I am in what I believe is a unique situation but, as always, I'm sure there is someone else contemplating what I would like to do. But I digress:
I am going to be travelling through Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia for 5 months starting in April. I am not currently trapped in a US-mobile contract.
Wishlist:
1. I would like to keep my existing US cell phone number.
2. I would like to be able to make/receive calls and texts from/to this existing US cell phone number when travelling.
3. I would like to have 3G data coverage for my phone while travelling.
4. I would like this to be as cheap as possible.
I have identified the following options as viable (
all prices listed are prices from France):
Verizon Wireless
As my current carrier, Verizon is the easiest and most expensive option. Even though I would be charged exorbitantly for incoming/outgoing calls, data, and outgoing texts ($1.29/min, $30/20MB, $.50/text... in addition to the monthly access fees you are paying on your contract of $40), I would get it anyway. But there is this disclaimer on their
Global Rates website:
Note: Verizon Wireless will terminate your service for good cause if less than half of your voice or data usage over three consecutive billing cycles is on the Verizon Wireless National Enhanced Services Rate and Coverage Area.
It appears that my plan would be cancelled 3 months into my travels. I am sure I would be charged an early termination fee in addition to having my plan cancelled if I was under an existing contract.
Update: this cancellation ONLY applies to usage in Mexico. I have been corrected by VZW customer service (in writing).
GeoSim
This is the cheapest option. For about $45, you are issued a Sim card with a US and a UK number. With Google Voice, you can
port your current US number to GV for $20 and forward all calls/texts to the US Sim card number. There is no charge for incoming calls on your UK number, but there is a charge of $.25/min for incoming calls made to your US number. Incoming texts are free, outgoing texts are $.10 (to anywhere, it appears), outgoing calls are $.23-$.32/min. However, 3G data is not yet supported. It will be supported "by the middle of February 2011"... Hmmmm....
eKit
This option is similar to GeoSim in that it charges $40 for a Sim card with a US and UK number. It is more expensive than GeoSim in outgoing calls and outgoing texts ($.99/min and $.79/text), but it offers 3G data at $2.50/MB. Incoming calls on the UK number are free and incoming calls on the US number are $.30/min.
The question is: is there a better option? I will gladly update this post to include a better option for the long term Worldwide traveler.
MaxRoam Classic
In addition to getting a Google Voice number, I will get a SIM card from MaxRoam (free with minimum 10 euro credit), a US number from MaxRoam (3 euros/month) and pay $.08 for incoming calls (on either the US or European number... it doesn't say this specifically on the
faq, but I am going by the word of Dubai Stu). Outgoing texts are $.40/text, and 3G data is $4.00/MB. Seems pretty expensive for data, moderately expensive for texts, but is very cheap for calls.