wanderlust86

Good question, I should have specified.

I could text US numbers for free and had data so could text Indian numbers through whatsapp/viber for free. I could make calls to US numbers for free over WiFi and Indian numbers for 20 cents a min. Data was free.

I was initially going to get a SIM card as well, but when I called T-Mobile and they gave me the above info, I opted not too. I've heard it's a hassle to get a SIM but if you are using an agency they can do it on your behalf. Hope that helps

lcuy

T-Mobile's plan includes free texting and internet in most countries. Phone calls that you make locally or to most countries are 20 cents per minute. When people call or text you from your home country, there is no charge to them.

If I think someone in that country will need to contact me, I tell them to email.

It's very nice, especially if you'll be covering several places that would need different SIM cards.

crosscheck

No matter what service you have, Whatsapp (which works on wifi) has taken over the world, especially Asia, Europe and Latin America. If you rely on texting, the way you'll probably communicate with your guides, there is really no need for a local SIM. Whatsapp is free the first year, and $1 after that. Viber and Facetime, also free if you're in a wifi area, remain popular for voice calls (this allows you to keep your US number - if you don't have an intl data plan, just turn off your roaming).

India has the most users of Whatsapp in the world - 70 million a year. <In India...people are picking the best software — the ad-free, easy to use, well-designed WhatsApp.>

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/t...w/45018845.cms

http://www.wired.com/2014/02/whatsapp-rules-rest-world/

thursdaysd

@julies - do you have a contract with T-Mobile? I think that what is being described is a month-to-month non-contract deal, which is what I have. If you have a contract you would need to check the details of that.

julies

Kathy--We had been on the pre-paid T Mobile plan but recently have joined on to our son's family plan because it ended up being a cheaper deal for all of us. I guess we'll have to check all the details out.

I am also a bit leery of relying on texting since I know that there are many non-native speakers of English who can do fine (or mostly fine) in verbal communication but do not know written English. This is something else to think about when debating this whole phone issue and planning to rely on texting for drivers. I say this as one whose professional area of expertise is non-native speakers of English and communication.