Outside of the United States and a handful of countries, the world's cell phone carriers operate on a unified standard called GSM (Global Services for Mobile). This is why a cell phone for London will also work in Paris, Johannesburg, Beijing and Sydney. This GSM standard requires a GSM cell phone and a SIM card . The SIM card is a small chip that allows your phone to connect with a local wireless carrier in the country you are visiting. To learn more about GSM and other international cell phone standards, we suggest you read the first few articles in the Getting Started section.

If you want international cellular phone service, you will need a cell phone that is GSM SIM-unlocked and it should work on at least the 900 and 1800 GSM frequencies. These phones will work with any prepaid SIM card in Europe, Africa, Asia (excluding Japan and South Korea), Australia and New Zealand. To check out the cell phones, click on this link: GSM Mobile Phones

After you purchase your world cell phone, or if you already own a world cellular phone, you will need a SIM card for service. A SIM card is a postage stamp sized chip (the brain of the phone) that snaps into the back of your phone. Changing SIM cards is a very easy procedure and varies depending on your phone. The SIM cards provide the service and all the SIM cards we offer are prepaid. Prepaid SIM cards may be purchased for a specific country, you then get a local phone number and benefit from local rates that nearly every time include free incoming calls! To view the selection of available SIM cards, click on Prepaid SIM Cards

If you are looking for one cell phone number for multiple country trips, then you may want to consider the Explorer SIM card. With the Explorer SIM card you get one cell phone number with service over 100 countries. Please note that the airtime rates can be more expensive than the rates for local SIM cards. For more information on this option, simply click here .

Return-Call Service adds an extra dimension of complexity, but it can save you up to 70% on your international calls. By taking advantage of the free incoming calls, Return Call Service connects your outgoing calls at rates that are usually much cheaper than those charged by wireless carriers. Check it out with a click on this link Return-Call Service

For more exotic locations outside traditional cellular coverage you can rent or purchase an Iridium Satellite phone. These true world phones work everywhere, including the oceans and both poles though surprisingly not in the Poland, Hungary, Northern Sri Lanka and South Korea (Don't ask). We have great 1,2 and 3 month rental rates and discounts are available for student and faculty travelers. For Satellite phone info you click on ...yup, you guessed it... Satellite Phones