C!!!
I will PM pronto....

HoP rocks!

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
"The phone itself is a low-end Nokia variety. It's no-frills, but it does what it's supposed to do. "

Low end? Its quite nice if I remember rightly..
Its even got a torch!

and who needs anything other than phonecalls and texts on a phone really? WAP is crap, and MMS is expensive.
I suppose a camera is handy...but not nearly essential.

I think this is a *wicked* idea. Nice one

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
The 'other' phone I have is silly new and swish- videos, flashlight, slidy front- It just doesn't push a geek like me's buttons. Still, not bad for a free upgrade.

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005

Written by: Mr Chutney

---

The 'other' phone I have is silly new and swish- videos, flashlight, slidy front- It just doesn't push a geek like me's buttons. Still, not bad for a free upgrade.

---

Now hang on a minute here, Mr C:
This is a 15 year old girl we are talking about here (well, it's a phone, but you know what I mean). Swish! Slidey front! Silly!

She will be in heaven!!!!

*thinks..Swish.. Slidey front.. Silly... Hmmm maybe we are talking about the girl....*

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005
No comment

Posted: 2nd Jun 2005

Written by: Unnamed Cutie On Front

---

Low end? Its quite nice if I remember rightly..
Its even got a torch!

---

No no... it's a FLASHLIGHT. The phone even says so.

Anyway, it's low-end as in the cheapest phone I could find. It's got a black-and-white screen, no camera or web access, no fancy ringers or blinking lights and it won't wipe your bum or do your homework or anything else. But the flashlight is actually quite handy, I'll grant.

It's got excellent reception, great sound quality, a battery that never seems to run low, and a straightforward, user-friendly interface with predictive text messaging that I even taught a few cursewords, so the next user won't need to be bothered. It's a pretty stripped-down model, but it does what it's supposed to do exceedingly well and my brand-new phone that I just got here in the US is also a (high-end) Nokia thanks to my lovely experience with my Nokia in England. And my brand-spankin'-new US phone will work quite well in England next time I'm there. Just have to toss in a new SIM card.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura

Posted: 7th Jun 2005
I have an Orange pay-as-you-go... the crappy little Samsung phone I bought is "locked" to Orange and the dodgy people in Camden couldn't unlock it, so this is my donation to the cause as well... I give it to my poi spinning friends who travel to the UK.

Posted: 7th Jun 2005
Wow, we are getting quite a phone pool going here!

Elly will be arriving in the UK on 11th and will be in touch with you re the Samsung in the first few days she is around, Mr C. As it happens we were able to 'unlock' her phone here, ( it is a question of how long it;'s been owned, ORbit, not necessarily *dodginess*

so she will bring it with her anyway. But it is rather old and plays up a bit, so we would still appreciate to borrow the Spiffy Silly Slidey etc one..... also that way I don't have to loan her my digital camera!
Cheers
Gabe

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....

Posted: 13th Jun 2005
Just to say the Orange SIMM is now activated and following its return from Elly's hands it is ready to be offered.

Posted: 14th Jun 2005
Whos elly?

i should meet this elly....

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....

Posted: 15th Jun 2005
Hey Kyrian,
Look back in the thread... Elly is a young lass whose mum and bro are HoPpers, who is currently travelling in UK and Spain to meet said bro and various other family and friends and have a major break from mid-teen school life etc.... Getting the offer of this phone was one of the amazing synchronicities and generosities that helped her trip happen.....

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....

Posted: 17th Jun 2005
Well, the First Official HopPhone Handover has successfully taken place. The girl and I are both most grateful... her crappy old phone she brought with her as a backup isn;t evcen recharging any more so the timing was great!
Thanks Doc Thanks Mr Chutney for such an inspiring idea....

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....

Posted: 17th Jun 2005
Excellent, glad its working out

Posted: 4th Jul 2005
Evening all,

Where's this mythical phone right now? Is it over in Spain? Kyrian's in the country for a visit and I don't know if she's sorted anything out phone wise.
Ta!

Posted: 4th Jul 2005
The phone is currently with Newgabes daughter Elly- I think shes in Ibiza and then the UK for a bit before its returned, plus I'm in the US so I'm not in a position to forward it- sorry!

If we can get the second phone sorted (imight be seeing Mike so I can hook up the second) and get a booking system/ thread started out so all this suff will be easier to organise.

Posted: 4th Jul 2005
Exactly. I do have the phone here. The deal is that I want to keep the SIM card so I can use it when I go back to England.

But it's an unlocked phone, so any old SIM card will work on it. The phone, however, does not get signal in the U.S.

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura