Learn More About International Cell Phones

The distinction between a domestic cell phone and an international cell phone is a myth. A cell phone is a cell phone. What is implied by that term is will it work in another country? First, international cell phones use a GSM, or Global Systems Mobile, signal that is used around the world. The types of signals that cell phones use are GSM, TDMA and CDMA. This is a protocol somewhat like your favorite radio station.  GSM is the oldest signal and used in every country. So, is your phone a GSM phone? Call your cell provider and ask.

If you do have a GSM phone, you have on of the international cell phones, but you are only half way there to using your phone in another country.  Next, your phone as it is now will work in another country. The problem most people find is that the provider we use here in the US, bills us $.99 to $3.49 per minute to use our phone depending on what country we visit. That is both inbound and outbound calls.

Now, what do most people do to avoid these high costs using international cell phones? That is where the big wide world of telecom gets is bad name for being too confusing. That is because it is. After you establish you have a GSM phone, and now using one of the international cell phones is it now “unlocked or locked”? The term “unlocked” refers to international cell phones that can insert another SIM card into it. Ok, what is a SIM card? A SIM card is the little square card inside the phone that holds your phone’s identification and phone number. Without it, the cellular company you are using would not know you, and you could not make a call.

If you yours is one of the “unlocked” international cell phones, then you can now insert a SIM card that will make your phone look like one of the international cell phones that will work in another country.  Still, you are not yet ready to use the phone, because you do not have a phone number or minutes to use for your call. When you purchase your SIM card, you will buy one that works in the country or countries you wish to use it, and how much time you need for your calls. The prices are very competitive, and are as much as 50% to 90% less. Now you are a proud owner of one of the international cell phones.

Now, one more step to get you out of the woods. Even when you buy a SIM card for your “unlocked” GSM phone for the country you visit, that only allows you to make call within that country or countries. Now what do you do for the international calls? This is when you use Cellular International.com to make your international call from international cell phones.

Unfortunately the description above is NOT what most people do. Most of our customers buy a cheap “prepaid phone” for cash, and use that phone in the country they visit, and then use our service for their international calls. International cell phones can be purchase at airports or anywhere for cash, and have a charge and a phone number ready for instant use. Add text messaging and Cellular International will follow you in 135 countries. All in all, buying a phone in another country is using international cell phones wherever you go.  It’s easy and a lot less complicated than the SIM card process.

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