international cell phone Q

[preacherman]

OK I leave for africa in a month and I have a cell phone question. My last trip in Africa I noticed they have great cell coverage. I have a unlocked Palm treo 650 quad band phone I plan on taking. I am looking for an international sim card that has good rates and will allow me to use some data. I really need to text back and forth to the usa and I would like to email from my phone if possible. Any suggestions.

 

[Grim Reaper]

OK I leave for africa in a month and I have a cell phone question. My last trip in Africa I noticed they have great cell coverage. I have a unlocked Palm treo 650 quad band phone I plan on taking. I am looking for an international sim card that has good rates and will allow me to use some data. I really need to text back and forth to the usa and I would like to email from my phone if possible. Any suggestions.

Should be able to pick up a prepay SIM at most large airports. That's the cheapest way to go. Any other way you are going to get some BIG charges from the carrier. The rest of the world will make you think the US is in the dark ages phone wise.

 

[Bighead]

Should be able to pick up a prepay SIM at most large airports. That's the cheapest way to go. Any other way you are going to get some BIG charges from the carrier. The rest of the world will make you think the US is in the dark ages phone wise.

Agreed. I was in Korea in June and ended up renting a phone at the airport. That was the cheapest and easiest option. One of the guys I was with was able to use his Crackberry in Seoul and almost had a heart attack when he saw the bill a few weeks later.

 

[preacherman]

I plan on using one of the local sim cards but does anyone know if they cover data?

 

[Lynn]

Sorry, can't answer your questions, but these guys should be able to. Buying a sim from them would be more expensive than buying one in-country, but it might be worth the extra to tap their expertise, plus have the card in-hand and tested before leaving.