Telephones

Bermuda’s phone, fax, and wireless data services, like its Internet capabilities, are modern and efficient, though more costly than in North America or Europe. Travelers to Bermuda usually bring their own cell phones or wireless handhelds. Most North American models operate normally here. However, calling via a phone linked to an overseas network can be outrageously expensive. To avoid large roaming charges, an alternative (for GSM phones only) is to purchase prepaid SIM cards. Digicel (22 Church St., at the Washington Mall, tel. 441/500-5000, info.bermuda [at] digicelgroup [dot] com, www.digicelbermuda.com [1]) sells $25 cards and will remove and later put back your own SIM card, providing the phone is unlocked, or attached to AT&T or Cingular networks. M3 Wireless (3 Burnaby St., Hamilton, tel. 441/333-3000) offers the same service. Mobile phones can be rented from Bermuda Cell Rental (Armoury Building, 37 Reid St., Hamilton, tel. 441/232-2355, robin@bermuda cellrental.com, www.bermudacellrental.com [2]).

Public phones are located around the island, though often are in a shabby state or out of order—a problem most Bermudians, with their surgically attached mobiles, don’t seem to notice or care about these days.

For international calls, Cable & Wireless (Burnaby St. at the corner of Church St., Hamilton, tel. 441/297-7128, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri.), TeleBermuda International (Reid St. at the corner of Queen St., Hamilton, tel. 441/296-9029/9030, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri.), and Logic Communications (12 Burnaby St., tel. 441/294-8888, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat.) have retail centers in Hamilton, where prepaid phone cards can be purchased and local or long-distance calls made on the premises.

Bermuda’s international access code is “1” followed by “441” (area code) and the phone number. To dial the United States or Canada from Bermuda, simply dial “1” plus the area code and number. For operator-assisted calls, dial “00.” For U.S. or Canada directory assistance, dial “1” plus the area code plus 555-1212. To make U.K. calls, dial “011” followed by “44,” plus a city area code, and a phone number. Caribbean nations take “1” or “011” as international access codes, depending on their nationality, with European islands requiring the latter.