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home | study, work, & travel | travel abroad | general travel information | communications CommunicationsTelephonesUse of public phones abroad will vary from country to country, but be aware that in Western Europe many phones now operate solely with a phone card and do not accept coins. Phone cards operate on a counter system where you buy a card for a certain amount of money and the money ticks off every time you use it. In most countries, you can buy cards at post offices, newsstands, and some hotels and bars. Also, in some countries, you need a phone card or coin just to get a dial tone. For example, even calling card calls require you to first insert the card or coin. In many countries around the world, cellular phones are becoming increasingly affordable and accessible. Your U.S. cell phone may or may not work abroad. Talk to your carrier to be sure; they can also “unlock” your phone which will allow you to sign up with a carrier abroad. This may be worth the cost if you will be in one country for an extended period of time. If you are staying in the same city or country for a while, you might want to look into renting or buying a cellular phone from a dealer within that city or country. Some cell phones are prepaid plans as are some phone cards. Some American phone carriers like AT&T have international calling card plans. You can use these from payphone or landlines. Check to see if your destination has special “number codes” which you can dial before typing the telephone number. In Germany, these are called “Vorwahl;” often 1 cent per minute from your personal landline in Germany to a landline or a cell phone in the U.S. If you have a GSM cell phone (one with a SIM card) you can usually buy a new SIM card for a local carrier in the country, and then buy pre-paid vouchers which work for calls, data, and text messages. Before you leave, do some research on whether your cell phone will work overseas. Pre-paid is the norm in most countries outside the United States, and this is perfect for travelers. For more information about GSM technology & maps of coverage worldwide, see the GSM World web site. Calling the United States from abroad can be very expensive, much more expensive than when calls originate from the U.S. AT&T, Sprint, and the other major U.S. long distance providers have discounted or special rates on international calling cards for college students. Students with an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can get special savings when calls are made through AT&T Direct Service. To obtain an ISIC, contact STA Travel (a student travel agency located in the Michigan Union) at umi_agents@statravel.com. Internet CafésThe easiest way to stay in touch is to use internet cafés which are readily available in cities. They are often found around train and bus stations. For a global listing of internet/cyber cafes visit Cybercafes. A good guidebook will also list places with internet access. Internet programs like Skype or MSN Messenger offer free telephone service from computer to computer and computer to phone for a small fee (2-4 cents per minute). Internet cafés will already have these programs installed. It’s a good idea to bring your own headset, not all internet cafés will not have them in good condition. E-mail is probably the most convenient way to communicate with family and friends. You won’t have to worry about time changes as you do when calling. The costs of internet café computers vary but range from €0.50 to €2 an hour (in Europe). Costs are broken into 15 or 30 minute segments and some even charge by the minute. If you plan to stay in that city for a while, consider buying an Internet café card particular to that Internet café or its chain. Buying a card for a few hours rather than paying by the hour usually will save you a few Euros. Internet Cafés also exist outside of Europe, but they vary widely in their speed and price. In general, any city that has an airport will also have an internet café. Skype is unpredictable depending on the country you are in and the connection speed. Browser-based chat clients such as Google Chat are much more likely to work than programs that might not be installed on the café computer. Internet is also widely available through the 3G connection on most cell phones, and is often quite affordable. See telephone section above for further information. Last reviewed: 03/10 |
