What You Have to Know About International Cell Phone

When preparing to go for a semester abroad program, students and parents alike need to research how they will keep in touch. There are computer programs like Skype that cost nothing to video chat with one another online, but the use of a cell phone is handy and keeps you safe on the streets of a foreign country.

However, the logistics of international cell phone use can be complicated. Different countries not only have different carriers, but there are different international cell phone services as well. Knowing the best possible international options is very important and can save you (or cost you) hundreds of dollars.

The first thing to do when preparing for your semester abroad program is check with your provider if there is an international plan available on your specific phone. If not, ask if there is an international cell phone they offer that you can trade up for. International cell phones use a GSM wireless service; over 200 countries. Most American servers use a CDMA (Verizon and Sprint), TDMA (Nextel) or AMPS.

This Q&A section is covering international cell phone use in Great Britain. Great Britain covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many of the answers will also coincide with other countries cell phone use.

How much does it cost to rent an international cell phone?

The cell phones you rent from the country you are studying abroad in will not be international. They will be based in the country you are studying in, which means they will be using the GSM services. The cost of these rentals are anywhere from $29-59 a week with per minute charges random from $1.50-5.00 per minute. When studying abroad (which usually lasts 3 or more months) this is not a very economical choice.

Will my US phone work in the UK?

If you use T-Mobile or Cingular, your phones will work without any tweaks. In fact, you might already have a GSM world phone without knowing it. However, even though your phone will work overseas, it is still based in the US which means you will be roaming whenever you use your phone. Roaming charges range anywhere from $1-5 per minute.

How can I travel to the UK and use a phone cheaply?

The best way to save money and still use your phone without counting minutes is to purchase a GSM cell phone in the UK along with a local UK prepaid SIM card for use throughout the different countries of the UK. The SIM card gives you your phone number and allows you to pay only 37 cents for calls back to the US (and 25 cents for local calls). The best thing about these cards is that incoming calls are free! These SIM cards usually range around $40 and come loaded with time that you can continue to load during your semester abroad program.