[IP] Re: A Tip for Overseas Travelers: Leave Your Cellphones Home

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

________________________________________
From: Lee S Dryburgh [dryburghl@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:02 PM
To: David Farber
Cc: ip
Subject: Re: [IP] Re: A Tip for Overseas Travelers: Leave Your Cellphones Home

The conversation about the "English chip" [British SIM] reminds me of
ordering on Amazon.com the other day. Normally I leave out "Scotland"
in the address out as the post code is for the UK, but for a change I
put Scotland in the shipping address. I received an email back saying
they had canceled my order as they only ship to the UK. I emailed them
back to ask if they thought Scotland was inside or outside the UK?
They then said thankyou for bringing it to their attention but they
still could not ship as they only ship to mainland Britain. I emailed
them back and asked if they had ever heard of the Island of Scotland
but received no response. I find it truly tragic that CNN persists in
saying England for the United Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes even
for British matters not concerning England!

I gave up years back on giving Geography 101s when at Newark airport
when a "North American" came up to me and started on about "how come
the States can unite 50 States in a few hundred years but Europe
can't"; at that point I realised a History 101 would be required also.

As regard 3-4 band, well it depends on what side of the pond as to
what is meant by a 3 or 4 band phone...

Regards

Lee


--
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2008/7/31 David Farber <dave@farber.net>:
>
> ________________________________________
> From: David Chessler [chessler@usa.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:21 PM
> To: David Farber
> Subject: Fwd: [IP] A Tip for Overseas Travelers: Leave Your Cellphones Home
>
> I disagree with this advice. If you have an unlocked GSM 3- or 4-band
> cellphone from T-Mobile or AT&T, you can get a local chip in any country and
> spend much less on local calls or in-europe calls.
>
> AT&T does not willingly unlock its cellphones when last I checked, but there
> are many people on the internet, including David Rowell, who will unlock them
> for you.
>
> I used a 3-band cellphone that I in England a few years
> ago, and the Virgin Mobile English chip still seems to work -- and worked in
> France last year.
>
> International calls may be cheaper on the internet or by using a call-back
> service.  But Email is even cheaper.
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> Received: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:24:58 PM EDT
> From: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
> To: "ip" <ip@v2.listbox.com>
> Subject: [IP] A Tip for Overseas Travelers: Leave Your Cellphones Home
>
>
> ________________________________________
> From: Don Drake [don@drakeconsult.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:17 PM
> To: David Farber
> Subject: A Tip for Overseas Travelers: Leave Your Cellphones Home
>
> Dave,
>
> For IP.
>
> Interesting column about using cell phones while out of the country....
>
> -Don
> --
> Don Drake
> www.drakeconsult.com<http://www.drakeconsult.com>
> www.maillaunder.com<http://www.maillaunder.com>
> 312-560-1574
> 800-733-2143
>
>
> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121735292432893795.html?mod=hps_us_editors_picks
>
> A Tip for Overseas Travelers:
> Leave Your Cellphones Home
> July 29, 2008 3:26 p.m.
>
> Anyone traveling abroad this summer must be reeling from shock. Places like
> Europe were expensive even in the old days. And that was before the Almighty
> Dollar had become the Yankee Peso.
>
> But your biggest sticker shock may not come until you get home and open your
> cellphone bill.
>
> Cellphones are invaluable when you travel. It's fantastic to know that folks
> back home can reach you if they need to, no matter where you are. Gone are
> the
> days when Americans in Paris had to visit the American Express office near
> the
> Opera to hear that Aunt Jane had died.
>
> But using a cellphone overseas can be cripplingly expensive. The roaming
> charges are eye-watering. I remember getting stung once for a three-figure
> sum
> over a long weekend.
>
> So if you are about to travel abroad this summer, here's a money-saving tip.
>
> Leave your cellphone at home.
>
> Instead, use the Internet to route calls to a local prepaid cellphone in the
> country you're visiting. This sounds complicated, but it's surprisingly easy
> and can save you a fortune. I am currently in London and I just set it up
> myself.
>
> Here's how:
>
> Step 1: Before leaving the U.S., open an account with a Voice over Internet
> Protocol provider such as Skype (skype.com), Gizmo Project (gizmo5.com), or
> Truphone (truphone.com). These allow you to make and receive phone calls
> cheaply over the Internet. I've used all three of these services: They all
> seem fine. I'm particularly impressed by the value offered by Gizmo and
> Truphone. There are plenty of alternatives, as well.
>
> Your VoIP account should also come with an ordinary U.S. landline phone
> number, letting people call you from a regular phone. (You may have to pay a
> small amount for this number). Give this to those who may need to reach you,
> and leave it on your voicemail as well.
>
> Step Two: When you arrive at your overseas destination, buy a cheap prepaid
> cellphone. In Europe you can pick up a working local mobile on any shopping
> street. (Incidentally, from my experience, doing it this way seems much
> easier
> than trying to order a cellphone in advance over the Internet).
>
> Alternatively, you may be able to use your U.S. cellphone with a local SIM
> card. But the phone will need to be a model that works on overseas networks.
> And you will need to get your U.S. cellular provider to "unlock" it so that
> it
> will accept SIM cards from other companies. Contact your U.S. provider for
> details.
>
> Step Three: Get onto the Internet, log in to your VoIP account, and set it up
> to redirect all calls to your new prepaid cellphone number. Most VoIP
> services
> have his facility.
>
> The result? If someone back home wants to reach you, they can simply call the
> regular, 10-digit U.S. phone number associated with your VoIP account. Their
> call will then automatically be routed, cheaply, via the Internet to your new
> cellphone.
>
> How much it will cost will depend on which services you use and where you
> are.
> But it is likely to be cents per minute rather than dollars. Folks back home
> will only pay for the U.S. leg of the call.
>
> I've just started experimenting with this and so far it's working well. My
> Wall Street Journal cellphone remains -- switched off -- in my suitcase.
> (Yes,
> I'm saving Mr. Murdoch money.)
>
> This is not a technology column, but I'm always looking for ways technology
> can help people save money. I'd love to hear from readers who have also made
> this work, or who have other suggestions along similar lines.
>
> Write to Brett Arends at brett.arends@wsj.com
>
>
>
>
>
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