Need cell phone service while traveling internationally? Even for the infrequent traveler, getting international wireless service is easier and cheaper than ever before. To avoid overpaying for international cell phone service, find out how different global roaming services work.

The easiest option in the U.S. is available to T-Mobile and Cingular Wireless customers who currently use tri-band or quad-band cell phones (sometimes marketed as “world phones”). Because the technology standard used by certain wireless companies is similar to the one used by the rest of the world, GSM cell phone users can more than likely just take their current phones abroad with them.

If you already have a GSM world phone, all that’s required is making sure your wireless service plan allows for international roaming. If it doesn’t, simply call your cell phone carrier and ask for this feature to be activated on your existing cell phone.

But the easiest option is not necessarily the most cost effective, so you’ll want to consider how, and how often, you’ll be using your cell phone internationally and see if you can find a more cost-effective cellular plan based on your calling needs. (more…)

Choosing the world’s next big travel destinations is never an easy feat, especially when there’s seemingly so little left of the globe to discover! Despite the difficulty of the task, BootsnAll.com still managed to compile list of ten great destinations that combine history and culture with value for travelers who prefer to arrange their own trips and challenge themselves in the most fascinating places in the world. Being the wonderful person I am, I decided to bless my readers with the list.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

10 - Buenos Aires — After its currency collapse in 2003, this gorgeous place got embarrassingly cheap for foreigners, but that won’t go on forever, so don’t wait too long. Vegetarians may find beef-obsessed Argentina a bit challenging. It won’t be a deal-breaker, though, as this cosmopolitan city has something for everyone, including a diverse nightlife scene that usually goes until dawn or later. Brush up on your español before you go - it will help you experience the city more completely.

Budapest, Hungary

9 - Budapest — The capital of Hungary is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Unlike some other Eastern European destinations, visiting is still very cheap compared to the West. The old town district of Castle Hill is a highlight of this huge city, and the hearty portions of the paprika-accented food win over most who try it. You can spend days just admiring the classic architecture, but the city is also an excellent place to begin an exploration of the many historic Hungarian villages nearby.

Marrakech, Morocco

8 - Morocco — This moderate Muslim country is easily visible and quickly reachable from the southern coast of Spain, but it feels a world away. Quickly pass through the “border-town” city of Tangier and on to Rabat, Fes, or Marrakech for a pleasant cultural shock on a backpacker’s budget. Choose Fes or Marrakech, and add in a smaller city to escape the constant tourism push, but skip the chaotic capital of Casablanca. For those with a bit more time, trekking the Atlas mountain ranges makes for an unforgettable adventure mixed with a cultural experience that contrasts nicely with Morocco’s bustling cities. Even for independent travelers, a tour using a local guide can be a great way to see all the magical parts of Morocco and avoid its often frustrating tourist traps. (more…)

So, you’re thinking about or planning on taking a trip to a faraway place? You’ve heard all about how cool it is to hike the Himalaya or to climb volcanoes, and you’ve always wanted to tour Europe.

Explore the World!

Rather than buying separate flights from one destination to another, a flexible and sometimes cheaper way of international travel is via Round the world (RTW) tickets. A round the world ticket is a plane ticket allowing you to fly around the world, usually over a period of up to a year and with between three and ten stops at different airports.

Round the world tickets cost far less than the sum of the one-way tickets between each set of individual stops. (One-way tickets are generally a poor value compared to round-trip tickets, and also may be viewed with suspicion by security or immigration personnel.) They are usually slightly more expensive than a return ticket between destinations on opposite sides of the world (London and Sydney for example), but if you were planning two or more stops then you may find that a round the world ticket is the cheapest option, and allows you at least a side trip. Many travellers plan entire holidays using a round the world itinerary.

Before you travel around the world you need to research. What is the weather like? Which areas do you want to focus on? How many stops do you plan to make? What is your budget? How long will you be away? Don’t rush things and make sure you have enough saved money if you don’t plan to work abroad during your trip.

Here’s a list of websites to get you started:

http://www.chickenbus.com/

http://www.bootsnall.com

perpetualtravel.com/rtw/

Check out these companies for good around the world tickets:

Star Alliance has 855 destinations in 155 countries.

Airlines: Air Canada, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Asian Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Midland, Lauda Air, LOT, Lufthansa, Mexicana, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai, Tyrolean Airways, United Airlines and Varig.

Star Special Economy is the cheapest option where you can fly 26,000 miles and do 3-5 stops. With Star 1, 2, and 3 you fly 29,000 miles, 34,000 miles or 39,000 miles and do 3-15 stops.

One World has 540 destinations in 137 countries.

Airlines: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Lan Chile, Malév, Quantas and Royal Jordanian.

One World has divided the world in six zones. You can buy tickets for 3-6 zones, and do 4 stops in each zone (except 6 stops North America, and 2 stops in the zone you start.)

Skyteam has 658 destinations in 137 countries.

Airlines: Aero Flot, Aero Mexico, Air France, KLM, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta, Korean Air, and North-west Airlines.

Choose between four different tickets depending on how far you fly: 26,000 miles, 29,000 miles, 34,000 miles, and 39,000 miles. You can make 3-15 stops and have to be away at least ten days and max one year.

For other around the world options, visit Around the World Tickets, Air Brokers and Airtreks.

Check out YackieMobile for ways to keep in touch with the ones you love while you see the world!

Yackie 101: SIM Cards

So I’ve been constantly telling international travelers to get a Yackie Mobile SIM card and I’ve realized that many people don’t know what a SIM card is. So here is another yet another tutorial that breaks down the basics of SIM cards.

What is a SIM card?
The SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card also known as a “smart chip” is basically the “brain” of the phone, providing cellular service as well as many other functions including call log, voice mail and SMS and GPRS (internet connection standards). SIM cards are the size of a credit card but they have a pop-out chip about the size of a postage stamp which fits into all modern GSM phones. The smart chip is embedded with circuitry and when inserted into a GSM mobile phone provides wireless phone service on a particular GSM network. SIM cards are usually available prepaid or on a contractual basis, however Cellular Abroad only offers the prepaid version which is the most popular because of the user’s complete control over how much they spend. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges.

How do I install a SIM card?
SIM cards typically are credit-card sized cards with a smaller SIM chip almost completely floating within the card and attached on one edge of the chip by some perforated plastic. The chip is approximately the size of a standard postage stamp folded in half.

Whether you are a frequent business traveler, or just a tourist seeking a reliable and affordable cell phone solution, the Yackie Mobile International SIM card is the solution. The Yackie Mobile International SIM card makes it easy and affordable for anyone traveling overseas to enjoy the safety and convenience of cellular service! As long as you have an unlocked GSM tri or quad bnd cell phone, you can benefit from using the Yackie Mobile International SIM card.

If you’re heading overseas, be prepared to defend being an American. International travelers face a growing global anti-American attitude. A Forbes.com article discusses the unfavorable image of Americans abroad.

“European and world views of the United States and President George Bush have dramatically worsened since 2000; the trend has intensified since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. There has been a decline in perceptions of the United States throughout the European Union, including in such traditional U.S. allies as the United Kingdom and Poland, and in Muslim and Latin American countries, according to annual polls undertaken by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Pew Research Center and the BBC World Service.”

For the rest of the article visit: Anti-American Sentiment Grows Worldwide.

Concerned about being a magnet for anti-Americanism during your next trip abroad? Bruce McIndoe, CEO of iJet Travel Intelligence, offers his tips for staying under the radar:

Avoid American fast-food restaurants and chains.

Keep discussions of politics to private places, not rowdy bars.

Take a rain check on wearing clothes featuring American flags or sports team logos.

Keep your passport out of sight.

Keep cameras, video equipment and maps tucked away.

Soften your speech; Americans typically overshadow their hosts in the volume department.

Yackie 101: GSM V.S. CDMA

In cellular service there are two main competing network technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Understanding the difference between GSM and CDMA will allow you to choose a carrier that uses the preferable network technology for your needs.

The GSM Association is an international organization founded in 1987, dedicated to providing, developing, and overseeing the worldwide wireless standard of GSM. CDMA, a proprietary standard designed by Qualcomm in the United States, has been the dominant network standard for North America and parts of Asia. However, GSM networks continue to make inroads in the United States, as CDMA networks make progress in other parts of the world.

Data Transfer Speed:

With the advent of cellular phones doing double and triple duty as streaming video devices, podcast receivers and email devices, speed is important to those who use the phone for more than making calls. CDMA has been traditionally faster than GSM, though both technologies continue to rapidly leapfrog along this path. Both boast “3G” standards, or 3rd generation technologies.

EVDO, also known as CDMA2000, is CDMA’s answer to the need for speed with a downstream rate of about 2 megabits per second, though some reports suggest real world speeds are closer to 300-700 kilobits per second (kbps). This is comparable to basic DSL.

GSM’s answer is EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), which boasts data rates of up to 384 kbps with real world speeds reported closer to 70-140 kbps. With added technologies still in the works that include UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Standard) and HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), speeds reportedly increase to about 275—380 kbps. This technology is also known as W-CDMA, but is incompatible with CDMA networks. An EDGE-ready phone is required.

In the case of EVDO, theoretical high traffic can degrade speed and performance, while the EDGE network is more susceptible to interference. Both require being within close range of a cell to get the best speeds, while performance decreases with distance.

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards:

In the United States only GSM phones use SIM cards. The removable SIM card allows phones to be instantly activated, interchanged, swapped out and upgraded, all without carrier intervention. The SIM itself is tied to the network, rather than the actual phone. Phones that are card-enabled can be used with any GSM carrier.

The CDMA equivalent, a R-UIM card, is only available in parts of Asia but remains on the horizon for the U.S. market. CDMA carriers in the U.S. require proprietary handsets that are linked to one carrier only and are not card-enabled. To upgrade a CDMA phone, the carrier must deactivate the old phone then activate the new one. The old phone becomes useless.

(more…)

Cell Phone Recycling

Donate Your Cell Phones or Start a Donation Program

One in three Americans will replace their cell phones this year, adding to the 500 million unused phones currently waiting to be discarded or recycled. Cell phone recycling and wireless recycling programs keep valuable materials out of landfills, including an estimated $630,000 of precious metals from circuit boards, and enough copper from phone chargers to recover the Statue of Liberty, twice.

Apparently, throwing away your cellphone isn’t just environmentally hazardous, it’s downright wasteful. ReCellular, an electronics stability firm, is working on a going green campaign in anticipation of Earth Day. Hundreds of millions of used cell phones are taken out of service each year around the world as new innovations reach the marketplace. Worldwide, humans discard 40,000 cellphone a day, meaning 150 million per year. These cellphones are said to contain $94 million in precious metals. One in three Americans will replace their cell phones this year, adding to the 500 million unused phones currently waiting to be discarded or recycled.

Cell phone recycling and wireless recycling programs keep valuable materials out of landfills, including an estimated $630,000 of precious metals from circuit boards, and enough copper from phone chargers to recover the Statue of Liberty, twice.

They’re also offering five reasons to recycle your phone.

1. They likely still work. More than half of the phones ReCellular receives are still functional, and can be refurbished and reused - often in developing countries. The United Nations ranks access to communications as the second-most important contributor to quality of life, after health-care.

2. They contain valuable materials. Recycling cell phone circuit boards yields more gold per ton than the average ton of ore from gold mine operations, as well as other precious metals such as silver, platinum and palladium.

3. They can be environmentally damaging. Like all rechargeable batteries, cell phones contain heavy metals and chemicals that can be toxic in landfills, and should always be recycled.

4. They are of value. ReCellular offers businesses up to $150 per phone, and their charitable donate-a-phone programs raised more than $8 million per year for non-profit organizations.

5. They’re serving no purpose in the drawer. Really, what are you keeping those cell phones for? Send them in.

If after this you’re compelled to recycle your old phone, hit these guys up at ReCellular.com. Or feel free to check out www.CellPhonesForCash.com, they offer and provide responsible recycling and redistribution programs that not only keep cell phones from entering our landfills, but puts cash back into the pockets of those who have purchased or collected them.

This post was taken from Prepaidreviews.com - a top source of information on prepaid cell phones.

Hey global travelers! I know a couple a days ago I made a post regarding Europe approving cell phone usage on airplanes but now the U.S. is jumping on the bandwagon but in a different way.

A L. A. Times article reports that some foreign carriers are enacting plans to offer in-flight cell use. The U.S. prohibits calls, but using phones to enter the Net is another matter.

The article goes on to say:

In a recent Forrester survey, 54% of leisure travelers said they would be interested in accessing the Internet on four-hour-plus flights. Several U.S. airlines are moving forward to offer that service…

U.S. airlines that are considering the possibility of offering Wi-Fi in the air are teaming up with Aircell, a Colorado-based company that in 2006 won an FCC auction for air-to-ground broadband frequencies. Aircell’s air-to-ground broadband system will provide customers with an Internet connection, virtual private network access (allowing workers to ply their trade by connecting them to their organization’s systems) and e-mail capabilities through Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and portable gaming devices.

For the entire article visit Using cellphones and Internet on airliners.

Hmm… this sounds pretty cool. Happy Travels! Don’t forget to bring your Yackie Mobile SIM card, the Prepaid SIM Card that lets you stay in with everyone, everywhere.

Yackie Mobile 101: Telecom Talk

The world of Telecom Jargon can sometimes be difficult to decipher. To aid the inexperienced world traveler in understanding my post content I put together a Telecom glossary. Here are some of the most commonly used and misunderstood acronyms:

1. MVNO=Mobile Virtual Network Operator
2. VOIP=Voice Over Internet Protocol
3. IP=Internet Protocol Address
4. SIM=Subscriber Identity Module
5. GSM=Global System for Mobile Communications
6. SIP=Single Internet Protocol
7. IVR=Interactive Voice Response

Today I visited Yackie Mobile’s World Traveller’s site: http://www.yackieworldtraveller.com, it’s a travel based website that promotes all the diverse ways in which we can see this earth.

Yackie’s World Traveller Team, Owen Bowling and Jaime Kohleis, are embarking on a global adventure. With the help of Yackie Mobile, they hope to share their exciting journey with the rest of the world. They will fly, drive, sail, train, camel, horse and elephant ride, bike and bus their way through the different landscapes that welcome them.

The list of countries they will see are:

Malaysia, India, Nepal, England, Canada, Alaska and the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, much of the Caribbean and possibly on to South America, Africa and Europe.

Right now they’re in London. Their sightseeing has included Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Hyde Park and of course shopping on Oxford street!

The duo says that through their affiliation with Yackie Mobile they hope to inspire thousands of would be or existing travelers to stop talking and start doing! Yeah, that’s exactly what I would love to be doing at this moment. I’d love to switch places with either one of the lucky adventurers right now. I’m sure they won’t have any trouble communicating with the world with the help of Yackie Mobile.

To keep up with where their journey will take them next check them out at http://www.yackieworldtraveller.com.

    Today I found myself thinking about my trip to South Africa last year. For the first 2 weeks in Japan I found myself constantly homesick and I used my roommates cell phone to call home every chance that I got. I didn’t think the bill would be that much and when it finally arrived I saw her mouth drop and her eyes seemed to have popped out of their sockets. The girl looked as if she’d seen a ghost! She looked at the total and then looked back at me shaking her head. I asked her how much I owed her; she laughed and said a number too far into the triple digits. I didn’t have the money, so I asked my parents. They said that as much as they loved talking to me they didn’t think it was worth the price. After doing some math, if I had known about Yackie Mobile’s SIM card I would have saved about $340 bucks!

    For most college students that’s a lot of money to spend on just a phone bill. Whether students are making calls to their home country or calling their new friends in their host country, it is important for students to find a low-cost means of communication. That’s why the Yackie Mobile SIM card is perfect for students who are abroad and need an affordable way to keep in touch.

    The Yackie Mobile SIM card is an advanced international roaming SIM card with the ability to roam globally at discounted rates in over 200 countries. Incoming calls are only ¢29/minute and outgoing calls in most countries are ¢39/minute. * Yackie Mobile does not require a contract and is simply pay as you go. Students can even assign a local number of their destination to the SIM card. For example, if a student was traveling to France from the United States they could assign a France phone number to their SIM card and have the added benefit of no roaming charges for calls made to the United States. The next time I decide to travel, before I start yakking it up I’ll make sure to use the Yackie Mobile SIM card for all my communicating needs.

*Check with your service provider on the rates they provide for international roaming calls. If your compare their rates with ours you will see that Yackie Mobile really does save you a lot of money. For example to receive and make calls in South Africa,  AT&T charges $2.49 a minute!!

    I recently got a email from Malina Lipa, a backpacking enthusiast whose next adventure will take her to explore the historic wonders of Rome. I met Malina while completing a study abroad semester in Madrid. She found out that I’m doing an internship with Yackie Mobile and wanted to know if I could provide her with more information on the services of my company. She told me that she’s had problems on her previous journeys with finding a smart affordable way of keeping in contact with her friends and family.

    I told her that Yackie Mobile will provide her with peace of mind by keeping her in contact with loved ones, and that she would save money no matter how far she might be from them. Yackie Mobile never locks you into a contract and you pre-pay, so there will be no surprise bills. Malina will save up to 80% on world wide roaming cost and be able to make and receive calls in over 200 countries!

    I told her to go to Yackie Mobile’s website www.yackiemobile.com for more information on our rates and SIM card.

I‘m so excited to be working with Yackie Mobile. Today is my first day on the job and I’ve decided to keep a blog of this awesome internship experience which they’ve offered me. I just got done with all my background training and I’m amazed with all the fantastic services Yackie Mobile has to offer!

I want to go out and shout to the world that finally there is a telecommunications company that will help world travelers stay in touch with others and save money while managing their calls around the world. I can empathize with the frustration travelers face when they can’t find affordable technology to keeping in contact with loved ones and friends while traveling abroad. I recently completed two consecutive study abroad semesters, one in Madrid, Spain and another in South Africa, and trust me, I know the feeling of shock when it came to realizing how much I spent monthly on making international calls back home and to friends who were studying in other countries. I spent way too much money when I could have been saving had I known about Yackie Mobile.

Yackie Mobile is one of the first telecommunications companies to introduce a merger of their Mobile International Roaming SIM card and their Yakie VoIP service. This means, that with your Yackie personal phone number you can save money by making calls over the internet for FREE! NO other SIM card provider offers this!

All Yackie Mobile users need is access to a computer, with that they can save airtime and money on their SIM by making internet phone calls. All they would have to do is download an applicable program and start yacking. It is almost like stretching the minutes. To find out more go to www.yackiemobile.com.