National Geographic's Talk Abroad global phone

This phone looks so boring, we can't actually look straight at it -- we kinda have to aim our eyes just right or left of it and take it in with our peripheral vision. Then again, gearheads don't appear to be the target demo sought out by Cellular Abroad with its new National Geographic-branded Talk Abroad candybar; the upshot here is keeping global roaming relatively cheap and simple (as in, prepaid simple) on an equally simple, no-frills handset. For your hard-earned $199, you get the phone (a quadband GSM piece -- we'd expect no less when they're playing up the global angle here), a set of plug adapters for whatever countries the average National Geographic reader might visit, a UK-based phone number, and thirty minutes of outgoing talk time. Best of all, incoming calls are allegedly free of charge in 65 countries, though the countries aren't spelled out. Look for the Talk Abroad handset to ship next month; if you've got it in your heart to accept an exceptionally uninteresting cellphone, that is.

[Via Mobilewhack]

[Jim @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:38AM]

A bit pricey.
The phone's at www.joltwireless.com are significantly cheaper - ~$50 compared to ~$200.

[Electromodo @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:55AM]

When I go abroad, I take my unlocked 3-band or quad-band phone with me, buy local prepaid sim card and off we go! In England, for example, it was O2 card for 20 pounds. I did that in most of Europe, incoming calls are free and expenses are low.

So there is a much cheaper alternative to this - just own a three- or quad-band phone, unlock it and get cheap local sim card. If you really want your domestic number to work, just set call forwarding. Unlocking is free with some providers in USA (i.e. T-Mobile) if you have a plann for more than a year. If its not free, you can unlock it for $20 or so. I used Ericsson phones and Cingular 2125. RAZR will work too.

I really doubt you need this National Geographics service at all.

[Tomas @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:19PM]

The one thing that's nice about this are the free incoming calls in 65 countries (if that's really the case). Most of the country-specific prepaid SIMs charge you for receiving calls everywhere outside of that country's border.

[Jeff D @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:19PM]

Does it work in Japan?

[KC @ Feb 22nd 2007 12:48PM]

It will next month when EMOBILE launches in Japan - Japan's first ever GSM network!

[LJKelley @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:02PM]

An ugly phone, but a Good Deal if it does indeed come with free incoming calls in 65 countries. Most networks charge quite alot for incoming calls when roaming.

I wonder if your number expired after a certain time without refilling?

http://www.startblue.net

[klew @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:52PM]

Go to the phone's website in the article and you'll find a link to the list of countries (http://www.cellularabroad.com/cellAbroadppsc.php#zone1). Then more reading tells you you're really buying an unlocked quad-band phone and an international SIM card that expires 9 months after last use. I suppose the ideal customer is someone who doesn't have a mobile phone (or a quad-band) or doesn't want a contract.

[kombizz @ Feb 23rd 2007 4:45AM]

It is a very useful when you go abroad. But I think compare to other similar phones, a bit pricey.

[Rob @ Feb 26th 2007 12:27PM]

Who cares what it looks like, you can use it while looking at jesus atop an African cell tower and thats what counts!

[kaitlin @ May 20th 2008 5:16PM]

what sites can you purchase this phone on?

[Eleanor @ May 27th 2008 3:50PM]

There's a cheaper way to go. Buy a tri-band, unlocked GSM phone that looks like an English telephone booth - all for $79.
www.cdwireless.net

[Jeremy P @ Jun 9th 2008 6:20PM]

When traveling abroad I prefer to rent a cell phone, I don't have to worry about bands, plug adapters, what service is cheaper or has the better coverage, etc, etc. Last time I rented a French cell phone from www.phonerentalusa.com, they sent a Samsung X507, which was a nice cell at that time.

[Jeremy P @ Jun 9th 2008 6:22PM]

sorry, url is http://www.phonerentalusa.com