cell phones and internet when traveling

OK, with what seems like a lot of experienced nonrevers (even confirmed flyers) I am searching for the best inexpensive ways to access internet and have cell phone when traveling. Cell phone would be mostly out of U.S. travelling.

First, I am not a big cell phone user and have a basic tmobil prepaid cell phone. I do not use a phone enough to want a monthly bill.

I have heard it is easiest, and probably the most cost effective, to have a phone that takes sim cards. Then you buy sim cards at locations for your minutes. Is this what a lot of you do?

Then what about internet access (using laptop or netbook). I found there are some prepaid 3g services but the minutes expire to soon after purchasing. My recent delay through LAX I purchased the tmobil hotspot 24 hour access. Right now for me this is the easiest, cheapest method when needing internet when no free wi-fi is available. But, I am not sure how many airports without free wi-fi use tmobil (not sure what they have outside of U.S.). Plus I would hate to connect through a few airports and have to pay the $7-10 (guessing range) for access if there is another way.

I know when not at the airport I could probably find free wi-fi either at the hotel, book shop or coffee shop. But when at the airport and if plan A falls through to be able to access the internet to check loads and routes would be nice.

How are most airports outside the U.S. for wi-fi, is it mostly free, for a fee or not available?

I have to look for a phone I can use with my prepaid plan that uses sim cards for the times outside the U.S.

Thanks for any information. Just wanting to get set up for when I start flying more out of the U.S.

Tony

You will really enjoy getting out of the country and exploring the world.

As for a cell phone, do you think you will need one when overseas?
I am not a big cell phone user also and only have one because I needed it when I was an F/A.
When I am overseas, I do not use it at all. If I need to call someone I use phone cards.

In our experience, you can usually find wireless when traveling internationally. Then if we want to phone, we just connect to skype to make our calls. But be aware that in several countries (deep third world) VOIP like skype and others are blocked.

I second the recommendation for Skype. WiFi is relatively easy to find, and the costs are very low.

Also, if you plan on using your cell phone, call your providers Customer service ahead of time, for three reasons:

1. Sometimes the rates are much, much higher than you would expect for international roaming.

2. Many carriers don't enable international roaming unless you ask them to.

3. If your carrier doesn't use GSM ( only AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S use this ), your options may be limited. Sprint and Verizon phones don't work in many non U.S. areas, unless you have one of their special dual-band phones.

Personally, I've always just gotten by with using my cell phone in a very limited way, and making longer calls using Skype. I've also had some luck using a PC softphone to connect to my home VOIP service. Not something I'd recommend to non-geeks though...

I have Vonage at home and the optional Vonage softphone add-in for my PC (with a 2nd phone #). Works like a charm when connected to an Internet connection. I've heard that you can just take you Vonage home box overseas and the phone service will work, but I haven't tried that yet.

As far as internet availability, for T-Mobile, check here: https://selfcare.hotspot.t-mobile.com/locat...balLocations.do. I haven't been in an airport in a long time where there was no wifi. Prices vary from place to place, and can often be free. Outside of the airport, I had a hard time finding Wi-Fi Internet in Japan though. You geek types can look at the first color chart on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels to see why.

I'm a big time cell phone user, so both my Sprint and Verizon cell phones (with SIMs) have International plans. If a person's goal is to make and receive cheap calls locally, in a country that you'll visit often, it's not a bad plan to buy a pre-paid phone there in country. Cheaper to order a pizza on that local pre-paid phone than on your US phone. One can rent while there too, but I never have. If a person's goal is to receive calls from the states, with your family, friends, co-workers, etc calling you on a stateside phone #, then having a stateside phone with a SIM card works. Before I got my Blackberry Tour (Sprint doesn't use SIM in most of their phones), I had the option of either renting or purchasing a SIM-enabled phone from Sprint that would only be used overseas (As a non-revver that has the ability to go overseas often, I'd always buy rather than rent). I had to make sure that only one phone was on at a time, but when I landed, the new phone operated on the European networks with my stateside phone #. People were able to call me seamlessly from home and vice versa. I'm not sure if T-Mobile is a SIMless system too, especially on the pre-paid phones, but their sales reps should be able to help you with a solution.

Hi Tony

I got on to a trick when I was in the US last that worked incredibly well.

Whilst Tmobile or Boingo etc charge say $9.95 for a day pass at airport hotspots, they will often have a monthly pass for say $7 a month. I did this with Boingo last time, and it isn't a contract so you can cancel anytime. I paid $7 to have access at all airports I was at (most have boingo) for a 3 week period, and then cancelled it by email no questions asked, no extra charges. I was suspicious at first, thinking what if I get locked in etc, but it was not even a problem.

As for phones, imo sim phones are the way to go (so long as they are unlocked). The issue is not many phones in the US have sim cards.

If you go anywhere in Asia, or Australia you can get sims everywhere. Even our grocery store sells them for $2. Then you just add credit and off you go.

Another option is one of those international cell phones, but I think they are a bit of a rip.

My trips are usually to HKG (don't need a phone, but could get a sim if I wanted) or USA. USA is a special case as your phone system is one of the weirdest in the world. No sims... you pay to recieve calls and texts?! What a rip off. I purchased a virgin mobile phone at walmart at top it up every few months to keep it active. USA and nonrev without a phone = madness.

As for free wifi at airports, in Australia most McDonalds have wifi but that's about all. The airports all have pay in systems.

HKG has a very fast free wifi service at the airport

Some US carriers have SIM cards. Mainly AT&T and T-Mobile, though Verizon is switching over to the GSM network which needs a SIM. But yeah, they all charge to receive calls and texts, though the minutely rate might be cheaper (I'm comparing this to Spain, there could be plenty of other factors that tip the balance). Charging for receiving texts pisses me off, though... I don't have a texting plan, but all of my friends do. I always get a dollar or two added to my bill from those that forget it and text me anyway, at $.20 each. If I knew someone without a texting plan, had one myself, and really wanted to piss them off, I'd send constant needless texts... $.20 x texts per minute x 1 hour = $60/hour of extra phone bill charges. Granted, the companies will usually negotiate if something happens up to a point, but still, getting charged for something beyond your control is ridiculous. At least with a phone call, you can ignore it.

Thanks for the replies that everyone has given so far.

I never thought of using skype or some type of voip for making phone calls while overseas.

Also I will have to check what Nick mentioned about getting a monthly pass instead of a day pass as costs might be less.

I would probably only use the cell phone for emergencies and I forgot all about using a calling card.

Again, I am not a big cell phone user and my cell phone is a basic phone with no games, camera, internet etc. Like Nick mentioned with Australia I have heard that having a phone that is unlocked and takes sim cards is the most cost effective way for phone access in other countries. I just have not figured out exactly how the sim cards work and what phone I might get.

right now I like the calling card/voip options. I will have to try skype sometime to see how it works. I have heard of the google voice but not sure how it works yet. I am sure I will check that out at some point.

Thanks again everyone, keep on posting your tips if you have anything to add.

Tony

I agree w/ meandfive. You can pick up a netbook for under $300 and connect internet/voice w/ skype almost anywhere to say nothing of checking loads,nonrev network etc. They are small light and take little room in your carry on.
Joe

Can you give us some details about SKYPE and how easy or hard it is to use them, do you pay monthly fees or as you go? I was just looking at their website at www.skype.com This sounds pretty neat to be able to use next time I run to Philippines.

I have used skype for a very long time. I love it. If you have a laptop (and who doesn't these days) get Skype installed on it. Then wherever you are in the world (almost), if you have internet access, you can call anyone else who has Skype. If you want to use skype for calling cell phones or land lines you will need to buy Skype-out Credits. The cost to call from USA to a cell phone in Thailand costs about 6 cents a minute. Not to shabby. I do believe they now offer unlimited calling programs for like $15. USD a month. Very good deal if you ask me.

Call quality is very good and you can do free video calling too. I highly recommend Skype.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (joe1951 @ Feb 17 2010, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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I agree w/ meandfive. You can pick up a netbook for under $300 and connect internet/voice w/ skype almost anywhere to say nothing of checking loads,nonrev network etc. They are small light and take little room in your carry on.
Joe[/b]

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you ahve to get cheap access still--Egypt had our prepaid boingo at CAI but hotels charged E20/day!! you had to go to cafes for half decent service for a lot less (E2 for an hour used all at once)
we have a netbook and we adore being able to use it for slingbox (yeah--superbowl in bed in Cairo!!) and travelnet, but still have to pay for access