International Travelers Can Rent Cellphones Ahead of Their Trips
International travelers need not be out of touch for one second, thanks to CellPhone Rentals Limited, a company based in the United Kingdom that does exactly what its name implies.
Customers who place an order for a cellphone in advance of their trip will find it waiting for them upon arrival. Arrangements can also be made to deliver it to a home or business before departure for an additional charge.
The phone rental is available in 100 countries, and allows users to move between different international locations without having to set up roaming facilities. The phones are equipped with automatic network selection, so users can make and receive calls anywhere there is cellphone service. Equipment rental costs $4.80 for
a day, $28.80 a week or $96 for a month.
The Web site has a list of current calling rate charges in countries ranging from Albania to Zimbabwe. Rates for peak-hour calls to the U.S. range from 64 cents a minute in the U.K. to $11.55 a minute to phone home from Yugoslavia.
Incoming calls are free, but voice-mail retrieval is charged at U.K. rates, (approximately 40 cents a minute). Those accessing voice mail from other countries are charged the cost to call back to the U.K.
The phones are equipped with text messaging, voice mail and other accoutrements; additional features such as a car charger, headset kit or modem hookup are available for an additional daily rate. Customers are given a pre-paid postage box to mail the phone back at the end of the trip.