$49 Mobal World Phone, recommended in The Oregonian
Travel Savvy. Sunday, February 26, 2006
The world at your fingertips
"If you're a global traveler, the Mobal World Phone might be a good call for you. Many U.S. cell phone models don't work abroad, so this cell phone could be worth its weight in roaming fees if you travel internationally more than once a year. Upon purchase, you're charged only for the phone itself. For $49, you get a Motorola C1115 and, when service is activated, access from 140 countries (the phone does not work from inside the United States). Or, for $99, you get a Nokia 3120 model that, when activated, works in 160 countries, including to, from and within the United States.
There are no activation fees, or monthly or annual fees. The only thing you pay for is the phone itself, phone delivery (both of which are taxed if you live in New York) and the calling fees. Calls are not taxed.
I checked a few rates and here's what I found:
Travel in Mexico using the $99 Nokia: $1.95 per minute for incoming calls; $1.95 per minute for calls within Mexico; $2.95 per minutes for calls to the United States; and 80 cents for text messages.
Travel in France, Italy or Germany: Can use either $49 or $99 phones; $1.25 per minute for incoming calls; $1.25 per minute for calls within France; $1.50 per minute for calls to the United States; 80 cents for outgoing text messages (incoming are free of charge)."
