Using international cell phones is a great way to stay connected while travelling abroad. In the past, international cell phones were seen as a luxury that most professionals simply could not afford. However, today, the cost of international cell phones is more affordable and is considered a small price to pay for staying connected.

To avoid missing critical business opportunities, many business owners turn to international wireless phones. Available for rent or purchase, international cell phones offer worldwide cell services. Consider the following before using international cell phones.

1. Compare cost of using U.S.-based cell phone abroad versus international wireless phones.

2. Learn more about renting versus buying international cell phones.

3. Research the pricing on global cellular services in different countries.

Action Steps
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Research total cost of cellular services worldwide

Today, many U.S. cell phones are compatible with international systems and can be used abroad. However, roaming charges and data fees incurred overseas are usually much higher than the cost to rent or buy international cellular phones. Before deciding to use your American cell phone overseas, be sure to inquire about roaming charges and other applicable fees for global cellular services.

I recommend: Check out Articlesphere to learn more about international services offered by U.S. cell phone providers. You may also read more about roaming charges for international phone service provided by TMCnet.com.

Weigh the pros and cons of renting or buying international wireless phones

Available for rent or purchase, international cell phones offer worldwide cell services. You can buy international cell phones that can be used in more than 100 different countries for nearly $50. The daily fee for renting international wireless phones ranges from $3 to $10 per day. However, many rental companies will impose a minimum rental period requirement, set daily call usage thresholds, charge delivery fees as high as $30 and require insurance.

I recommend: You may check out International Cellular Services to learn more about renting international cell phones. Learn more about global cellular services by checking out GSM-News.com.

Watch out for varying costs of worldwide cell services

Before renting or buying international wireless phones, be sure to inform your vendor or international wireless phone rental provider about your destination. Worldwide cell services are not universal and fees could vary depending upon where you plan to use your phone. Additionally, it's difficult to purchase an international cell phone that works in Korea or Japan, so the best option would be to rent if this is your destination.

I recommend: Read up on how to obtain worldwide cellular services by checking out Cellular Phone Plans. You may also read more about international wireless phones by visiting Cell Phone Tips and Guide.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to buying or renting international cell phones prior to departure, you can also buy international cell phones when you reach your destination. Explore your options to determine which option is best for you.

We’ve come a long way from the days when the best phone-home option when traveling internationally was the hotel room phone at your destination and all the negatives that imposed, including telephone bills higher than Mt. Everest. Now, with the coming-of-age of international cell phone service, you can be on a mountaintop, in the desert, adrift in the middle of the ocean or in almost any bustling metropolis or sleepy burg in the world and still stay connected to your office and your clients.

The challenge lies in figuring out which international cell phone service best meets your needs. This requires an evaluation of how you travel now and how you expect to travel in the future. Will you need international service just once a year, or are you a global road warrior who must be in touch at all times? Because most cell phones in the U.S. are not adapted for international use, you’ll also need to determine whether your current phone is geared up for international mobile phone service.

Depending on your needs, there are several options available to you:
1. Use your own cell phone if it has the right features.
2. Rent a phone and the international service to make it work.
3. Access service in several countries with a single “account.”
4. Access “local” service as you travel.

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Use your own phone for international cell phone service

Though it’s not a standard feature of U.S. cell phones, some cell phones are designed to work in many parts of the world using GSM (Global System for Mobile communications). If the cell phone you use in the U.S. is GSM-ready (If you have a T-Mobile, Cingular, or M-mode type service with AT&T, then you have GSM service), and if it is tri-or quad-band (the latter is recommended), you will probably be able to access international mobile phone service with your present phone. Note: you might have to contact your phone company ahead of time to be “turned on” for international roaming.

I recommend: Use this Web site to determine if the country you’ll visit has GSM service and which frequency it operates on. Then check out the features on your current phone model at PhoneScoop. At this Web site you can also search for phones by specific specs or features and compare up to five phones side-by-side. Find out if your Cingular (now “The New AT&T”) phone will work in a foreign destination. Use the “Travel Guide” feature to confirm that you’ll find Cingular coverage when you get there. If you have a T-Mobile GSM-ready phone, you can check out coverage areas, international rates, and activate WorldClass service before you leave home.

Infrequent traveler? Consider an international cell phone rental

When you rent a phone to access international cell phone service, it will cost you more because there is another middle man involved. But this option makes sense if you travel abroad infrequently or don’t require a lot of features.

I recommend: For quick-and-easy international mobile phone rentals, check out Mobal, Cellhire, PlanetFone (you’ll receive a 10% discount if you’re a AAA member) or Planet Omni. If the frequency of your visits warrants it, any of these Web sites will sell you a phone too, or check out Business.com for more options.

Access international cell phone service in several countries

With an international prepaid or post-paid roaming SIM card (this Subscriber Identification Module identifies you to the wireless provider) and a GSM-ready phone, you can move from country to country with the same U.S. phone number, making and receiving calls as you go. The potential downside to this option is inconsistent service and quality from one country’s network to another. And rates for this kind of flexibility can be quite high.

I recommend: Check out multi-country prepaid and post-paid SIM options from Talk Abroad, Mobal and United Mobile. In order to install a new SIM in your cell phone, your phone must be unlocked.

Access international cell phone service with several SIMs

If you’ll be staying in more than one country for a period of time, consider purchasing a prepaid SIM for each country and switching them as you move about. By using local service you’ll access air time at a lower cost-per-minute and local calls to your phone will cost less or be free of charge. You might also be able to use additional features such as data service (make sure the phone you’re using can support these advanced services).

I recommend: If you don’t already own an unlocked GSM phone, you can purchase one that is unlocked and ready to use with a GSM 900, 1800 or 1900 band SIM card for maximum flexibility. Check out Telestial for country-specific SIMs. They also have an excellent tutorial to help you understand the fine points of international cell phone service.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Japan and South Korea roam on different frequencies than other countries. If you’re traveling to either of these countries you’ll need a handset that’s compatible. In this case, a rental is probably your best option unless your stay will be lengthy.
• •  Rental phones often don’t have all the latest features; if you need (or want) them, consider buying a phone instead.
• •  The company you bought your cell phone from may have “locked” it so you cannot use that phone with a different wireless service. There are a number of Internet-based services that can unlock your phone so you can switch SIMs as you travel.
• •  The downside of using several “local” SIM cards as you travel from country to country is that you will not have a single phone number that travels with you.
• •  Prepaid SIM cards are rechargeable; when you have used up your air time, you can add more.
• •  With a prepaid SIM card, you won’t have to set up an account, submit to credit checks, or pay a monthly bill.

With the introduction of advanced wireless technology, pricing and costs of international cell phones is more affordable than ever before. International cell phones are a great way to stay connected outside the United States and Canada. In the past, international cell phones were seen as a luxury that most professionals simply could not afford.

While many cell phone providers offer international rates and roaming charges, renting or buying international wireless phones is typically the most cost-efficient way to stay connected while travelling abroad. Consider the following factors that could affect the pricing and costs of international cell phones.

1. Review cost of purchasing international wireless phones.

2. Learn more about international cell phone rental requirements.

3. Research the pricing on global cellular services in different countries.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research costs to buy international cell phones

To avoid missing critical business opportunities, many business owners turn to international wireless phones. You can buy international cell phones that can be used in more than 100 different countries for nearly $50.

I recommend: Visit Independent Traveler to read more about the pricing and costs of international cell phones. You may also check out 1800mobiles for pricing on international wireless phones manufactured by the top providers of wireless phone services.

Uncover rental requirements for international wireless phones

Available for rent or purchase, international cell phones offer worldwide cell services. Alternatively, the cost to rent international cellular phones is approximately $3 to $10 per day.

I recommend: Check out the Traveler Insider to find out more on the costs of renting versus buying an international wireless phone. You may also check out Cellhire for low cost international wireless phone rentals.

Investigate varying costs of global cellular services

Due to its highly specialized technology, it's quite expensive to purchase international cell phones that can be used in Japan and Korea. If you plan to travel to one of these areas, it's best to obtain up-front pricing and conduct research to adequately budget for the cost of cellular services worldwide.

I recommend: Read more about various items that could affect the pricing and costs of international wireless phone rentals by reading tips posted by Global Cellular Rental. You may also check out Global Phone Works to get a basic understanding of pricing and other rental contract criteria.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to the per day fee for international cell phones, many rental companies will impose a minimum rental period requirement, set daily call usage thresholds, charge delivery fees as high as $30 and require insurance. Before deciding to rent an international wireless phone, be sure to inquire about rental contract requirements.

Using cell phones internationally requires some basic knowledge about how cell phones work and what cell phone technologies are used overseas. While the U.S. uses two different cell phone network technologies, CDMA and GSM, the majority of the world uses GSM technology. However, even within GSM technology, countries differ in the frequency they use. You will want to know the frequency used by the country you are working or visiting. This will help you decide whether to bring your GSM phone, prepay a SIM card, rent an international phone or buy an unlocked GSM phone. The following provides an explanation of these terms about international cell phones.

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GSM

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications. It is the most common cell phone network technology outside of the United States.

I recommend: GSM World describes GSM technology in detail.

Quad band phone

A quad band phone allows you to use four bands of frequencies on your cell phone. GSM technology runs on specific frequencies. For example, Europe runs on 900MHz and 1.8GHz, while the US runs on 850MHz and 1.9GHz. A phone that operates on GSM in the US does not necessarily operate in Europe because of the different frequencies. Therefore, a quad band phone would allow you to use two bands while in the US and two different bands while in Europe.

I recommend: Phone Scoop provides a definition of a quad band phone.

SIM cards

SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module and it is the small card found in GSM phones that contains the identity of the phone, such as the phone number and the contacts. It is removable and can be put into other phones to maintain your phone number from phone to phone.

I recommend: CNet provides a description of SIM cards.

Prepaid SIM card

A popular choice for international cell phone usage, a prepaid SIM card, is a SIM card that has been activated with a certain amount of minutes. It allows you to use your phone as a local number so that you pay local rates for local calls. Many prepaid SIM cards allow you to have free incoming calls. An international prepaid SIM card must be used with an unlocked GSM phone.

I recommend: Telestial provides information about international prepaid SIM cards as well as providing rates and services for prepaid SIM cards in specific countries.

Unlocked GSM phone

An unlocked GSM phone is a cell phone that recognizes SIM cards from any carrier. These are more expensive than locked phones (which mean that only SIM cards from one carrier can be used on it) and are often sold by third-party vendors.

I recommend: Wise Geek discusses unlocked GSM phones in more detail.

International cell phone rentals

International cell phone rentals are another option for using cell phones overseas. These cell phones allow you to rent a phone with the right number of bands of frequencies for the country you are visiting. In combination with a prepaid SIM card, international cell phone rentals can be an efficient and less expensive alternative than buying a new quad band phone or unlocked GSM phone.

I recommend: Planet Omni describes international cell phone rentals and provides rates.