SIM Card on Stolen Phones
© gruntzooki
A US congressman is urging wireless carriers to disable the SIM card on stolen phones. Most of the major carriers already do this when a phone is reported stolen, but Sen. Schumer is alleging that their practices don't go far enough to protect consumers.
He believes that they should use unique ID numbers to totally deactivate stolen phones, making it impossible for thieves to use them. Cellphones have become a major target for thieves who are looking to sell them on the black market. In fact, the statistics from Schumer's home state of New York are especially disturbing as almost half of all property thefts in NYC involved a cell phone. Deactivating stolen phones is one of the best possible ways to deter theft, and of the major carriers only Verizon currently does this. However, Verizond doesn't use SIM cards in its phones.
Cheap Global SIM Card
© kalleboo
Rebelfone is a US company that is one of the fastest growing global mobile service providers. The company specializes in offering cheap world cellular solutions with a world SIM card offering. The product is made possible by alliances with 38 different mobile carriers worldwide, and provides call rates that average 40% less than competing products.
Rebelfone also rents out handsets to clients who don't want to purchase a SIM card. The world SIM cards and handsets that the company offers are a great way for global travelers to stay connected for less. They provide excellent service and all the benefits of local SIM cards on globally compatible GSM handsets. The company also offers country-specific local SIM cards for rent on its website, which can save users up to 85% on local calls.
International SIM Card
© warrenski
Frequent travelers know that they need a cell phone which can be used with an international SIM card to get the lowest rates in most countries. It's also smart to carry another phone that can be used with local SIM cards in particular countries where you may travel most frequently.
In destinations like England, Germany, Netherlands and Israel this can save you the most money. Examples of phones which work well for this purpose include the Samsung Galaxy SII and the Nexus S. A T-Mobile Bold phone will allow for free calls to the US via WiFi when you use Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA). This service is offered through RIM and it's only accessible if you have a Blackberry on the T-Mobile network in the US. Rogers and other non-US carriers also offer UMA.