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International GSM Phone Rentals

If you are not a frequent traveler, you may consider renting a GSM phone, compatible with the frequencies of the countries that you are visiting. If you think that you can just bring your own GSM phone and expect it to work in which-ever country that you are visiting, think again. The cellular system in US works on a varied patchwork of platforms and frequencies, unlike the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), which is the standard used in most part of the rest of the world. In order to make sure, if your phone will work in other countries, call your mobile service provider to determine if the specifications of your phone are compatible with the frequencies used in the countries that you are visiting. If you find that you have a tri-bad or better still a quad band, you may be rest assured that your phone will work where-ever you are going. The only exception is with the tri-band. The tri-band phones have operating frequencies of 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz. This phone will work all around the world, including North America, with the exception where the service providers support only 850MHz.

GSM Phone Rental Rates
GSM Phone Weekly Rates Additional
Weeks*
1-week 2-week 3-week
1 Motorola V180 $24.95 $39.95 $49.95 $10.00
1 Motorola RAZR V3 $34.95 $49.95 $59.95 $15.00


Please view our GSM Phone Rentals page for more important information.

However, it is most likely that your GSM phone will not work overseas. Even if you have a GSM phone, it is likely that the version that you have is different from the one used overseas. Most cellular providers will rent you a phone, compatible to the frequencies used overseas. You will need to look around for the best deal in renting, that is available in the market today. Find more information on renting cell phones with a quad or tri-band.

Now that you have a phone, the next is the SIM card. SIM Cards are available for all major countries in the world, and for global roaming as well. These SIM cards are prepaid, where you do not need to enter into any contract with the service provider. This prepaid SIM card will save you atleast 80% of your communication cost. All the out-going calls are charged at local rates, with free incoming calls. These cards are available with airtime credits included and are available in different denominations. The price of such a card includes the set up fee for the SIM card, which is a fixed amount, and includes the basic price of the airtime credit along-with. You have the option in buying more airtime credits along-with the card. As you use up your credit limit, you may use re-charge vouchers of varied amounts to top up your airtime credits. These credits are available in terms of the value that you have put in and not as unit of calls or time. With such a prepaid country specific SIM card, you have a lower expense for your international calls, as you do not pay for any roaming charges.

To sum up the prepaid country specific and global roaming SIM cards, you generally get:

  • A credit for a starter airtime when you buy the card.
  • All incoming calls are free no matter where it generates from.
  • Lower rates for international calls.
  • No roaming charges on the calls that you make.
  • All outgoing calls are charged at local rates.
  • Free incoming SMS.
  • You get that country specific number.

    You need to bear in mind that anyone can use your prepaid SIM card. If you lose your phone with the SIM card inside, you will need to call up the customer service to de-activate your SIM card so that no one else can use it. In this situation, your SIM card cannot be replaced.

    For more details on the availability and pricings of prepaid country specific SIM cards or the prepaid global roaming SIM cards.


    With the combination of an appropriate GSM phone and SIM card, you have a freedom to communicate anywhere and have a substantial saving as well. Though you will not be able to retain the number that you have at home, you may like to leave your new contact number in the voicemail, so that people trying to get in touch with you would know the number to get in touch with. The mobile phone that you wish to hire, will come to you with the necessary accessories like the battery charger. Most of the service providers will provide you with voicemail in your new mobile phone. If you are traveling to more than one country, you may change your country specific SIM card accordingly or better still, you may like to buy the international SIM card which will allow you to roam in most of the countries in the world?, letting you have the same features or facilities as a country specific SIM card. Since your rented GSM mobile phone is given to you in an unlocked condition, you may use any SIM card that you like with that handset.

    On your next visit overseas, rent a SIM card for country that you are visiting with your mobile. Visit www.planetomni.com and find it out more. They can rent you the mobile you need in which-ever country you are going to and you may purchase the SIM as well. Please find all the answers to common questions regarding regarding sim cards and GSM phones in our helful online guides to cell phone communications.

    About the Author:

    John Dulaney is an international traveler and an expert in overseas audio video equipment and cell phone communications when traveling abroad. His website Planetomni, carries thousands of multisystem TVs, VCRs, region free DVD players at deeply discounted prices. Planetomni also offers a large selection of prepaid cell phones, cell phone rental and satellite phones for rent or purchase.

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