Business Tips: Cell Phones & International Business Travel

by Michael Furniss, Mobal World Phones

Have you ever traveled abroad for business and had a crisis? You've got lost. You've had something stolen. You've missed a connection. You've fallen ill. No matter how big or small, avoiding the unexpected at home is impossible. So the idea you can do it while you're abroad is obviously crazy. When you've had a crisis while traveling internationally, do you remember the feeling?

Suddenly your heart rate skyrockets and panic quickly starts to take over.  What do you do? 

Back home the chances are that you'll call someone who'll help solve your problem. But that's not easy to do when you're in a strange country. So how do the business travel experts handle the unexpected? They always take a reliable, quality international cell phone service with them. And it makes sense for you to copy them.

Here Are the 5 Most Popular Ways to Use Your Cell Phones While Traveling Internationally:

1. Use Your Own Cell Phone Abroad — Tricky!

This sounds like the perfect option doesn't it. You don't have to change your number and you already know how to use your cell phone. But there's a problem — approximately 80% of US cell phones cannot work internationally due to pesky mobile technological incompatibilities.

First, check with your carrier, but be ready for extra charges. You may need to pay to upgrade your account and handset. You'll also have to pay more for your calls. Plus, you might get people who don't know you're traveling abroad calling you just to check in on their business account. And because you’ll have to pay for incoming calls this will be expensive unless you don’t care about their business and don't answer!

2. Rent A Cell Phone — Old News!

Don't do this. Sorry to be so blunt, but renting a cell phone is outdated. You wouldn't think about renting a suitcase every time you traveled, would you? This is no different.

For the cost to rent a cell phone for about 2 weeks, you could easily have bought your own second international cell phone, and it's yours for life, ready for every future business trip you take.

3. Buy Local SIM Cards — Hidden Expenses!

Buying your own cell phone is a better value for your money. However, there are 3 methods you can use. The first uses "local SIM cards". You'll need a different local SIM card for each country you visit.

With local SIM cards you pay in advance for talk time, and then you keep buying extra talk time to keep your service active.

The problem with local SIM cards is they can be expensive to buy (e.g. the local SIM for Germany will cost you $60, and that's without a cell phone, and before you've made calls). You run the risk of getting cut off during an important call with a client or your boss if you run out of talk time. And you won’t be able to find anywhere to buy more time immediately. Plus, your cell phone can only use one carrier's network in each country, so you may not have great reception everywhere.

4. Buy A Global Call Back SIM Card — Questionable Quality!