StudyAbroad Home

Guides - Home

Study Abroad Parent Guide

Home
Questions
Cell Phone Tips
Insurance
Reasons to Study Abroad
Safety Tips
Find a Program
Packing Tips
Travel Info
Student Handbook
BlogAbroad
Useful Links

---

Study Abroad Parent Guide

The information source for student travel insurance, safety information and study abroad concerns.

StudyAbroad.com Marketplace

A one stop resource for international travel information.

BlogAbroad.com

Adventures of three students as they study abroad in different countries.

Study Abroad Student Guide

It's Your World - Why think about studying abroad?

Study Abroad Parent Guide

Cell Phone Tips

---

International Cell Phones: The Good, The Bad and The Cheap
by Ken Grunski
If you, like many, find freedom from phones to be one of the great rewards of traveling, you can stop reading right here. But whether it's a sick relative, close friends or simply to check in with mom and dad, sometimes being out of touch is simply not an option.

International cellular phones can free you from the inconvenience of being chained to a hotel or pay phone while providing reliable and yes, even an economical way of calling back home while studying abroad though be prepared to either purchase or rent a second phone because standard domestic models don't work overseas and here's why:

• Some countries drive on the other side of the road. Some countries use different TV systems (remember this when buying videos and DVDs internationally). And, unfortunately, most countries use a different type of cell phone service, too.
• Europe and much of the world adopted a common cell phone standard called Global Service for Mobile (GSM). Equally important, Europe, Africa and Asia not only had the foresight to adopt the same cell phone standard, but they also decided that their cell phone networks would operate on the same frequencies (the 900mhz, initially and later the 1800mhz band). This explains why the same cell phone that works in London will work equally well in Johannesburg, Beijing and Sydney.
• Most countries around the globe - more than 205 at last count - have adopted the GSM wireless technology and if you plan on studying overseas, outside of North America and want the convenience of carrying a cellular phone, then you're going to need a GSM cell phone.
• The United States did not standardize and consequently competing wireless standards emerged from the various wireless carriers. Just so you know the names, in the US our cell phone service is most likely to be the CDMA type (Verizon and Sprint), or perhaps TDMA or even iDEN (Nextel) or AMPS (you don't want to know what these acronyms stand for and fortunately you don't need to know).
• While there are some North American GSM cellular providers (T-Mobile and Cingular), they unfortunately operate on a different (1900mhz) frequency then is used abroad, however there are some multi-band world phones now available through these US carriers. The "international roaming" rate for this service can be measured in dollars per minute though you will be accessible on your US number while overseas.
• A GSM cell phone can be rented for typically $29-$59/week with per minute charges ranging from $1.50-$5/minute, for your incoming and outgoing calls. If you travel infrequently (less then once/ year) and your stay is less then a week then this may be the best option even with the outrageous per minute costs. However with most study abroad programs lasting 1-3 months you would need another student load to simply pay off your phone bill.
• To really take advantage of a cell phone overseas and not need a second mortgage on your house, you will want to purchase your own GSM cell phone and a local prepaid SIM card for your next international destination. This is usually the best option for students studying overseas.
• Unlike typical cell phones in the US, GSM world cell phones do not come with phone numbers programmed into them and the actual service is not even tied to the phone itself. Instead customers activate their mobile phones by popping in so-called SIM cards, little thumbnail sized devices that determine your cell phone number and any additional services like voicemail.
• A pre-paid SIM card for each country you visit, gives you a local phone number and local calling rates are usually a low 25 cents/minute. It is easy, convenient, and relatively inexpensive for you to call other people in the country you're visiting, and easy and normal for them to call to you on your local number, too. Best of all, Incoming calls are FREE regardless of where they originate.
• You can replenish your airtime on the SIM card by purchasing an airtime voucher in one of the local currency denominations. They are available at most newsstands, kiosks and convenience stores. The airtime vouchers are scratch cards that have a pin code which you simply key into your phone for immediate credit.
• In summary, with a prepaid cell phone you have a cost effective way of staying in touch with no bills, no roaming charges and no hassles.

For additional information on international cell phone service please visit www.telestial.com or call 1-858-274-2686.

---

The contents of this handbook are intended for the use of students, advisors, and administrators. The contents of this handbook are the property of EducationDynamics and author Bill Hoffa, and are protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America.