Cell Phones
If you want to use a cell phone while abroad, you have a few basic options, detailed below. Deciding what to do about cell phones can be confusing, especially as technology is constantly changing. The following information is up-to-date as of 2021, but if you are studying abroad in subsequent years, you might want to augment this information with a simple web search for “cell phone abroad [year].”
Using Your Own Phone (Roaming)
Most major cell phone service providers in the US now have international roaming packages, so if you want the convenience of using your very own phone – you can do so. However, you should decide to take this route only after careful research and preparation. Check with your service provider about rates for call, text, and data in the country to which you’re traveling. If you are satisfied with the prices your provider offers and you decide to take this route, make sure you turn off apps that “update automatically” – email, Facebook, anything that pushes notifications to your home screen. If you don’t turn these off, your phone will be constantly downloading data and racking up charges for you. It is also recommended that you use services and apps such as email, Facebook, Instagram, and Google Maps only from Wi-Fi hotspots, as these use data and can be very expensive.
Using Your Phone with a Foreign SIM Card
Rather than sign up for an international roaming package, you can also choose to remove your phone’s SIM card (containing your phone number and account information – basically, your phone’s ID) and buy a local SIM card at your destination. This option can be complicated, so keep in mind that the following must be true in order for this option to work:
Your phone must be able to work on international network:
Most other countries use a standardized network called GSM; the US, until recently, used CDMA. Phones built for CDMA don’t work with GSM, and vice versa. However, the US is starting to change; so for example, AT&T and T-Moblie now use GSM. Many new smartphones are tri- or quad-band phones, meaning they supposedly work on a variety of network frequencies, but don’t just assume this is the case. Double check with your carrier and look at your phone manufacturer’s website to see if your phone is GSM compatible.
Your phone must be unlocked:
Most phones in the US come locked, meaning they only work with a particular carrier’s network. You can get your phone unlocked – so that it works on any network, and with your foreign SIM card – by contacting your carrier; or, if your carrier won’t unlock your phone for you, there are some third party providers who will unlock your phone for you. Getting your phone unlocked from these third party providers may or may not be illegal, though, due to a small change in cell phone law in 2013. Do your research and make sure you’re complying with the law. Unlocking may cost you a fee (probably between 20 and 75 dollars).
If you decide to get a foreign SIM card for your phone, make sure you look at the resources listed below or do some web searching of your own to figure out the best way to make this option work for your phone.
Buying a Travel Phone and SIM Card
You can buy a cheap phone just for your trip, along with a prepaid SIM card that will work in your host country. These can either be purchased in the US before you leave, or once you get to your host country. If you do buy a phone here, make sure it is GSM compatible and unlocked – searching “Unlocked Quad-band GSM phone” in Amazon or Craigslist should help you find what you want, and Telestial is also a great resource that sells both phones and prepaid SIM cards.
Renting a phone is also an option but it is not recommended for trips longer than two weeks, as it can become expensive quickly after that time.
Final Notes:
You can get data on a prepaid SIM card; just make sure you’re buying a SIM from a company that offers data.
Most people recommend going for a prepaid option (SIM card), as roaming is tricky to control and can become very expensive very quickly.
Use Wi-Fi when possible. Some smartphones can actually make calls through Wi-Fi, so another option is simply to use your phone only in Wi-Fi hotspots (and make sure the settings are such that the phone is using the Wi-Fi, not a cell phone network). Regardless, Wi-Fi is often free and is probably a better option than using data or minutes. Not everywhere in the world has Wi-Fi, though, so you’ll have to find out which options work in your destination.