Ever Travel Internationally With Your Cell Phone?

Have you ever traveled internationally with your cell phone? I have. A couple of points:

When you get there it MIGHT work. Most phones actually do work around the world. GSM, in particular, is a widely used technology. Hopefully you have spent a few hours researching this issue with your carrier before you left.

It MIGHT work if I can get my US carrier's customer service rep on the line to tell me how/what to dial from what country/network and other confusing/frustrating stuff I really don't care about. Ah ha ... you've got a connection, now to call the family, maybe the office ... you can push all the buttons you want until your finger bleeds ... but ya' better know what to push and in what order. No problem, call your carrier ... but you're in Vietnam, Fingertip towels and the hold music sounds the same there as anywhere ... so what do you push with your bloody finger anyhow?

When I get home I immediately give all my money to my carrier ... just can't stand the wait time for the ridiculous bill. If you don't plan ahead and check with your carrier about international calling rates you're in for a big surprise. Most carriers offer an international rate plan which is about as valuable as a note from your mother to the carrier in Africa who is going to charge you whatever amount they feel is unconscionable and then multiple it by 25.

So what to do when you get to Beijing? Just trot over to the local phone store, kiosk, kid on the corner and buy yourself a cheap ol' phone card with a chip. Insert it into your phone and voila, you're paying cheap local rates ... dirt cheap for local calls and about 25 million times cheaper for international. Sure, you get a different phone number ... you can just be happy and use it, check voicemail on the unaffordable carrier, or forward your calls, all pretty simple, and less expensive than the bankruptcy lawyer. By the way you can keep the number. I think it's pretty cool to have a China number anyhow ... good for my "big shot" ego.

What? You put the chip in and nadda, nuca, nuttin! AH HA ... so you have a locked cell phone. No surprise. Ninty percent or more cell phones sold in the U.S. are sold by cell service carriers. You know, the ones who give you a big huge discount when you buy their locked phone ........ now you get it! They're just waiting for you to get home from your trip. Your local Bar Association can supply you with a list of good bankruptcy lawyers.

For more information on unlocked phones, why they are better, newer and overall cheaper, please go to WXPlanet. You'll be surprised at how cheap it can be to go there ... still talk ... and come home unscathed. Oh, and you can also reach me on my China number at 13717.809.532 - please leave a message.

Roger Gimbel