we are traveling out of the usa on a regular basis and want to get a cell phone that will work wherever we go. I have been advised to get an unlocked quad band and then buy a sim card as we need. Any help in this matter is really appreciated. Do not want to rent as we are going to be gone often and for 2-3 wekks at a time.

I travel frequently and I don't know where I am going until the last minute. My cell is in fact a quad band. I have the cheapest plan through my provider. I use it onlhy for urgent business. Yes the calls are very dear when I am abroad but I almost never use it (it is for back up. I use email, my calling card or use my phone on business and it is expensed. I don't worry about anything going wrong. This number is not circulated except to family and mhy secretary. This works for me and is much easier than buying SIM cards ect.

Try bidding on e-bay. There a lots for sale.

Yes, e-bay is fine. Also, though, most US providers (in my case, Cingular/ATT) offer a "global roaming" plan (usually $5 a month or so on top of base fees) that cuts the cost of phoning to/from overseas by around 50% compared to normal global roaming rates. The good thing about it is that you keep your normal SIM card so your phone number travels with you.

Otherwise, if you're jumping from country to country, you end up with a bunch of partially-used SIM cards from various providers that you can only use in their country, and they expire before you can drain them. You may save some money on the airtime, but IMO you lose it in terms of unused airtime capacity and pay a price of not knowing what your number is and having to call people to tell them how to call you. With the global roaming alternative they can just phone your normal number. To keep costs down, of course, don't use the phone too much in the first place.

I agree with the Cingular roaming option. My life's been SO much easier since I bought my quad-band Cingular 8125 phone/pocket PC/camera/video. Never leave home without it anymore - and no worrying about getting a new SIM card for each new location.

i already am locked into verizon and they dont work outside the usa. i am trying to find a phone that i would only use for travel and do not want to incur another monthy charge and year long contract. Has anyone had experience with Mobile World Phone. They claim that you buy a phone from $40-100 and then you only pay air time to them and keep the same number. Unlike sim cards where your number keeps changing, you have one phone number and the phone does not expire if not used it in a few months. I am trying to find out if there is a catch to this provider.

There is no catch. The difference between the two phones is the 'reach'.. we bought the $49 and have used in Netherlands and France thus far. The calls work fine and the company charges your credit card for the minutes.(rates are rather high). It is a UK-based phone number. Bought one for family member for our joint trip this fall.

Missy...

There are several errors in your post.

I do not think you mean Mobile World, which is an excellent UK sim package for those who make calls to the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand...you mean mobal and that has been explained. Mobal uses O2 UK as its roaming partner so you will receive calls for free while in the UK...the number is a UK number...once you leave the UK you pay a very high rate for making and receiving calls...if you're just going to make a couple of calls it's very good. It is a gsm carrier and you do get a sim card and your phone may or not be locked.