International Cellular Phones

International Cellular Phones let you send and receive calls while traveling throughout the world-pretty much anywhere that the GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) standard applies, including most of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The GSM frequency used in North America is different from that used on the other continents, so U.S. and Canada cellular phone users usually need to buy an international GSM cellular phone for overseas travel. Then, when traveling, you insert prepaid SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) cards in your phone that let you connect to and use local providers. These cards can be specific to one country, in which case your incoming calls are usually free. Or they can work throughout the GSM-standard world (you'll pay for incoming calls).

If you want to have an international cellular phone with a bill sent to your home, you can also buy a GSM phone from a U.S.-based cellular phone service provider. These phones have U.S. phone numbers, for the convenience of people calling you from home, but you will pay for incoming calls. Most overseas travelers find it simplest to buy an international GSM cellular phone for traveling. Do as much research as possible before you leave in order to choose the best option for you.

Cellular Phone Plans

There are more cellular phone plans available than ever before, with new options coming along all the time. When Cellular Phones first came on the market, users barely had a choice among Cellular Phone Companies, and cellular phone plan options were quite limited. Now you can choose a contract plan or a no contract plan, a monthly plan or a prepaid plan, a plan for you alone, a family plan, or a share plan that lets you share services and airtime among a group of people.