Cell Phones for Travelers
National Geographic Introduces Phone that Works All Over World
A cell phone may not be an absolute travel necessity, but it can definitely come in handy. National Geographic's cell phone is geared toward tourists and students.
A decade ago, having a cell phone while one backpacked through Europe would seem like a crazy idea. Today, while it’s not impossible to get around with out one, a cell phone can become a handy travel tool.
Enter National Geographic. Although it may not be the first company to come to mind - not sure what T-Mobile, Sprint and Orange were up to - National Geographic is helping travelers keep in touch as well as keep their communication expenses down.
Throughout Europe, as well as in dozens of others (105 at last count) users can get free incoming calls with the new National Geographic Talk Abroad Travel Phone. Rates for outgoing calls in Europe start at 90 cents per minute, while most other cell phone providers charge an average of $1.50 per minute for both outgoing and incoming calls. In other countries, the rate may be significantly higher. For example, outgoing calls in Iraq will cost the traveler about $2.50 per minute.
Phones can be either purchased or rented, depending on the travelers plans, and they do not require a contract because they work on a prepaid plan.
“With a prepaid solution, we're avoiding cellular sticker shock,” says Markus Hutnak, of National Geographic.
The phones have a United Kingdom-based number and a special SIM card. Additionally, many travelers can just purchase the SIM card and snap it into their own phone.
While incoming calls are free for the person with the National Geographic phone, those who initiate the calls are charged standard international rates. Basically, if you’re calling your friend who may be around the corner in Germany, you’re going to be charged for a Germany to U.K. phone call. This might be where cellular sticker shock comes in.
“Our biggest clients are study-abroad students and tourists,” said Scott Nielsen, vice president of business development for Cellular Abroad, which is managing, distributing and servicing the phones. “Business travelers can expense their phone bills, so they don’t care as much about price gouging, but for tourists, the free incoming calls save users a lot of money.”
Hutnak, however, says recreationists and tour guides have also shown interest in the cellular service.
Also, although the phone will work in many countries throughout the world, it is dependent on cellular towers and will not work in some remote areas.
The service is initially being sold via Cellular Abroad’s Web site, but the company plans to expand to mail catalogs and electronic boutiques.
