Talk Abroad
Multi-Country Calling from Cellular Abroad

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Field-testing TalkAbroad

I first used Talk Abroad on a trip to Paris. Cellular Abroad sent me a triband phone, a Talk Abroad SIM card, and detailed instructions.

Setup was easy: I just charged the phone's battery, inserted the SIM card, and made sure the band switch was set to "auto." Whenever I turned on the phone, it automatically scanned its three frequency bands for a network.

Calling with Talk Abroad was simple enough, once I'd read the instructions. The SIM card has a Liechtenstein number (newer Talk Abroad SIM cards have UK numbers), so any calls outside that country require using the international dialing code and a country code. For example, to call a Paris number from within Paris with TalkAbroad, I'd dial 00 33 followed by the Paris area code (minus the initial "0") and the local phone number. I'd hear a ring, and after a short pause the TalkAbroad service would call me back to complete the connection.

Receiving calls was even easier: A caller merely had to dial my cell phone's international number, whether I was in Paris, France or Paris, Kentucky. When the phone rang, I answered.

The service worked flawlessly in Europe, and when I got back home to the U.S., the phone switched automatically to the domestic T-Mobile network.

Is TalkAbroad right for you?

The Talk Abroad package is a great product, but whether it's a better value than a single-country SIM card depends on your travel plans and telephone needs. For help in deciding which approach is best for you, see my comparison chart on page 3 and my recommendation on page 4.

Next page: Comparison chart

Top photo: Copyright © Motorola.

 

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