International Cell Phones

Are you planning on traveling abroad in the near future? If so, now might be the perfect time to look into international cell phones.

Why International Cell Phones?

Unfortunately, most of the cell phones that are used in the United States and Canada do not work in other countries, largely because of frequency band issues.

More than 200 countries use the Global System for Mobile Communication, or GSM, which operates at different frequency bands than the frequency bands used in the United States and Canada.
 
To further confuse matters, cell phones in the United States and Canada that are called GSM phones still do not operate on the same frequency bands as those in the majority of other countries.

The good news is that GSM phones made in the United States can be easily altered to use foreign frequency bands if the provider has agreements for roaming with international providers. The bad news is that only a few companies in the United States offer GSM phones and have the appropriate agreements with providers in other countries.

International Cell Phones: Pros and Cons

Before you decide to rent or buy an international cell phone, weigh the options to decide whether or not you really need one. The advantages of having an international cell phone are:
  • Cell phones may be less expensive than using other means of contacting home, depending on the number of times that you need to call.
  • Incoming calls may be free.
  • You can be contacted easily in case of emergencies back home.
  • You can call out quickly in case of emergencies on your travels.
  • You can share your experiences with your family, your friends or your business associates without waiting.


The main disadvantage of having an international cell phone is the cost involved. Again, weigh the advantages of being able to be quickly and easily contacted and being able to contact people immediately against the disadvantage: how much money an international cell phone may cost you.

If you are on a business trip, an international cell phone may be a must for checking in with the office and receiving updates and further instructions. In this case, your company should foot the bill.

However, if you are on vacation, you may want to make it harder for people to find you. Not everyone wants a phone ringing next to them while they're trying to relax on the beach.

International Cell Phones: Renting verus Buying

Should you look into international cell phone rentals, or should you buy an international cell phone? The biggest factor in deciding whether to rent or to buy an international cell phone is the time that you are anticipating spending abroad.
If you only plan to be out of the country for a couple of weeks, then an international cell phone rental might be the best way to go. However, if you think that you will be spending a substantial amount of time in foreign countries or think that you will be going on multiple trips over the next few years, buying an international cell phone might be a worthwhile investment.

International Cell Phone Plans

When considering an international cell phone rental, make sure that you find out if the phone company requires:
  • a large deposit, which might bite into your available credit
  • a minimum call usage per day
  • a minimum rental period
  • delivery charges for your rental phone.

You may also be required to get insurance. In addition, the company might charge you if you need an itemized account of the calls that you are making.

International cell phone rental plans start at about $3.00 per day with a per-minute cost beginning at about $1.50 per minute. You can find international cell phone rentals and plans online.

If you are looking at buying an international cell phone, you might be able to find one that costs as little as $50. Considerations that might affect the cost of your phone include:

  • whether or not you plan on using the phone at home
  • whether the phone is locked or unlocked (Unlocked phones will allow you to buy subscriber module information cards, or SMI cards, from any provider, which may save you money.)
  • which countries you are planning on visiting.
Prepaid international calls through a domestic service may run up to $3.00 per minute. If you buy SMI cards when you are abroad, you may be only charged about 30 cents per minute. Keep in mind that your phone number may change with a new SMI card.

In some countries, incoming calls are not charged. It might be worthwhile to look into a callback service. After quickly calling your callback service with your international cell phone, the callback service will call you with a dial tone, allowing you to call out at a discounted rate.

If you want to buy an international cell phone, look at specialty retailers, online stores, cell phone manufacturers and online auctions.