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From: Peter Mazagran (no email)
Date: Mon Aug 21 2006 - 09:48:18 EDT
Hi Rick,
Outside US is GSM-Heaven, so it is the only way to go and I think it
is the cheapest too. HAM per definition is off limits (but used), SSB
& VHF to expensive and illegal in port. I use a mast top antenna with
a 2-way amplifier so we have quite a nice reception range.
You can use your homeport provider, but that might be expensive or
look for an international Provider like http://www.telestial.com/. But
we use this only if we stay for short in a country or upon arrival
until we purchase a local prepaid SIM card.
In some countries like Greece they sell the phones unlocked, in most
they are locked to a provider. But if you buy a common brand, NOKIA or
Ericsson, it is very likely some small store will unlock for a small
fee (4$ in the Philippines)
If you have a GPRS/EDGE or better UMTS/G3 model you might use it even
for VOIP applications; fax or email can be transfered with normal WAP
procedure too, but slow. While there is UMTS/G3 roaming there is
rarely for GPRS. Sometimes you find providers who give visitors
surprisingly low fees for internet access, yes, through cellphone, but
this depends really on country and luck.
Unlike many friends who always change their phones I like to stick
with one that is capable of doing emails and fax, but take a little
longer to learn and set it up with my computer.
Skype is rather expensive, I prefer jajah.com they connect phone to
phone, not PC to phone and some countries are entirely free. PC to PC
my favourite is gtalk (a google service)
Happy communicating
Peter
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