Whether you're headed to another country for business or pleasure, chances are you need to keep in touch with family or business associates in the United States. But if you plan to do that using your cell phone, you could be in for an unwelcome surprise - U.S. cell phones don't work overseas."A lot of people don't realize that their cell phones won't do them any good in another country," says Morris Shawn, president of Roadpost, www.roadpost.com a company that rents cell phones, BlackBerrys and satellite phones to overseas travelers.
Most U.S. cell phones do not work overseas because U.S. companies use different forms of technology which don't conform to the GSM system used by most of the international community, including Europe.
However, there is an easy, cost-effective solution to staying in touch while you're traveling. You can rent a phone that is guaranteed to work in the countries you're visiting. Roadpost offers a 30-day cell phone rental plan that includes free incoming calls and free voicemail as well as call waiting services.
A happy customer from Texas says, "We are home from our trip and the phones worked beautifully. Our friends on the trip with us had nothing but problems with their phones and never did get them to work - even though they were assured by their provider that they would. I would definitely recommend Roadpost."
The service is convenient and simple. You can place your order online and your phone will be shipped to arrive on the date you specify. "We recommend people select a 'required date' that is two days before they leave on their trip," says Shawn. If an unexpected business trip comes up, Roadpost can provide next-day delivery for most cities. In addition to the phone, Roadpost provides a spare battery, hands-free headset, travel charger, all adapters and a leather carrying case.
When your phone is shipped from Roadpost, you receive an e-mail confirmation that contains your international cell phone number so you can leave it with family members and business contacts; Roadpost even provides business cards preprinted with your international phone number. "Some carriers will allow you to forward your North American phone number to your Roadpost international phone," says Shawn. If you want to explore this option, contact your current cell phone provider for details and associated costs.
Those who don't want to be without e-mail while traveling can rent an international BlackBerry from Roadpost. "It can be hard to stay in touch by e-mail when traveling,'" says Shawn. "Usually, internet cafes can only be found in big cities. They are overcrowded and expensive. And often, you are forced to use an international keyboard with a confusing interface." With an international BlackBerry, you can send and receive as much e-mail as you like, without worrying about an expensive bill.
If you're traveling to very remote areas, you may want to consider renting a satellite phone instead of a cell phone. Because they receive their signal from satellites that are orbiting the earth, these phones work anywhere on the planet - including oceans and mountains - as long as there is a clear line of sight between the satellite phone's antenna and the sky. This makes them ideal for cruise ships and boats, airplanes, wilderness travel, mountain climbing, safaris and other remote areas.
When you return from your travels, simply ship the phone or BlackBerry back to Roadpost using the return kit the company provides. For frequent travelers, Roadpost offers monthly airtime plans with bundled minutes that carry forward. This way, you will always have the same number while you are away from home and your phone is always ready and waiting for your next trip.
To find out more, go to www.roadpost.com or call (888) 290-1616.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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