| 3 color copies of your passport photo, 2-3 copies | | | | countries depending on which international sim |
| of your passport page, your home address and | | | | card you buy. You can see them here: |
| tel. numbers, you family's first and last names and | | | | At least with one of those two your incoming |
| your place of work. In addition come of them | | | | calls while in western Europe will still be free to |
| require information you likely don't even have on | | | | you, night and day, from every country and |
| hand. | | | | phone on earth. Calling the states from all western |
| Also, you'll have to take a taxi ride to a | | | | European countries is a flat rate of US$0.97 per |
| specialized shop and then a taxi back to your | | | | minute, always. Compare that to using the, for |
| hotel. Often it can take 1-2-3-4 hours to complete | | | | example, German country specific sim card at |
| the purchase depending on how busy the shop it, | | | | $2.50 per minute and you'll see that sometimes its |
| how expert the salesman is and how their | | | | cheaper to get one of the international sim cards. |
| computers are feeling that day. | | | | Because companies generally foot the bill for |
| Often once you arrive you have left out some | | | | business travelers, they may choose to forego |
| form or piece of information and you'll have to | | | | the local SIM card option in favor of renting |
| run around and get it and come back. | | | | phones or using their own phones and swallowing |
| On the whole buying your SIM CARD in the USA | | | | the international roaming charges. |
| from a reliable company such as means getting | | | | Americans are at a disadvantage when it comes |
| your card in the states without any hassle of | | | | to cell phones overseas, because most of the |
| registration at all. They can even give you your | | | | world uses a GSM (Global System for Mobile |
| overseas phone number when you place the | | | | Communications) standard. While T-Mobile and |
| order. They also ship worldwide in case you need | | | | Cingular use that standard, Verizon and Sprint |
| it and/or an unlocked cell phone shipped to where | | | | operate on the CDMA (Code Division Multiple |
| you are. To most popular destinations that means | | | | Access) standard, which is popular in North |
| 1-2 day service. | | | | America but not supported everywhere else. But |
| If you're a frequent overseas business traveler, | | | | most carriers lock their GSM phones to their |
| you've likely encountered the frustrations of using | | | | service so they can't be used with other |
| a cell phone abroad. | | | | providers and you must also be aware that most |
| Here is some advice... | | | | American GSM phones don't have the needed |
| Buy Local (Foreign) SIMs in the US or Use an | | | | foreign networks in them so they won't work |
| International SIM | | | | overseas anyway. |
| The way to save on international cell phone us is | | | | If you go to the U.K. or Germany or most |
| to buy a pre-paid SIM card from a phone | | | | everywhere in the world, your Sprint or Verizon |
| company in the country you will be visiting. These | | | | will not work at all. |
| SIMs can be purchased in the US and local SIMs | | | | Consider the battle between GSM and CDMA. The |
| can sometimes be purchased overseas. Be aware | | | | GSM standard outsells the other flavor, the flavor |
| though, that if you buy SIMs overseas there | | | | used by Verizon and Sprint, by 4 to 1. |
| might be residency requirements, you will not get | | | | The Japanese anomaly |
| your phone number until you arrive and the | | | | Travelers heading to Japan face a whole different |
| instructions will be in the local language. It may | | | | ballgame. |
| actually cost less to buy a sim card in the USA | | | | When you go there, your GSM phone won't work. |
| because of needing to go to a special shop but | | | | You have to have a 3G (third generation) phone, |
| considering you get the number in advance | | | | which you can get in from 3G refers to the |
| (usually) and the instructions in English, it's worth it. | | | | technology that gives cell phone users the |
| Before departure, he said, find out whether your | | | | "broadband experience" of a laptop with its high |
| phone will work at your destination, and if so, | | | | speed and data capacity. |
| whether you can activate the international | | | | While such phones are just starting to come out |
| roaming access function that would allow you to | | | | in the United States, they don't operate on the |
| receive and make calls. However this mean very | | | | same frequencies as they do in Japan or Europe. |
| costly roaming fees and your incoming calls can | | | | A 3G phone purchased in the United States and |
| be costly and always your outgoing calls are | | | | taken to Europe would roll onto the networks |
| expensive. | | | | there fine -- but would operate as a 2G or |
| If the phone is not compatible with local | | | | "second generation" phone there, with limited data |
| technology, you'll have to consider renting, buying | | | | capacity. |
| or borrowing a local cell phone or getting one in | | | | Travelers from Japan or Europe to the United |
| advance from a company like in California. They | | | | States will find that their 3G phones will roam on |
| have Factory Unlocked GSM cell phones both to | | | | Cingular or T-Mobile 2G networks but without the |
| buy International Cell Phones and to rent Cell | | | | 3G roaming experience they are used to. |
| Phone Rental They ship worldwide and have | | | | Here are some fantastic looking new 3G cell |
| cellular service for more than 170 countries (there | | | | phones: |
| are only 193 countries on earth!). | | | | Roaming worldwide |
| If your phone is compatible, you'll need to decide | | | | Either of the international sim cards linked about |
| whether you want to get your phone unlocked so | | | | work in most of the world's countries. |
| that it can accept a local SIM card -- the ID chip | | | | How Pre-Paid SIMs Work |
| that carries your local phone number. For it to be | | | | This is the easiest part. Pre-paid SIMs start with a |
| compatible it must be GSM standard and be of | | | | monetary balance on the account. As you make |
| the correct NETWORK BAND for the country | | | | calls, the charges are deducted from the credit |
| you are going to. There are 4 bands, 850/900 | | | | available based on the per-minute rates. Rates will |
| 1800/1900Mhz. | | | | vary depending on the carrier's policies, whether |
| The advantage behind the LOCAL PHONE | | | | local, to a local cell phone, or international. The |
| NUMBER option? With a local phone number you | | | | rates are included with the SIM card packaging. In |
| can receive local calls and avoid the $1-$2 per | | | | almost all European and Western countries, |
| minute international roaming charges you'd | | | | incoming calls are free. |
| otherwise incur with a U.S.-based SIM card. | | | | When your call credit gets low, you drop by any |
| Unlike U.S.-based service, where you pay for both | | | | convenience store or newspaper stand and buy a |
| making and receiving calls, in Europe (and most | | | | little scratch off voucher from the same |
| foreign countries) only the calling party pays, | | | | company as the SIM in your phone. Enter the |
| However, once you leave the country of the local | | | | secret code from the voucher into the phone's |
| SIM card, the calls you receive from there will | | | | automated top-up system, and the voucher's |
| rack up international roaming charges. | | | | credit is added to your account. It's a free call to |
| There are 2 ways to skirt that problem: | | | | check your balance and to add more credit. It's |
| #1 is to buy country specific SIM cards for every | | | | like getting gas in your car and something millions |
| country you visit, provided that your phone is | | | | of people around then world do everyday. If you |
| compatible. Once again If you try to buy them | | | | don't want to stop frequently, buy a large |
| overseas it can be either impossible or very | | | | denomination card, such as a 50-Euro. |
| frustrating and expensive or impossible. | | | | Multi-Country Trips |
| The hassle with that option: You have to inform | | | | For trips to more than one country, it is easier to |
| your contacts of your new cell phone number | | | | use an international pre-paid SIM card that works |
| each time since you won't have your foreign cell | | | | in many countries. Planet Omni has an International |
| phone numbers until you buy them. | | | | sim card that gives you free incoming calls all |
| Getting them from first means you can have | | | | over Europe and it is less than $1.00 a minute for |
| your numbers even at the time you place the | | | | outgoing calls to Europe or the US (when used in |
| order. Just call them direct for more info. | | | | Europe). It works in a total of 110+ countries. |
| 800-815-9380 or from outside the USA | | | | The pre-paid international SIM a great product for |
| 925-686-9945 or email: | | | | travel to more than one country. It keeps you |
| #2 is to buy a single sim card good for more than | | | | from having to buy multiple SIMs and changing |
| one country. That way you give out a single cell | | | | phone numbers and rates in each country. It |
| phone number but good for between 110 and 160 | | | | provides seamless roaming from door to door. |