A reader emailed us about needing a phone for daily 3 hour calls in Panama and the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. We didn’t mention it in the email, but it’s worth pointing out that in Panama they use GSM 850 and 1900 MHz like we do in the United States.
Here’s our response:
For your trip to Panama and the UK and the use you described I recommend the Talk Abroad phone and SIM package from Cellular Abroad (http://www.cellularabroad.com/travelphone.php?bid=1&aid=CD661&opt=) Be sure to use code “CHQ10″ to get your $10 discount and assign credit for my referral.
The other service I considered was the Passport SIM card from Telestial but their outgoing rate from Panama is $2.49 a minute compared to Talk Abroad’s $1.49/min. Also, Cellular Abroad’s Talk Abroad service by NatGeo has 100% US-based customer service representatives which is helpful with important communications like daily calls to the bank.
With the Talk Abroad service you will have both UK and US phone numbers. When you are in the UK there is no charge to you on your cell phone to receive an incoming call when the caller dials your UK number. However, callers from the US will pay their provider’s long distance rate to an international cell phone.
I don’t know how a US bank could call an international cell phone number for free. There’s always a surcharge for the caller to call a foreign cell phone that has “free” incoming calls. It’s known as “calling party pays”. I suggest the bank double check their international long distance service rates for calls to a UK cell phone number.
The basic Talk Abroad phone and SIM package is $59 plus the call credit which is sold in $29 increments. You buy as many $29 bundles as you like upfront or add more any time through the phone, or online or by calling Cellular Abroad.
Here are Talk Abroad rates for the United Kingdom (includes Republic of Ireland)
Receiving calls while in United Kingdom
To your UK# : FREE!
To your US# : $ 0.30 / min.
Calling from United Kingdom to:
Outgoing to United States: $ 0.69 / min.
Calling other Talk Abroad users: $ 0.49 / min
3G Data Service : $ 1.00 / MB
The Talk Abroad rates for Panama are below. However, for calls of 3 hours a day it’s going to be cheaper to use a landline phone or to buy a SIM from a Panamanian cell phone company after you arrive. This will give you a local (Panama) cell phone number (phone number and service is dtermined by SIM card) and the rates are likely to be much better than the roaming with the UK-based Talk Abroad service.
I don’t know anyone who sells a Panama SIM in the US but here is a list of providers in Panama, http://maps.mobileworldlive.com/network.php?cid=3296&cname=Panama,%20Republic%20of
Here are the Talk Abroad Rates in PANAMA
Receiving calls while in Panama:
To your UK# : $ 1.19 / min.
To your US# : $ 1.49 / min.
Data Service : $ 15.00 / MB
Calling from Panama to:
Outgoing to United States: $ 1.59 / min.
Calling other Talk Abroad users: $ 1.39 / min
I hope that helps!
Please contact Cellular Abroad for more information, they’re very helpful. Their contact info again is http://www.cellularabroad.com/travelphone.php?bid=1&aid=CD661&opt= or call 1-800-287-5072. And please use promo code “CHQ10″ for the both us to get credit for our discussion.
Thanks,
Pete
Related posts:
- How to Forward Calls from Your Cell Phone to Another Number (or Internationally) Save an additional $10 off the $59 price above by...
- Your Questions About How To Forward Calls From Cell Phone To Cell Phone Sprint Sandy asks… my Sprint cell is broke can I forward...
- Your Questions About How To Forward Calls From Cell Phone To Cell Phone Sprint Chris asks… how do i call my husband internationally in...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
