From Brent & Pam Simons Yacht “Grey Dawn” on 11th May 2010

Some information that may be of use to your many followers regarding emailing and phone use in Greece.

Phoning Home from Public phones

We use the OTE “Smile & Web” card available from the OTE offices on any Island and many kiosks. We buy a 10 Euro card but other denominations are available.

You use a public ( or private ) phone to call a toll free no. then enter your PIN from the card and the number that you want.

Instructions are in English, system works perfectly and costs are very low; calling Australia cost about 10c a minute!!

Internet from Onboard

We use the “Wind” mobile F2G ( free to go ) system available from any “Wind” mobile office or agent on all large and medium-sized Islands.

You start by purchasing a SIM card and pre-pay whatever you wish into it as a credit. This card is inserted into your 3G GSM mobile and linked to your computer. ( we use a cable and Motorola Razr. phone. )

To start you SMS a code to a toll-free no. eg. “NS7” activates your system for 7 days at a cost of 15 Euro. Other amounts are available.

When the time expires you just send another SMS providing you have enough credit on the card. This works out to 2 Euro ( 1 beer ) a day and works brilliantly even on small islands and a few miles offshore. Data appears to be virtually unlimited.

We have found the staff at the “Wind” offices most helpful in getting you set up and from then on it is simple with good speed and instant access.

Not wise to use it outside the number of days that you have activated as I think it reverts to a casual rate and chews up your remaining credit fast.

We are currently using both the above systems with great success.

Thanks for a great resource and we hope that this may in part repay the excellent information that we have had from your contributors over the years.

Best regards

Brent & Pam Simons

Paros, Greece