Category — Communication
Chat for Cheaper While Abroad
Affordable outgoing and incoming calls while abroad are no longer just a traveler’s dream, with the National Geographic Talk Abroad Travel Phone. Having a mobile phone while traveling is not just a question of convenience; it is also a matter of safety. Expensive rates and little or no technical support, however, have been discouraging the general public from relying on international cellular services while staying abroad. National Geographic, in a partnership with California-based Cellular Abroad, introduced a solution that fills this niche when they launched the National Geographic Talk Abroad Travel Phone. Its pre-paid service allows the users to receive incoming calls free of charge in 65 of the most frequently traveled countries, including all of Europe, while rates for outgoing calls are a lot cheaper than those offered by other cellular services. Picking up local services, the Talk Abroad Travel Phone promises to provide its customers with the best coverage available and work seamlessly across international boarders.
The rates begin at 90 cents per minute for outgoing calls from Europe and many other popular destinations. According to Scott Nielsen, vice president of business development for Cellular Abroad, that is less than what most cell-providers offer; other are apparently charging roughly $1.50 a minute for both, outgoing and incoming calls. For other destinations, the rates are higher and vary, depending on the country. Incoming SMS text messages are free, outgoing ones are 60 cents each; service charges for calls to a cell phone or other National Geographic travel phone are 25 cents per minute. The NG Talk Abroad phone can be either purchased for $199, or rented. The rental charges start at $49 per week or $129 for two months. Alternatively, a SIM card can be bought for $79 and inserted into a GMS phone. All phones come loaded with $29 prepaid talking time. Once spent, a customer can purchase additional talk time in $29 increments either via website or directly from the handset.
On the top of cheaper rates and a contract-free phone, National Geographic and Talk Abroad also promise to provide a toll-free customer service available on a 24/7 basis, which can be accessed directly from the phone. Furthermore, regardless of your destination, each NG Talk Abroad customer will be assigned a UK number. Therefore, unlike with other services, the customer’s phone number remains the same irrespectively of where he or she travels. The NG Talk Abroad Travel Phone, specifically designed for an international traveler, appears to be an effective way to stay connected world-wide. Students, photographers, journalists, business travelers, as well as vacationers and explorers could all benefit from the device.
August 15, 2007 No Comments
Using an American Cell Phone in Europe
Not all American phones get service in Europe and not all mobile providers offer plans that stretch beyond the Atlantic. The ones that do work are a bit pricey but can be effective.
The standard phone network in Europe is called GSM, or Global System for Mobile Communications. Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson all produce GSM-enabled phones. Make sure your phone is “GSM-enabled.” If not, and you’re thinking of buying a new mobile phone that you can use in Europe, look for anything labeled “tri-band” or “quad-band” to get the “world phone” option. Dual-band doesn’t always work. My personal opinion is that Blackberry offers the best international communication hardware.
Once you have the right phone, next you need to purchase the right international calling plan. T-Mobile offers a very affordable option, if used sparingly ($1 to $2 a minute). What is especially good about this particular plan are no additional fees.
Lastly, before you go on your trip, stop in at your provider’s store and ask one of the customer service employees if your phone is cleared for use in Europe. Some phones you need to manually change the network while others do it automatically.
Just so you know it works; as you cross each border you’ll usually get a text message welcoming you to the new country’s network. Good luck and have a safe trip!
December 4, 2006 No Comments
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