What is international roaming?
International roaming is the way your mobile phone works when
abroad so that you can make and receive calls, and send text messages
(receiving them is free). Your home mobile phone network will not be able to
provide you with a signal if you are in a foreign country and therefore they
have agreements with local operators allowing you to 'roam' on to their
networks - but this has an added price. In fact, you will pay more to
make AND receive calls and texts.
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What is tri-band?
Triple band phones are capable of operating in more than 100
countries and across three GSM bands - 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.
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What is quad-band coverage?
Compared to tri-band phones, quad-band coverage supports
all four major GSM bands. Compared to a tri-band phone supporting the 900 /
1800 / 1900 bands, a quad-band phone adds support for GSM 850. This gives
full coverage in the Americas and means that many quad-band phones are promoted
as offering coverage ‘almost anywhere’ in the world.
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Who are frequent flyers?
Frequent flyers are travellers who spend a lot of time
overseas. This could include regular holidaymakers, who perhaps take two or
more holidays each year for two or more weeks at a time, business travellers
who regularly work overseas or backpack/gap year travellers who will be
overseas for a sustained period. For frequent flyers, SIM cards can offer
massive call savings.
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Frequent flyers best buys
Who are leisure travellers?
Leisure travellers are those who travel infrequently, perhaps
for a holiday once or twice a year. If you spend limited time abroad the
savings that can be made through a local SIM card are likely to be negated by
the money spent on buying the card and the inconvenience of having your phone unlocked.
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Leisure travellers best buys
What is a SIM card?
The SIM card is basically an identification card for your
mobile phone. It is a small microchip card that goes into your mobile phone
handset when you first set it up. It stores information such as your address
book, etc, but it also provides information to the mobile phone network so they
can recognise, contact and bill individual customers.
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Frequent flyers best buys
Leisure travellers best buys
What is a local SIM card and what is a global SIM card?
A local SIM card is specific to one country or region. Using the SIM card gives you the right
to use that area's network only. These are useful if you visit the same area repeatedly.
This means you purchase a SIM card for the area you are visiting after unlocking your mobile phone - most
phones are locked to a particular network, but unlocking it means you can use any network, it only
takes a few minutes to complete and is completely legal. You will receive a new travel calling number
on the SIM card, which people can use to call you - you should be able to make calls as normal
(but remember the international dialling code). Some SIM companies operate a call back service
meaning you will dial out and then the number will automatically call you back before connecting. Be
sure to read the information on how each SIM card company works by reading the details provided on each
company's website.
Top-ups can generally be completed online, locally or over the
phone. Always read about top-up methods to ensure you will be able to add
additional call credit as and when necessary.
With a global SIM card you can roam across countries, and potentially
around the world, moving from network to network. This means that if you like to visit
more than one country then there are large savings to be made, and they are particularly
useful for backpack travellers.
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Frequent flyers best buys
Leisure travellers best buys
