Various Options for International Cell Phones
The choices available for international cell phones are multiple and varied. The pros and cons of these options depend on the type of traveler you are and the amount with which you want to spend on international calls.
Given the commonality of cell phones today, most travelers will feel incomplete without a cell phone. One option for international travelers who will be spending quite a while overseas and do not want the hassle of renting international cell phones or purchasing a local one in the foreign country, is to consider using their own phone. Most of the major U.S. cell phone companies do have plans with the features of making calls as international cell phones. These companies have varying rates for their plans and varying per minute call rates for different countries. Thus, ask your current phone provider company as they may be able to offer you an extensive international plan. Still, it is best to make sure that the country you will be going to is covered. Furthermore, your current mobile gadget needs to have the capability to make international cell phones calls.
One advantage of this arrangement is that you no longer need to switch phones. Thus, you retain you phone number and the stored numbers in your gadget even when you are abroad. However, calls from international cell phones can be very costly. And in the long run, this option can be very expensive. Another drawback for this set up, or more like a precautionary note, is that if you currently have a very nice phone with a lot of features, you run a high risk of the phone getting lost or stolen.
Another option for those travelers who will stay in a certain country for a significant amount of time is to obtain a local phone in that country. Examples of such travelers are college students or corporate workers who need to spend time with branches overseas. International cell phones can thus be a good option for them. You can look for local cell phone providers on the internet and checkmout their plan types and their rates for making calls with international cell phones. This is important especially for when you call home to the United States. You can also buy international cell phones from reputable cell phone shops. Just be careful to understand all the items of any contract regarding international cell phones. Also, please do not buy international cell phones from shady characters or from the street, even if you think it is a good deal. You might regret it. One advantage of this arrangement is that it is cheaper for making local calls within the country. On the other hand, calls to the U.S. can be quite costly.
One option for those who will be making plenty of calls but not be travelling a lot internationally or will be staying for a short time, is to rent international cell phones. The company can mail you the phone and indicate the mailing address so that you can return the phone when you arrive home. However, charges on this phone are double - you pay for the rental for the phone and payments for the per minute costs of the call. The benefit of this arrangement is that if your current phone is not covered by your company in your destination country, it may be cheaper to rent international cell phones than to buy a new one locally. Be careful though of hidden charges. Ask about minimum minute rates or costs of incoming calls. Also, if you lose the phone, you might have costly charges. You might thus want to get insurance for these international cell phones.
