We have entered a new age where travel is essential for a business’s survival. Customers are no longer within one specific market; conversely, they are spread out all over the globe. This worldwide community has led to business operations that have truly transgressed across boarders and the conventional 9-to-5. Despite the fact that corporations no longer operate within the confines of one country’s boarders, why is it that cell phones still do? As advances are made in the area of communication, there is still one sector that lags behind the rest…cellular services.
In the past, there typically have been two different options available to business professionals traveling overseas, both of which are extremely pricey. With each solution, entrepreneurs are the ones left footing the bill, paying an average of $1,000 to $3,000 in cell phone charges when traveling. So much for the expression “talk is cheap!”
The first alternative is for travelers to bring their current American cell phones overseas. From a convenience perspective, this method is ideal, but from a cost perspective, it is a nightmare! The roaming fees associated with using an American phone abroad are astronomical since clients are still paying their home country providers for service. Thus, whether making or receiving calls while traveling, it automatically costs more due to roaming outside the home network and higher international rates.
The second option is to rent a cell phone or purchase a prepaid SIM card with a local service in the specific country of destination. Whether this is set up prior to boarding the plane or once abroad, this only solves regional communication problems by capitalizing on local rates when making and receiving calls within that specific country. However, it is still expensive when calling back home to North America, since that is now viewed as an international call. Another issue is the geographical limitations of these services to that specific local country. Once crossing this country’s border, the service will either be completely unavailable or accessible only by paying hefty roaming charges. In addition, when looking at the fine print, the majority of these services come with a whole bag of surprises, such as, expiration of prepaid credit, monthly usage plans with minimums and overrun rates. To top it all off, service is usually only provided in the local language.
The typical Road Warriors who travel to more than one destination are striving to make their lives simpler. Consequently, most just go abroad with their local U.S. cell phones and endure the humongous roaming bills. Those who are thoroughly making the effort to save find themselves traveling with several phones, swapping SIM cards, and never having one permanent cellular number when traveling. Eventually, any savings an individual may have achieved through avoiding roaming has been negated through rental charges, expired credit or high international calling rates. But is there an alternate option?
In Europe, several communication organizations have already begun providing global cellular services, but the large North American providers are slow to follow suit. However, there is a company, having experienced international communication frustrations first-hand, that is offering a true alternative to the North American market. SIMphoneE, from Montreal, Canada, has taken a unique approach to international cellular travel, allowing them to provide clients with one phone and one number for most travel destinations in the world, without the roaming charges. For many destinations, including all of Western Europe, incoming calls are not only free but unlimited while international calls are a mere fraction of the cost compared to roaming with the North American cellular plan. Additional features include voice mail, conference calling and call forwarding. There are no monthly fees, no minimums and therefore no obligations.
In terms of practicality, clients are provided with a European number which is theirs to keep indefinitely and can be used in future travel plans. In order to ensure that all calls are received while abroad, users typically forward their local cell phones and business lines to their global phone numbers. SIMphoneE also develops personalized plans to meet any travel lifestyle needs.
In order to provide clients with exceptional global cellular service, SIMphoneE bases its product on proven technologies that have been widely implemented in Europe and have recently been introduced to North America.
|
