Cell phone roaming is a minefield. You pay when calls come in, when they go out and even when somebody leaves you voicemail. On top of that, the prices vary wildly, especially when you go international. For frequent travelers, the best option was to juggle a handful of SIM cards. Cheap, sure, but each one comes with a different number.
Oddly, the National Geographic is stepping in to help with its Talk Abroad travel phone. $200 buys you a bare bones GSM handset which will works pretty much anywhere. There is a single (UK) number wherever you go and all incoming calls are free (to you at least) in 65 countries. SMS and voicemail are supported.
Outgoing calls aren't cheap. Calling another Spanish phone from Spain, for instance, will cost US$0.90 per minute. These prices rise steeply, too: Iraq to Iraq calls are US$2.50 per minute. A cheaper option is to buy just a SIM card for $80, or rent a phone from $18 per week (that's long term. A single week will cost $70).
Convenience is what you are paying for here. That single number makes it easy to reach all wherever you are. Alternatively, leave the phone at home and actually enjoy your holiday.
Product page [Cellular Abroad via Sci Fi Tech]
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