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A Look At What Major US Carriers Offer For International
A Look At What Major US Carriers Offer For International Cellular Services
Whether you travel for pleasure or for business responsibilities at home don’t disappear when you leave. There are sometimes business issues that still need attention loved ones who wait for your call and other incidental items that need to be addressed while you are gone. Having a cell phone along can certainly make the process of staying connected far easier.
Before taking off however there is planning to do. You will need to determine how those calls or text messages will be made as your current cell phone and service may very well not work from your destination. There are a number of options but obviously a good place to start is with your current cellular provider.
Verizon Wireless for instance in partnership with Vodafone offers a Global Rental Kit for those who travel infrequently. With this program users simply need to contact Verizon and pay a 50 deposit and a Global Rental Kit will be sent to their door. The service includes an appropriate cell phone and not only voice calling but also voicemail and the ability to text message in most countries. The program is available for travel to over 185 destinations but clearly travelers should consult the Verizon site to assure their travel location is included. The primary cost as with all of the options will be for the calls and messages themselves.
The per call charge varies based upon the destination but generally is between 1.29 and 2.99/minute with text message charges averaging .65 per message. All charges show up on your next credit card statement.
For more frequent travel it makes sense to purchase a “global phone” or “GSM international cell phone” and then call Verizon to enable international roaming. However it is important to understand that the international roaming charges are generally around 1.29/minute for most destinations and 2.49 for cruise lines. Again it is important to check the Verizon site to assure your destination is included in the service.
ATT offers a number of packages for international travel needs. ATT World Traveler is 5.99 per month and offers a connection in 195 countries. The International Roaming rates are “discounted” and vary upon your destination but range from .99 to 4.99 per minute. Clearly travelers would need to check the AT T site to identify their frequent destinations to determine what charges would apply.
ATT Canada is 3.99 per month and gives those who travel to that country discounted roaming rates for calls. Calls placed from inside Canada to the US are .59/minute while calls back to the US are .19/minute. The ATT Mexico Plan works similarly but is 4.99 per month and charges 59 cents while roaming in Mexico .09 when calling from the US and .25/minute when calling from the US to a wireless device in Mexico. As always travelers must assure that the cell phone they use will function properly at their destination.
TMobile offers WorldClass Service which covers travel to 192 countries. Travelers merely need to go to their My TMobile account online and sign up for the service at no charge. However it is important to assure your existing phone will function at your destination; again this can be checked online. All TMobile phones will work in Mexico and Canada but none of them will operate in Japan. In instances where a traveler’s phone is not compatible it is possible to rent an appropriate phone for 8 per day or 99 per month which also provides voicemail. The International Roaming rates charged vary of course by location. For example current charges are .99/minute in France and Germany 1.99/minute in Romania and Japan .49/minute in Canada 1.49 in Jamaica and Mexico 2.99 in China and the Philippines and 4.99 in Kenya and Russia.
Certainly traveling with a cell phone is not inexpensive. However the convenience that it offers is not insignificant either. For infrequent travelers renting is a good option for those with a more regular travel schedule having the right phone and the right plan is key.
About the writer: Get more information about cell phone plans via the author’s online cellular and home electronics store. Readers can also go to her International Cell Phones webpage to get more details about traveling with cell phones.
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