Choices in International Cell Phones and Plans

I've been researching GSM or international/global phones for over two years and have finally settled on a choice. I did buy one over two years ago through Orbitz. But I couldn't get the pin to work consistently enough to keep the phone unlocked long enough to use it, even after I had it replaced.

Thanks to a wonderful website and their series of articles I'm closer to trying again with a website that I've been leaning toward for quite a while.

We currently have Brighthouse and even without the international plan which is $5.00 per month for 100 minutes, the charge is only $.10 per minute for England and Belgium calling from the US. The only other plan we had was when we had MCI's international plan which was around $5.00 per month with a phone card which allowed unlimited calls into the US or out of the US for $.07 per minute.

I've researched both the standard international cell phones with contracts and the pay-as-you-go global cell phone plans.

I have organized the major offerings into two groups:

The first group includes the major domestic companies which offer post-paid international phones with monthly plans and contracts:

T-Mobile:

T-Mobile offers international roaming from $.99 up $1.69 plus fees and long distance charges. You must have the international plan activated on the phone and have a GSM phone with the frequencies that work with the countries you plan to go to, before you go.

The company has six international phones with 4+ bands or frequencies from free to $199.99 with a two year contract or you can pay for the phone upfront or on an installment plan with no annual contract and a lower monthly plan.

Sprint:

International coverage is available for $4.99 per month with varying per minute charges depending upon your destination. Their choice of phones depends upon your location.

I can't quote the price range because I don't know how many of the phone choices are equipped for international calling. I couldn't get the website to segregate the world phones from the rest. I did find two but they are available in my area. They may not be available in your area.

I would recommend going to the store and asking a representative. Their phones all require a two year contract.

ATT:

ATT offers several world phones from free to $149, all with two year contracts. Their International plans vary from Standard, which costs $.59 to $4.99 per minute, to two other plans, one for $5.99 per month with roaming from $.59 to $3.99 per minute and the other plan is for $3.99 per month with roaming from $.25 to $9.95 per minute for cell phone to cell phone or $.09 to $9.95 for cell to land line.

This next group includes two reliable sources for pay-as-you go international phones:

Mobal:

This is not a prepaid option. You have a choice of three phone packages that range from $49 to $149, or just the Sim for $19 if you have an unlocked world phone.

The phone is yours for life, with the same phone number. It never expires. You are charged through your credit card only when you use the phone. There is no need to renew the minutes which aren't prepaid. Two of the phone options are usable in the States as well as globally.

Calls range from free to $7.19 per minute. You get one number that you can use everywhere just by using direct calling just as you do with your regular domestic cell phone. The website has clear instructions about how to use their product.

Telestial:

Of all the options I looked at, this has the widest variety of options to choose from.

This is a prepaid option. This website offers a wide range of phone packages, which are less than if you were to purchase the individual parts. They also offer phones, and separate Sim cards for different countries, regions and different variations of global roaming.

Some of their packages offer a US phone number as well as a global number. Some of their packages truly offer a global phone where you can use the phone domestically as well as globally. The rates vary depending upon the offer you choose. The phone packages range from $35 to $299. Some are country specific and others are variations on the global reach option.

Telestial also offers various special promotions. Their country specific packages can offer even better roaming than their other packages due to special agreements that they have with the local companies and if you're only going to one country.

They offer thirteen phones which start at $60 and go up to $389. The Sim cards range from $17 to $79, many including free incoming calls.

Phone calls range from free to $4.04 per minute depending upon where you are in the world. All incoming texts are free and depending upon the plan, incoming calls are free in over 60 countries on the global number.

The global number needs to be recharged every nine months. The US number will change if not used every three months.

They have a lot of helpful information as well as a tutorial on the GSM Sim card. You can also buy reload minutes from this site or from your phone, rent a phone, get a phone card, get a prepaid data plan, or a satellite phone.

I have read several very positive reviews about this company in the past two years that I've been researching global phones, mainly in the flight magazines that I read while flying. But the Travel Insider also recommends this particular website.

For more helpful details to help you in choosing the right phone and plan go to The Travel Insider.

Sources:

http://thetravelinsider.info/2002/0308.htm

http://www.t-mobile.com/

http://www.sprint.com/index_p.html

http://www.att.com/

http://www.mobalworldphone.com/ti

http://www.telestial.com/