Things You'll Need:
- tri-band or quad-band US cellular phone
- international sim card
- credit card
- internet connection
-
Step 1
The first step is to determine the GSM frequency bands on your current cell phone. If you have a dual band US cellular phone, you probably have 850 MHz and 1900 MHz, the two used in the United States. A triband phone may have 850/1800/1900 MHz bands or 900/1800/1900 MHz bands. A quad band phone will have 850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands.
-
Step 2
You must find out if your cell phone is unlocked, by asking your US cell phone carrier. If it is not, sometimes the cell phone provider, such as Verizon or Sprint, will unlock it for you. Otherwise, use the resource below to unlock your cell phone for a small fee.
-
Step 3
Will your cell phone work at a French Cafe near the Eiffel Tower in Paris?Where will your travels take you? Are you going on train travel through Europe? Will you visit Australia's land down under? Perhaps you wish to visit the Bahamas or Caribbean for some fun in the sun, or a face-to-face leap with lions and tigers on an African safari.
-
Step 4
What frequency bands do you need for your destination? Use the resource below to find out what frequency bands you need for your US cell phone in the country of your vacation spot. Most Europe vacation spots, South Africa and the Philippines use 900 and 1800; the Bahamas requires 1900; most of South America uses 850 and 1900.
-
Step 5
Will your US cellular phone work on the River Aare in Interlaken, Switzerland?If the frequency band needed for your vacation spot matches with your cell phone, you can use your US cellular phone internationally.
-
Step 6
Now you must purchase an international SIM card to put into your GSM cell phone unlocked. There are many different places to purchase a SIM card on the internet, with a favorite trusted being Ekit (source listed below) who gives a discount if you purchase train travel first through Rail Europe. (It will cost about $20 for the SIM card, shipping, and a $10 prepaid cellular phone credit.)
-
Step 7
Determine if you want to add more usage to the prepaid SIM card for your unlocked cellular phone. You can generally purchase more minutes before, during and after your foreign travel.
-
Step 8
Once you receive the international SIM card, you must install it in your compatible cell international phone. To do this, you have to take off the back of the phone, and you will find the SIM card underneath the cell phone battery. Take out the US SIM card and put in the new SIM card.
-
Step 9
Once you have installed the SIM card on your cell international phone, you have to switch the bands being used on the phone. Often, when you turn the phone back on it will pick up the new SIM card and do this automatically. If not, you will need to follow instructions that came with your US cellular phone or with your new prepaid international SIM card.
-
Step 10
Be prepared for the trip. Have all contact phone numbers you need for your trip including phone numbers to recharge minutes on the cell phone. Also, make sure to have your cell phone charger, and a wall adaptor compatible for whatever country your foreign travel takes you!
