International cell phone rental — is it the right choice for you?
If you have checked that you cannot use your own US cell phone as an international cell phone, the next option most people turn to is international cell phone rental.
Why rental looks like a good idea
An extra cell phone, just for use when you are traveling abroad, seems like a specialized piece of equipment, and so not the sort of thing that you want to invest your money if it is only going to get used very infrequently. This makes cell phone rental seems like the perfect option — you only need to pay for the time you need the cell phone.
However, in reality it is not as good as it seems
It is true that a few years ago the cost to buy and maintain a second cell phone, just for international use, was a luxury that only those who traveled very frequently could afford to justify. But as is the case with all technology, the prices come down and become affordable to all, even if you go abroad as little as one week a year.
Today you can buy an international cell phone that can be used in over 140 countries for as little as $49. When you consider that average cell phone rental rates for a similar phone would cost you between $3 and $8 per day, you could buy your very own international cell phone, that you can use for years to come, for the same price as cell phone rental from 3 weeks to less than one week, depending on what cell phone rental company you choose.
If you still decide that cell phone rental is the best option for you
Here are a few things you need to consider before choosing a cell phone rental company:
The cost of cell phone rental — As mentioned earlier, the cost of rental differs between the main cell phone rental companies from $3 to $8. It would seem obvious to go with the cheapest option, but you must look into what other charges are involved:
Minimum rental period — Some companies will impose a minimum on their cell phone rental, e.g. you must rent for at least one week, or one month etc.
Minimum daily call usage — You may have to agree to a minimum call usage per day, that you will be charged for whether you make the call or not.
Delivery charges — You could be charged as much as $30 for shipping and collection, so make sure you check first.
Charges for itemized invoices — Another area where cell phone rental companies can gain a few extra dollars is by charging for itemized invoices, a necessity for business users and very useful for vacationers also.
Insurance — First, check whether this is optional or not — you may find that you are covered under your general travel insurance policy, or you may be the type of person who likes to save some cents and take a gamble by not taking insurance out. Also, check what the excess is.
Deposits/credit card authorizations — Most companies will demand a deposit or authorize your credit card for a certain amount before they agree to rent a cell phone to you. This can be anywhere up to $1000 off your credit card when you need it most — on vacation.
Exceptions to the above — cell phone rental for Japan and Korea
Due to their highly specialized technology, the cell phones you need for use in Japan and Korea are still very expensive, and hard to buy if you are not a Japanese or Korean resident. In these cases, rental still remains the most cost effect option for most people.
Conclusions on cell phone rental
As you can see, the extra charges can soon add up making cell phone rental not quite so cheap and convenient as it first looked, and make deals like a $49 international cell phone for life a cheaper and more convenient option, even in the short term. However, if you decide that cell phone rental is the way you want to go, make sure you ask about all the charges involved before you place your order and hand over your credit card details. Tuesday, 11 October, 2005
