Traveling Cellularly

With my abroad plans growing ever closer, I took some time during spring break to investigate cellphones and the best way to use them internationally. I was surprised at the amount of choices available - and at some of the practices of the cellphone companies which milk dollars from the customer.

To understand your options internationally, you first have to understand a few basics about cellphones. Here in the States, the largest network is Verizon Wireless, which runs on a wireless protocol called CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). Nextel runs a proprietary protocol called iDen (though they are in the process of merging with Sprint, who also uses CDMA, while T-Mobile and the newly merged Cingular/AT&T Wireless use a protocol called GSM (Global System for Mobile communication). GSM is the modern replacement for an older protocol, TDMA. CDMA is a lot like the US system of measurement - it works great here, but everyone else uses the metric system (GSM).

While GSM coverage used to be terrible in the United States, it is quickly gaining ground against CDMA. The advantage of a GSM phone is that it uses technology known as a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) to hold your information for the network. The nice thing about these cards is that they are removable, so you can use your phone on pretty much any network by simply replacing your SIM card (though there is a catch). The U.S. carriers offer international service, but it is extremely expensive (usually a dollar a minute and up when calling from overseas) - so what you can do is buy a SIM card when you get to your destination. The domestic carriers abroad will give you much cheaper rates, and you can even buy special "phone card" SIMs that are basically like prepaid minute accounts that cost more like 7 cents a minute when calling home. Swapping these cards in and out is usually VERY easy - they are usually located right underneath the battery. Upon your return to the U.S. you can simply pop your old SIM card back in and pick up using your old cellphone plan right where you left off.

Now I mentioned there was a catch. In order to prevent you from switching carriers, most U.S. cellphone companies lock their handsets so the technically illiterate would have to buy a new phone in order to switch, and hopefully be discouraged by the costliness and just stick with the carrier. However, the wonderful staff at It's Geek to Me has discovered a way around this. Cellphones are programmed with a manufacturer's unlock code that allows the phone to be unlocked and therefore accept SIM cards from a variety of GSM carriers. These codes are readily available online, or there are services that will unlock your phone for a small fee. I believe that T-Mobile will also unlock your phone for you upon request, though I'm not 100% sure about this. You may also want to check with your carrier anyway before unlocking, as unlocking may void the warranty on your phone (though this might not be a big deal).

If you are locked into a contract with Verizon, all is not lost. They do offer an international phone that runs both CDMA and GSM and accepts SIM cards, though reviews on it are mixed and its features are limited. A great resource when researching carriers and phones is the website www.phonescoop.com.

In short, a GSM phone is the way to go for traveling flexibility - just make sure you get it unlocked before you leave! Since handsets overseas are all sold unlocked, SIM cards are sold just as frequently as phone cards - and any cellphone store there can help you get ready to go. Just make sure you find a card that gives you a good rate to call home AND domestically in-country if that's what you need.