The 411 on World Phones

The 411 on World Phones
Not all cell phones work when you're abroad. Here's what you need to
stay in touch almost anywhere around the globe.

Grace Aquino, PC World
Thursday, February 24, 2005

Some people think that bringing a cell phone on a trip to another
country is excessive. A part of me used to think that, too--until I
tried it. One test drive and I was hooked. Not only is it great for
emergencies, but it also comes in handy for sending quick text
messages back home. If you're a spontaneous traveler like me, you can
book hotels, dinner reservations, and the like as you go. If you have
a camera phone, you can send snapshots of your vacation without
visiting a photo lab or an Internet café.

But toting a cell phone on a global trek or a business trip requires a
particular type of phone and wireless service--plus extra cash for the
roaming fees. Not all handsets work outside the United States, and not
all wireless service providers offer international roaming: In some
cases you must get a new phone and sign up with a different wireless
carrier. Here's a rundown on the things you need to know.

The Essentials

To use a cell phone overseas, you generally need a handset that
supports Global System for Mobile networks in foreign countries and
either an international roaming plan from your U.S. carrier or a local
Subscriber Identity Module card from a telecom company in the country
you're visiting.

Even if your U.S. carrier has a GSM network (AT&T/Cingular and
T-Mobile do), your mobile phone isn't necessarily a world phone; if
it's a relatively inexpensive handset, it probably isn't. And GSM
comes in many flavors: Some phones support all GSM frequencies, and
others are compatible only with one or two types. For a true world
phone, look for a phone that supports GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (each of
these numbers represents a different GSM frequency).

The U.S. and Canada, and parts of Africa, Central America, and South
America, use GSM 1900. Asia, Australia, and Europe, and parts of
Africa and South America, operate on both GSM 900 and GSM 1800. Some
parts of Latin America also use GSM 850. Head to GSM World for a
helpful list that shows which GSM frequencies are supported in nearly
every country in the world. The site also provides information on the
telecom companies available in each country, plus each carrier's
network coverage map. It's a good idea to find out whether your phone
supports the GSM frequency for your destination before you hop on the
plane.

Motorola, Nokia, Siemens, and Sony Ericsson offer a variety of
handsets that support all four GSM frequencies. For example, you can
get the Motorola Razr V3 and the Nokia 3650 or the 6230 (which I used
in Spain and Australia, respectively). LG Electronics, NEC, Panasonic,
Samsung, and Sharp also offer GSM phones. A few PDA/phone combos such
as the PalmOne Treos (GSM models) and Hewlett-Packard IPaqs work in
other countries; RIM Blackberries do, also.

GSM handles voice calls. On the data side, the complementary services
are General Packet Radio Service, the faster Enhanced Data for Global
Evolution, and several so-called 3G (for third generation, the fastest
wireless communications) technologies, of which only Universal Mobile
Telephone System has begun to appear in the U.S.

International Roaming Service

To use a mobile phone abroad, you'll need to subscribe to an
international phone plan. Such a plan allows you to call people
overseas and receive calls from abroad while you're in the
U.S.--albeit at a very high per-minute price. Text messaging your
buddy in Calcutta is more economical.

The major nationwide carriers--AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless,
Nextel, Sprint PCS,T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless--offer international
roaming service. This means the companies have partnered with carriers
in other countries to provide expanded service to U.S. customers. Some
regional cellular companies also offer international roaming.

AT&T/Cingular and T-Mobile run on GSM, and Nextel runs on Integrated
Digital Enhanced Network. Sprint and Verizon use Code Division
Multiple Access. These carriers offer mobile phones that work in Asia,
Europe, or other continents, although some handsets operate only in a
few countries in a given continent. As with any cell phone service,
you may not get coverage in remote areas.

If you're a Sprint or Verizon customer, be aware that your CDMA phone
won't work on a GSM network here or abroad; you'll likely need another
phone that supports GSM or both CDMA and GSM. Both Sprint and Verizon
offer at least one hybrid phone for their globe-trotting customers.
For example, Sprint has just announced its first quad-band device, the
PCS IP-A790 by Samsung, which supports both CDMA and GSM networks.

Verizon notes that CDMA networks are available in some countries,
including the Dominican Republic, Israel, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South
Korea, and Venezuela. Verizon customers can use their CDMA phone in
these countries, but they should check with Verizon before they travel
to make sure overseas service is activated.

Nextel customers can use their Internet-enabled IDEN phones in a
handful of countries with IDEN networks: Argentina, Brazil, Canada,
Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, and Singapore.
Otherwise, they must have a IDEN-GSM hybrid (such as the Motorola
T720) in order to roam on GSM networks abroad.

Alternatives to Roaming

If you'd rather not subscribe to international roaming with your
existing phone, consider renting an international phone in the U.S. or
at your destination. For example, Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon rent
out phones to occasional travelers. An international phone rental can
be pricey, however.

The less expensive option to international roaming is buying a prepaid
SIM card at your destination, then swapping it with the card inside
your phone. The tiny SIM card is like the phone's life-support system:
Without it, the handset won't work. The card, which looks likes a
circuit board, stores subscriber details, security information, and
memory for phone numbers. The SIM card also stores data that
identifies the caller to the service provider. The card is usually
located one layer beneath the battery. Pop the battery out and you
should see the SIM card seated in a slot.

Prepaid SIM cards typically come in per-minute increments. Costs vary,
so shop around. Depending on the country you visit, you should be able
to find a few phone operators selling prepaid SIM cards. In most
locales, you'll find the cards at convenience stores and phone shops.
If you want to control your usage, a prepaid SIM card is a good
choice.

However, if you're planning on swapping out a SIM card overseas, you
may have to do a little work before you go. Major carriers often make
swapping out SIM cards difficult by locking their handsets--meaning
the phone won't recognize cards from other carriers. In most cases you
should be able to get the carrier to unlock your phone on request, but
you should look into this before you travel.

Also, bear in mind that if you use an overseas carrier's SIM card,
your phone will no longer answer calls to your usual number--that's
one advantage to paying the higher rates for international roaming
with your original SIM card.

Costs and Constraints

Like many monthly services, international roaming fees vary; and if
you don't keep track of your usage, the bill can deplete your savings.
For international voice calls, you're almost always charged according
to the length of the call; prices range from 69 cents to a whopping $5
per minute. For text messaging, you'll pay about 10 cents to 35 cents
per message. For Internet data, most carriers offer unlimited usage
for a flat fee; Cingular charges $25, for example. Some also offer a
metered usage option; for example, Verizon charges $15 for 5MB of data
transmitted and/or received. On top of usage fees, you'll most likely
pay tax and other surcharges--expenses that are difficult to budget
for.

Each wireless service provider also has its own set of rules and fees.
Some of the prerequisites are stringent and don't make much sense. For
example, to get international roaming with AT&T Wireless or Cingular
Wireless, you must be a subscriber for at least 30 days--forget about
walking into an AT&T/Cingular store, buying a world phone, and
expecting to use it in another country the next day. It's a good idea
to call the carrier or check its Web site for details on international
service months in advance.

Useful Extras

Although these accessories are an added expense, they're worth every
penny:

Power Adapter/Converter Kit. This is one of those things that you need
to bring on an overseas trip but almost always forget about until you
need it. Before you go, I highly recommend buying a complete kit, such
as Belkin's Business Traveler Converter Kit, which has both converters
and tips for several major cell phones and PDAs. It's an indispensable
tool.

Spare Battery. Finding that your cell phone has died the minute you
get off the plane can be a real letdown. If you don't buy a power
adapter, splurging on an extra battery is the next best thing.

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article...,119700,00.asp


===
"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty."
-- Author Unknown

---

› See More: The 411 on World Phones

Ablating wrote:
>
> The 411 on World Phones
> Not all cell phones work when you're abroad. Here's what you need to
> stay in touch almost anywhere around the globe.
>

>Not all handsets work outside the United States, and not
all wireless service providers offer international roaming: In some
cases you must get a new phone and sign up with a different wireless
carrier. Here's a rundown on the things you need to know.>

You also have to wait for approval from your Gestapo (DHS) before you
can use a USA phone even in Mexico.

JJ

"Jeremy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Ablating wrote:
>>
>> The 411 on World Phones
>> Not all cell phones work when you're abroad. Here's what you need to
>> stay in touch almost anywhere around the globe.
>>
>
>>Not all handsets work outside the United States, and not
> all wireless service providers offer international roaming: In some
> cases you must get a new phone and sign up with a different wireless
> carrier. Here's a rundown on the things you need to know.>
>
> You also have to wait for approval from your Gestapo (DHS) before you
> can use a USA phone even in Mexico.
>
> JJ

Cingular now has roaming agreements with Mexican cell phone companies and
NextTel has service there

NerdRevenge wrote:
>
>

>
> Cingular now has roaming agreements with Mexican cell phone companies and
> NextTel has service there

So does Sprint, but if you use the service you still get checked out.

JJ

"Jeremy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Ablating wrote:
>>
>> The 411 on World Phones
>> Not all cell phones work when you're abroad. Here's what you need to
>> stay in touch almost anywhere around the globe.
>>
>
>>Not all handsets work outside the United States, and not
> all wireless service providers offer international roaming: In some
> cases you must get a new phone and sign up with a different wireless
> carrier. Here's a rundown on the things you need to know.>
>
> You also have to wait for approval from your Gestapo (DHS) before you
> can use a USA phone even in Mexico.

Huh???? I have never waited for anything to use my cell phone in other
countries, even Communist Vietnam. Works just fine!

"Jeremy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> NerdRevenge wrote:
>>
>>
>
>>
>> Cingular now has roaming agreements with Mexican cell phone companies and
>> NextTel has service there
>
> So does Sprint, but if you use the service you still get checked out.

If you get "Checked out" it is totally transparent. If a roaming agreement
is in place, there is no checking to do as the home company is obligated to
collect the revenue and the other country gets paid in any event.