Hello Lynn,

Your solution (buying a prepaid card abroad) is worth considering, depending on the duration and purpose of your trip.

Advantages:
- no cost to you for all incoming calls, local or international (this is by far the main advantage); some operators even give you credit for incoming calls on prepaids these days...
- usually lower charges for local calls, although prepaids have the most expensive rates of any of the local subscriptions
- lower charges for international calls to countries other than your home country
- total anonymity in many countries, where you can buy the prepaid card without ID


Disadvantages:
- must purchase a SIM card in each country
- different number in each country
- more expensive for Americans calling you
- usually some $ leftover in your prepaid card at the end of your trip
- you are locked into one local carrier, which may or may not have good coverage nationwide.


So if you usually receive many calls while abroad, it is financially worthwhile getting a prepaid card. A week overseas with moderate activity on your US-issued phone can easily push your bill into the 3 figures.

This would apply especially in some SE Asian countries which have very inflated roaming charges, but relatively low local prices due to lower income levels and/or competition.

[This message has been edited by monahos (edited 12-07-2001).]