vB Easy Archive - World/Satellite Phone for traveling the world

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World/Satellite Phone for traveling the world
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Posted by: Audio288

I am going to be traveling the world and will be needing a phone to stay connected with my friends and family at home. I was wondering what the best option would be for me and where I would be able to get this phone. Thanks!!

Richard

Posted by: DRNewcomb

The first question to answer is, "Just where will you be traveling?" If you look at the GSM World Website there are links to download global GSM service maps. These days there are very few countries where you won't have at least some GSM or UMTS service. So, in many cases the answer to your question would be to get a GSM/UMTS phone with the necessary bands for the places you will going and a couple global roaming GSM SIM cards to provide service.

If this does not work for you, then you need to look again at where you will be traveling. If it is truly the whole world including oceans, poles, very remote areas, etc., then the only answer is an Iridium satellite phone. . These are the only phones with truly global coverage. However, they really only work outside in places with a clear 360° view of the sky. They also start at $1000. plus service.

If you will need service in Europe, West Asia and N. Africa, you might want to look at Thuraya.

Globalstar is now facing technical problems with their satellites, so I'd hesitate to recommend them.

Posted by: Linuxnurd

you can get cheaper Kyocera iridium phones but those don't support outgoing SMS. for that you must get the 9505A that costs around $1300, but you might be able to get them for about $1000 if you have a good look around.

you can get various prepaid cards for them from 75 minutes to 5000. costs around $1 to $2 per minute to call any phone in the world from them

Posted by: bodeh6

I doubt the OP is going to any remote area. Just get a 850/900/1800/1900 + 2100 UMTS phone and you will covered wordwide

Posted by: Audio288

Thanks for the great response! It's actually my cousin who will be traveling the world. Since I use to work for Cingular, she asked if I could do some research on these phones.

I originally told her to just use her existing phone, but she kept persisting on a satellite phone because she "will be covered every where."

After my research and the break down of the pricing, she is going with Cingular's internationl service.

Thanks for the info once again!!

Posted by: DRNewcomb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio288

After my research and the break down of the pricing, she is going with Cingular's internationl service.

On second thought, I think a satellite phone might be cheaper. You do know that there are much cheaper ways to roam than using Cingular, don't you? Also, does she, by any chance, have one of those stupid 850/1800/1900 tri-band phones?

Posted by: rafster

Sorry to steal your thread, but... I'm going to Costa Rica for 2 weeks in June, and I was wondering if just using Cingular International Roaming would be the cheapest option for me to use my phone...

My phone is unlocked, so I can use any GSM sim card... any ideas on the cheapest provider to use?

I'm not on contract, either...

Thanks,

Rafster

Posted by: Linuxnurd

again go to the gsm wordl website link at the top of this thread, go to the list of all the networks and select costa rica , look at the networks, go to their websites, see which is cheaper

Posted by: Audio288

I was looking at the satellite phones and packages, and the best one I saw was $750 for 750 minutes w/o a phone. The minutes could be cut in half depending on where she calls. Checking from the list of places she is going to, it can cost any where between $1-5 dollars a minute with Cingular.

She has a Samsung Quad-Band sgh-a707 or something. What would the best way to roam?

Posted by: Bugwart

Sat phones do cover you everywhere that you have a clear view of the sky. Cell phones have much coverage within buildings than do sat phones.

Not only does it depend on where she will be traveling, but also whether she will be getting incoming calls locally. If you roam with a US number, people in the next building need to call the US to reach you. This is not a big deal in many countries these days, but some countries still charge very high rates for international calling. Having an unlocked quad-band GSM phone with WCDMA means she can buy a local SIM card so local people can easily call her.

Posted by: Bugwart

Quote:

Originally Posted by rafster

Sorry to steal your thread, but... I'm going to Costa Rica for 2 weeks in June, and I was wondering if just using Cingular International Roaming would be the cheapest option for me to use my phone...

My phone is unlocked, so I can use any GSM sim card... any ideas on the cheapest provider to use?

I'm not on contract, either...

Thanks,

Rafster

If your calls are between you and US, then roaming is a good (EXPEN$IVE) option. If you expect to do a lot of local calling and having local people call you, then a local SIM is the better choice.

Posted by: DRNewcomb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugwart

If your calls are between you and US, then roaming is a good (EXPEN$IVE) option. If you expect to do a lot of local calling and having local people call you, then a local SIM is the better choice.

The problem being with Costa Rica and I.C.E. (the local phone & electric monopoly). They don't have prepaid and any wireless service seems hard to get. It might be best in CR to use some form of roaming, although I would almost never recommed Cingular or T-Mobile's international roaming because of the expense.

Posted by: DRNewcomb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio288

I was looking at the satellite phones and packages, and the best one I saw was $750 for 750 minutes w/o a phone. The minutes could be cut in half depending on where she calls. Checking from the list of places she is going to, it can cost any where between $1-5 dollars a minute with Cingular.

She has a Samsung Quad-Band sgh-a707 or something. What would the best way to roam?

If the phone is unlocked, so that it can be used with any SIM, then look on www.prepaidgsm.net. You can get both local prepaid SIMs and prepaid SIMs that roam internationally. These are frequently much cheaper to use than roaming with your home carrier's SIM. Home carriers don't bother to compete for roaming business. They consider roaming a luxury and if you have to ask what it costs they are not interested in talking with you.