March 28, 2012

A tale of two cell networks

QUESTION

I am planning a trip to Europe and want to inquire about cellular. I was wondering whether it is practical to use cellular in Europe. I understand AT&T is the only option, but hear you have to buy a SIM card for each country, and it sounds expensive. I can see Internet coming in handy for GPS services, checking train schedules and translator apps when Wi-Fi is not available. Do you have a practical solution?
-Bob from Ohio watches my national radio show live with his Kim's Club membership.

ANSWER

Adapting your mobile devices to other countries can be confusing and frustrating. Traveling overseas should be fun, not a headache. I'll simplify it for you.

There are two major types of cellphone networks: CDMA and GSM. In the U.S., Verizon and Sprint operate on CDMA while AT&T and T-Mobile operate on GSM. The rest of the world mostly uses GSM.

But, even if you have a U.S. GSM phone, you might not be able to use it in Europe! The European GSM network uses different frequencies than in the U.S. So before you can consider using your own cellphone when you travel, you'll need to determine whether it's a "global phone" (FYI, the iPhone 4S is a global phone).

All four major carriers sell global phones for international users. They also offer voice and data plans designed for travelers. You should contact your carrier to determine whether your phone will work in Europe, as well as ask about fees and rates for international use. Either way, you do NOT want to end up using your domestic plan abroad, especially for data. One of my other listeners found that out the hard way.

Still, having a cellphone overseas can be incredibly useful. Read on to discover how you can save big while traveling across the globe. >>

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