| Do you travel abroad for work or for play and | | | | Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony service, |
| need hate the bills that you get from international | | | | forward your extension to your mobile number. |
| cell phone roaming? Well I completely understand. | | | | The reason why is the Pre-Paid SIM Card phone |
| Go Figure! After having recently returned from a | | | | number is different from your regular cell phone |
| nice relaxing holiday in Europe (Amsterdam, | | | | number that is why forwarding your number is |
| Prague and Vienna) I can definitely relate if you | | | | recommended so that you only have to give |
| are one of those people who thoroughly enjoy 1 | | | | people one number to reach you (although you |
| Euro half pint beers, but feel the hangover kick in | | | | can forward your phone number from any phone |
| a month later when you open that 100 Euro | | | | that has a call forwarding feature built-in, beware |
| mobile phone bill. Funny how that works huh? You | | | | the per call forwarding fee). Unlocking your phone |
| work so hard to save money via outsourcing and | | | | means having the carrier restrictions released so |
| or setting up an International office where you do | | | | that you can use your phone with any GSM |
| a lot of business abroad only to blow your savings | | | | carrier SIM Card. The 2 major benefits of |
| on wireless roaming every month. As the current | | | | unlocking your phone/BlackBerry is: #1, you can |
| average roaming rate in China (across the | | | | use your phone anywhere in the world there is a |
| industry) is $5.99/minute whether you are making | | | | GSM network as opposed to only in the places |
| or receiving a call, I'm sure you can see how this | | | | your carrier has international cell phone roaming |
| can quickly add up even if the only thing you are | | | | agreements in place and #2 You can save a |
| doing is retrieving your voice mail. So I have | | | | crapload of money on your international roaming |
| decided to share with you 5 of my clever tricks | | | | fees by using the local provider in the country |
| that I often use to help my clients save a ton of | | | | which you are located. With a pre-paid SIM Card |
| money on their international wireless roaming fees. | | | | you are paying local rates when you make and |
| 1. Jajah, 'Free Your Voice' with FREE CALLS to | | | | receive calls within that country and also in most |
| CHINA! | | | | European Countries calling party pays which |
| Think of it like Skype for cell phones. Most of the | | | | means essentially your incoming calls are free. If |
| carriers intentionally put a 'delay' in your wireless | | | | you are a T-Mobile subscriber who has had |
| handset on the data service hence if you have | | | | service for more than 3 months you can call |
| ever tried to use Skype from your mobile you | | | | T-Mobile Customer Care and request to have |
| hear an echo. Unfortunately, it is not a bad | | | | your phone unlocked for free. They will provide |
| connection. It is basically a diplomatic way to keep | | | | you with the unlock code and give you the |
| you from taking up precious and valuable space | | | | instructions to manually unlock your phone. For all |
| on the data network and getting a little bit carried | | | | other GSM carriers you will have to use a third |
| away with your 'unlimited' data package. Just like | | | | party provider and pay a nominal fee. I personally |
| nothing in life is 'Free' neither is anything truly | | | | use and recommend: Unlock It Now And for all |
| 'unlimited'. At any rate, Jajah is a FREE download | | | | persons looking to obtain Pre-Paid SIM Cards at |
| for your cell phone. As long as you and the | | | | an aggressive international rate, the most |
| person you are calling have Jajah software | | | | aggressive international roaming rate with FREE |
| downloaded on your respective handsets you can | | | | incoming calls I have found is through Cellular |
| call each other for free and talk unlimited ;-). Jajah | | | | Abroad and Cell Hire. |
| makes its money from website advertising and | | | | 4. Try to use your data features such as email |
| selling other premium services. | | | | and text messaging as opposed to making voice |
| 2. Babble Stick: Oh the beauty of IP based | | | | calls when possible. |
| telephony. | | | | Using two-way messaging and email is |
| Plug your Babble Stick into any PC around the | | | | considerably less expensive than per minute call |
| world and make free phone calls. They also have | | | | rates. And use your Babble Stick ;-) to check |
| a handset version of the stick which is really small | | | | your cellular voice mail when possible. |
| and cute (it's on their website). Babble Stick uses | | | | 5. Palm and BlackBerry users who travel overseas |
| a secure software platform integrated on a USB | | | | regularly throughout the year should call their |
| key with audio devices and drivers built in. There | | | | respective wireless carriers and request an |
| is no special software required. Additionally, instant | | | | international data package. |
| messaging and voice mail comes standard with | | | | This will allow you to get unlimited use of your |
| your Babble Stick. Just plug in and babble away. | | | | email at a flat fee when you travel abroad. The |
| That word is starting to grow on me. I think I am | | | | rate is about $12-15/mo additional. And bonus: You |
| going to start saying 'Babble' instead of talk and | | | | can set up your BlackBerry or Palm as a modem |
| 'Handy' instead of cell phone, 'cause dat's what | | | | and tether it to your laptop to save on your daily |
| they say in the U.K. Ok now, carry on. | | | | hotel Wi-Fi rate and save from additional added |
| 3. Unlock Your Phone and use a Pre-Paid SIM | | | | international cellular phone roaming fees that you |
| Card. | | | | would incur from data usage. |
| And better yet if your company uses Voice Over | | | | |