international cellphone?

[Barndog]

All right I need a little help. My Wife and daughter are going to Brazil in a few weeks on a mission trip. We were hoping to add a short term international phone package to our service But now we find out we can not. So I am looking at a rental. Has anyone done this and do you know of a good company? I googled and found some but I was hope with the world traveler's here some of you might have suggestions.


Thanks.

 

[Cyrann]

What service provider do you have?

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Before I visited the Drew Estates Factory in Nicaragua, I checked with my provider (AT&T) and was told I already had a "World Phone" and just had to add an "International Calling" Plan for $5.95. I had 4 Bars all over the country, no problems with any calls back to the States!

 

[TravelingJ]

If I was in your shoes, I'd just have them pick one up there. For my stint in Trinidad, we picked up prepaid phones when we landed there. The plans were all jacked up, and it was actually cheaper for me to use a Trini cell phone and call the USA, than it was for me to call a land line on the same island. If they get a prepaid phone with a chip, you can bring it home and save the phone for the next international trip. My phone down there was basic and only cost like $20.

Another option is to hit up eBay, and get something thats Unlocked. Look for an AT&T or Tmobile phone, so they will have a chip. Then they can just pick up a sim card when they hit Brazil.

Or my preferred way-Skype. Free to download and install on your computer. If you put it on a home computer, you can call Skype-to-Skype for free. You can use webcams, or just a mic. For $3 a month (and you can just get one month) you can buy unlimited minutes to the USA. So download it on their laptop, buy that plan, and they can call your cell phone, or her friends, for just that $3. Of course, that relies on them staying somewhere with high speed.

 

[mthhurley]

Agree with Travelin man...just grab a prepaid phone there.
The hassles I went through to temporarily enable my phone in Italy was a nightmare and expensive. prepaid phones in Europe are like candy...they're everywhere.

 

[TravelingJ]

That reminds me of another point, Mike. I had completely forgotten about our trip to Italy.

On that trip, I went to great lengths to get my phone setup for international service. When I landed, it didn't work. If you get a rental here, and then it doesn't work down there, you are hunting for a prepaid. In many other counties-prepaid is the main way to go. That makes it super easy to find and get setup.

 

[mav_sd]

I second the sentiments ofthe other brothers so far. I have been all over asia and central america and the easiest way to go (and cheapest!!) is to get a prepaid phone locally.

OR

If you get a GSM (Make sure it is quad band) phone from ATT or T-mobile unlocked to accept any SIM card, then all you need to do is find a local kiosk, and buy a SIM card and some reload minutes.

I had a leftover phone from work unlocked one time in the Philippines for like 5 bux... and have been using it all over the globe ever since... I have 7 different sim cards that I can pop in there depending on what country I am in

Even though your carrier may tell you the phone will work when you get there, it is really hard to predict with reliability who your carrier has international roaming agreements with. If they happen to have an agreement with someone your phone does not recognize as it's roaming default, you can end up paying a fortune in costs very very quickly.

The other thing to look into to cut communication costs is a "Magic Jack" if you get it all set up in the states, you can usually use it in other countries for no additional charge to call back to the US... have done this ALOT as well to make those calls from the hotel, or wherever I have an internet connection. Not sure if that would help your family out, but might be something else to consider.

Good luck!

 

[SmoknStyx]

Depending on who you have service with in the states.
AT&T international plan.
Works great in Can. UK and S. Amer

 

[Barndog]

Thanks for all the help guys. You have made my life a little easier.