International Calls
Having a cell phone is a convenient way to keep in touch with your friends in the US; however, if you need it primarily for international calls, a cell phone is no better than any regular phone. Cell phones charge the same as most land-line services; in fact, for the most part, the companies that provide mobile services also provide land-line services. Depending on what company you use, and where you are from, rates vary from 40 cents to 1 dollar per minute. A good way of avoiding high charges on your phone is to purchase a calling card – separately. For most of them, you simply dial a toll-free number in the US, then enter your PIN, and make a call at a significantly cheaper rate (usually between 7 and 50 cents a minute, depending, again, on the country you’re calling.)
A similar option is, once you have a phone, you may go to NickelTalk’s Web site: http:www.//nickeltalk.com/resources/index.htm, or www.nickeltalk.com/signup.php, create an account, register your phone, and they’ll explain to you exactly how you can use their service. On the website, there is also a listing of NickelTalk’s rates. NickelTalk has recently partnered with GoSIM, so that their customers can go online at the NickelTalk/GoSIM website, and order SIM cards to travel abroad with, for these customers’existing USA mobile phones. With this service, there is a saving of up to 90% on mobile calls when outside the USA. NickelTalk is registered under www.ststelecom.com.
Another option for international calling is available at www.myisic.isicconnect.ekit.com. To receive special offers for students on global cell phones, sim cards and voicemail, you may quote myisicus4. Customer service is available from the US by dialing 1-888-310-4168 or email isiconnect@ekit.com.
Some other calling card companies are as follows:
Or, you can always go online, type “calling cards,” research a great variety of companies that offer this service, and then find the best rates for calling to your own country.
Cell phones for European travel
If you have purchased a phone in the U.S., and wish to use it abroad in Italy, France, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States., you will need a GSM phone. GSM is the cellular technology used in Europe; in the United States, Cingular and T-Mobile use GSM, but Sprint and Verizon Wireless use another technology called CDMA. The best advice for persons who are traveling overseas who plan to use their cell phones frequently is to get an unlocked GSM phone--in other words, a GSM phone that isn't tied to a particular carrier. That way, he/she can buy a prepaid SIM card in each country and use the phone with a local telephone number and carrier.
An easier but pricier method is to go with a Cingular or a T-Mobile cell phone. The plus side is that in most cases, the phone will detect automatically the local network when it is turned on. Both Cingular and T-Mobile have carrier partners in the countries listed above, so you should get reliable coverage. The downside here is that because you'll be using a U.S. phone number, you'll need to keep track of how often you use the phone. International roaming charges can be pricey, so do your best to brace yourself when receiving your phone bill. Another point to consider is that the phone should support 900 or 1800 GSM bands, as that will give you the most ideal coverage. Alternatively, Sprint or Verizon customers can rent GSM phones from their carrier for the length of their trip abroad. For more information on taking your cell phone abroad, see CNET's quick guide to world phones at the CNET website listed below. You may also want to click on to the international link, to access information on cellular phones from Asia, and particularly from Japan and Korea, below:
http://www.cnet.com/4520-6033_1-5654853-1.html?tag=more
SIM cards and unlocked phones
If you purchase a GSM phone and a SIM card, it doesn't mean you're automatically exempt from having to sign a contract with the carrier. If you don't want to sign a contract, however, you do have a couple of options. Both T-Mobile and Cingular offer prepaid services, which don't require contracts. But if you go this route, the phone will be locked to the carrier, so you won't be able to change service providers at will. If you have a prepaid Cingular phone, for example, it won't allow you to make calls if you pop in a T-Mobile SIM card. Another option is to get an unlocked phone and buy prepaid SIM cards.