International Sim Card: How Does It Work?

A Sim card is a basically a small computer chip for your cell phone. The Sim card acts like memory, it stores any and all information pertaining to your account. It’s usually about the size of a fingernail and is used by GSM phones throughout the world. This little device also maintains your personal phone number list, text messages and any other pertinent information that goes in and out through your phone service.

The Sim card is removable and reusable from one compatible cell phone to the next.  You simply pull it out of one phone and put it in another compatible phone. With it, you can pull up any information (phone list, address book, text messages, etc.)  from your existing services and access it on anther phone. Having a compatible phone that can accept an international Sim card gives you the option of switching to another service provider for overseas travel simply by switching to an international Sim card. You could, for example, use an unlocked GSM cell phone and buy or rent an international sim card from a reliable service provider then take it overseas on your trip. This will allow you to use your existing phone with you overseas and pay the much lower local service rates with the international sim card. It saves you money and gives you an overseas number.  You can even add a virtual US phone number to your account from some international phone service providers that will ring to your phone overseas.  The virtual number would cost the same as a local call to your friends and family back home, saving both of you money and making it very convenient. If you’re not sure if you’re phone is unlocked or compatible with the country you are visiting, please contact your existing service provider.

Roaming Costs
If you purchase a phone and service in the United States and then use it overseas in roaming mode the roaming cost could be more than $3 a minute. Checking voicemail and receiving text messages will also be charged at the roaming costs your US service provider charges.  Often travelers overseas don’t realize that a call from one city to another may be only a few miles away, but the call has actually been  rerouted back to the network in the US and then back to the city you were attempting to call. This ends up as two charges, one from the local service provider and one from your service provider. A 20 minute call could end up costing over a $100 and you wouldn’t know it until the end of the month when you get your bill. Compare that to a call using an international sim card and the cost difference is clear:

20 Minute Call in France From the Same City

• Roaming Cost.....................$100
• International Sim Card......$5.60

 Roaming charges are expensive and should only be considered in a case of emergency.

International Sim Cards Are Cheaper
To save money and avoid unnecessary routing and rerouting of the call, double international calling charges and tons of frustration, you can use a phone with an international sim card. As long as your have a compatible unlocked cell phone switching providers can be as simple as switching your US sim card to an international sim card. If you are getting ready for a study abroad trip and want to take your phone with you, contact a reprehensive at a reliable international phone service or international sim card provider.  They will be able to provide you with all information you need to change to an international sim card and the get you information on the best rates for your destination.