The Internet and other technology is widely available and makes communication more convenient than ever. Other ways to communicate with friends, family or business contacts while traveling include: Skype and International phone cards.
International phone cards are available from many companies. Select the card that provides the best rates and service for the country or countries you will be visiting.
No, if you’d rather use your own phone number and use international roaming, you do not need to change your SIM card. Be certain to check with your cellular carrier to make certain your phone will work in the country you are visiting. Also check their international rates to send and receive calls before you travel. Costs vary and can be expensive.
Yes assuming the phone you are using includes the same cellular network and frequency as used in the country you are visiting. The SIM card automatically configures your phone to send and receive SMS messages. Be certain to check the international cost for this service with your carrier before you travel. Costs vary and can be quite expensive.
If you travel internationally very often and visit several different countries, a multiband phone will serve you best. For full compatibility you will need a quad-band phone. AT&T and T-Mobile offer International Service plans for MultiBand phones. Another alternative is to purchase or rent a different phone either from a carrier in the country or countries you are visiting or an international cell phone carrier that provides service in the country or countries you are visiting. Compare rates, minimum fees and processing fees offered to find the plan that best meets your needs.
A SIM card or Subscriber Identity Module is a portable memory chip used in some models of phones. The SIM card holds personal identity information, cell phone number, phone book, text messages and other data.
It depends on the cellular network technology that is used. There are two major cellular network technologies in the world: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). The GSM Association is an international organization that oversees the GSM standard. CDMA is a proprietary standard designed by Qualcomm in the United States. It has been the dominant network standard in the United States, Canada, and parts of Asia. The two network technologies are not compatible. Viewing coverage maps provided by cellular carriers will help you determine where your cell phone can be used.
A phone should be chosen based on your individual needs, what features or functionality are most important to you. Each cellular provider offers phones with a wide range of features.
Basic
This type of phone provides the basic phone features for calling as well as the ability to do some basic online searching. Most carriers provide many versions of these phones free with a new account.
Specialised
These are phones that provide more functionality. Some will be geared towards text messaging while others may provide music playback or games.
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Smartphone
A Smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities beyond a typical mobile phone, often with PC-like functionality. Many can integrate with U-M e-mail and calendaring systems.
Per the Mobile Communications Agreement Policy (8070), an employee may receive no more than one voice allowance, one data plan allowance and one internet plan allowance regardless of the number of devices an employee chooses to own or operate.
A message sent via a Multimedia Message Service contains multimedia objects (images, audio, video, rich text) and may or may not include normal text.
SMS is the standard for mobile messaging systems that allow the sending of messages between mobile devices that consist primarily of text-only content.
We’re always available 24/7. You’ll have access to technical support and fault reporting whenever you need us. We offer varying levels of cover, each uniquely designed to meet the needs of our customers.
An Early Cancellation Fee (ECF) applies if, for any reason, your service is terminated prior to the end of the service agreement. It applies to each line in the plan that is terminated.
In some instances, you may be able to purchase the phone without a service plan, but you’ll be charged the full price for the phone. You should call for details regarding your particular phone-only selection.
You may be able to purchase a rate plan only, but only if the handset you have uses a technology compatible with the carrier you select. Even when this is the case, some phones are “locked” by the manufacturer so that they only work on the network of the carrier who purchased the phone for resale to its customers. With advances in quality and size of the phones, and their relatively low price, you’ll probably be better off getting a new phone with your service plan.
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