Frequently Asked Questions
What is GSM?
What is 3G?
What is a SIM card?
How do SIM cards work?
What are the call charges?
How do I re-charge the SIM once it has been depleted?
Can I keep my SIM card and use it later?
Can I use different SIM cards in my phone?
What happens if the phone is turned off and someone tries to call?
Will my country specific SIM card work outside of the country of origin?
Will my country specific SIM card work when I am on my cruise?
Are there places the international GSM cellular phone will not work inside the service area?
GSM World Network Information
What is GSM?
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) leads the world as the fastest growing, most reliable and advanced digital technology available in the marketplace today. GSM provides integrated voice mail, high-speed data, fax, paging and short message services capabilities. GSM customers enjoy secure communications, and GSM offers unparalleled call privacy and fraud prevention. As members of the GSM Global Network, GSM subscribers can use their phones at home, across town, across the continent, or around the world (except for with country specific SIM cards). GSM operates on the multiple spectrum frequency bands used around the world - 1900MHZ, which is used in North America and 900MHz and 1800 MHz for other locations. The GSM network provides the best digital wireless voice quality in the world today.
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What is a SIM card?
The SIM (Subscriber Information Module) card - a.k.a. "smart card" - holds all of a subscriber's personal information and phone settings. In essence, it is the subscriber's authorization to use the network. It also holds the phone number, personal security key and other data necessary for the handset to function. The card can be switched from phone to phone, letting the new phone receive all calls to the subscriber's number.
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How do SIM cards work?
The SIM is inside each handset and functions as its digital brain. The authentication and encryption capabilities of the SIM prevent your phone from being stolen and your calls from being eavesdropped on. The SIM's digital memory, which stores information like your rate plan, phone number and service features, also allows you to easily personalize your service and contains user ID and billing information that can be switched between different phones. So, with your SIM card installed, you can make or receive calls personally even when you're using a borrowed phone. Upgrading your phone is as simple as slipping your SIM card into your new phone.
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What are the call charges?
Calls are charged by the minute or fraction thereof, depending on the country. The country specific prepaid SIM card comes with a certain amount of call time. This information is available on the web page(s) pertaining to that particular country. In all cases, incoming calls are always free. If your SIM card happens to work outside of the country of origin as will sometimes be the case, you will be billed for incoming calls.
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How do I re-charge the SIM once it has been depleted?
Please refer to the web page(s) pertaining to that particular country's details regarding recharging your SIM card.
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Can I keep my SIM card and use it later?
Yes, but most countries will terminate the SIM number and unused time if you do not charge the card within a certain time limit. Please refer to the web page(s) pertaining to that particular country for specific details.
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Can I use different SIM cards in my phone?
All of the cellular phones we rent and sell are unlocked, that is, not "locked in" with any specific provider or SIM card. Therefore, as long as the frequencies are compatible, you can use any SIM with your phone. If you have purchased or rented your handset through another source, particularly one of the major carriers, you will most likely not be able to use a different SIM card in your phone.
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What happens if the phone is turned off and someone tries to call?
Most of the country specific prepaid SIM cards have voicemail. Please refer to the web page(s) pertaining to that particular country for further details.
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Will my country specific SIM card work outside of the country of origin?
In most cases, your country specific SIM card will only work within the country of origin.
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Will my country specific SIM card work when I am on my cruise?
Coverage around Europe is limited to coastal areas and among many of the Greek Isles. When in port, service should be satisfactory. Please confirm whether the electrical service on the ship is European 220v or the US 110v for the charger. If coverage while away from port is critical please call us to help you with a solution. You might consider purchasing a transformer and socket adapters for your cellular phone - we carry these as well. We also recommend that you fully charge your cell phone prior to your departure so that you have immediate access upon arrival. Please make sure that you carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions when first charging your phone.
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Are there places the international GSM cellular phone will not work inside the service area?
As with any cellular system, just like in the United States, reception varies as you travel, particularly in rural areas, but service in most European business centers is first-class - usually far superior to cellular service in the US.
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What is 3G?
3GSM is the generic term used for the next generation of mobile communications services. These new systems will provide enhanced services to those available today ie, voice, text and data. The GSM Association's vision of 3GSM is based on today's GSM standard, but evolved to include an additional radio air interface better suited to high speed and multimedia data services. There will be a period in which second generation and third generation systems co-exist. In essence, third generation systems are based on second generation infrastructure and services, but offer a new radio interface, among other features. So your current mobile will continue to operate. It will be up to you whether you wish to access 3GSM services. If you do, you will need to upgrade.
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GSM World Network Information
| Afghanistan(GSM
900/1800) |
Ghana(GSM
900) |
Norway(GSM
900/1800) |
| Albania(GSM
900/1800) |
Gibraltar(GSM
900) |
Oman,
Sultanate of(GSM 900) |
| Algeria(GSM
900/1800) |
Greece(GSM
900/1800) |
Pakistan(GSM
900) |
| American
Samoa(GSM 1900) |
Greenland(GSM
900) |
Palestinian
Authority(GSM 900) |
| Andorra(GSM
900) |
Grenada(GSM
900/1900) |
Panama,
Republic of(GSM 900) |
| Angola(GSM
900) |
Guam
(USA)(GSM 1900) |
Papua
New Guinea(GSM 900) |
| Antigua
& Barbuda(GSM 1900) |
Guernsey(GSM
900) |
Paraguay(GSM
1900) |
| Argentina(GSM
900/1900) |
Guinea(GSM
900) |
Peru(GSM
1900) |
| Armenia
(GSM 900) |
Hong
Kong(GSM 900/1800) |
Philippines(GSM
900/1800) |
| Aruba(GSM
900/1800/1900) |
Hungary(GSM
900/1800) |
Poland(GSM
900/1800) |
| Australia(GSM
900/1800/3G) |
Iceland(GSM
900/1800) |
Portugal(GSM
900/1800/3G) |
| Austria(GSM
900/1800/3G) |
India(GSM
900/1800) |
Qatar(GSM
900) |
| Azerbaijan(GSM 900) |
Indonesia(GSM
900/1800) |
Reunion
(La)(GSM 900/1800) |
| Bahrain(GSM
900) |
Iran(GSM
900) |
Romania(GSM
900/1800) |
| Bangladesh(GSM
900) |
Ireland(GSM
900/1800) |
Russia(GSM
900/1800) |
| Belarus
(GSM 900) |
Isle
of Man(GSM 900/1800) |
Rwanda(GSM 900) |
| Belgium(GSM
900/1800) |
Israel(GSM
900/1800/3G) |
Sao
Tome and Principe(GSM 900) |
| Belize(GSM
1900) |
Italy(GSM
900/1800/3G) |
Satellite(GSM
Satellite) |
| Benin(GSM
900) |
Jamaica(GSM
900) |
Saudi
Arabia(GSM 900) |
| Bermuda(GSM
1900) |
Japan(GSM
3G) |
Senegal(GSM
900) |
| Bolivia(GSM
1900) |
Jersey(GSM
900) |
Seychelles(GSM
900) |
| Bosnia
Herzegovina(GSM 900) |
Jordan(GSM
900) |
Sierra
Leone(GSM 900) |
| Botswana(GSM
900) |
Kazakhstan(GSM
900) |
Singapore(GSM
900/1800) |
| Brazil(GSM
1800) |
Kenya(GSM
900) |
Slovak
Republic(GSM 900/1800) |
| Brunei
Darussalam(GSM 900) |
Kuwait(GSM
900/1800) |
Slovenia(GSM
900/1800) |
| Bulgaria(GSM
900/1800) |
Kyrgyz
Republic(GSM 900) |
Somalia(GSM
900/1800) |
| Burkina
Faso(GSM 900) |
Lao(GSM
900) |
South
Africa(GSM 900/1800) |
| Burundi(GSM
900) |
Latvia(GSM
900/1800) |
South
Korea(GSM 3G) |
| Cambodia,
(GSM 900) |
Lebanon(GSM
900/1800) |
Spain
(GSM 900/1800) |
| Cameroon(GSM
900) |
Lesoth(GSM
900) |
Sri
Lanka(GSM 900) |
| Canada(GSM
1900) |
Liberia |
Sudan(GSM
900) |
| Cape
Verde(GSM 900) |
Libya(GSM
900) |
Suriname(GSM
900) |
| Central
African Republic(GSM 900) |
Liechtenstein(GSM
900/1800) |
Swaziland(GSM
900) |
| Chad(GSM
900) |
Lithuania(GSM
900/1800) |
Sweden(GSM
900/1800/3G) |
| Chile(GSM
1900) |
Luxembourg(GSM
900/1800) |
Switzerland(GSM
900/1800) |
| China
(GSM 900) |
Macau(GSM
900/1800) |
Syria(GSM
900/1800) |
| Congo(GSM
900) |
Macedonia(GSM
900) |
Taiwan(GSM
900/1800) |
| Congo
(GSM 900/1800) |
Madagascar(GSM
900/1800) |
Tajikistan(GSM
900/1800) |
| Costa
Rica(GSM 1800/3G) |
Malawi(GSM
900) |
Tanzania(GSM
900/1800/400) |
| Cote
d'Ivoire(GSM 900) |
Malaysia(GSM
900/1800) |
Thailand(GSM
900/1800/1900/3G) |
| Croatia(GSM
900) |
Maldives(GSM
900/1800) |
Togo(GSM
900) |
| Cuba(GSM
900) |
Mali(GSM
900) |
Tonga(GSM
900) |
| Cyprus(GSM
900) |
Malta(GSM
900/1800) |
Trinidad
and Tobago(GSM 1800) |
| Czech
Republic(GSM 900/1800) |
Mauritania(GSM
900) |
Tunisia(GSM
900) |
| Denmark(GSM
900/1800) |
Mauritius(GSM
900) |
Turkey(GSM
900/1800) |
| Dominican
Republic(GSM 1900) |
Mexico(GSM
1900) |
Turkmenistan(GSM
900) |
| Egypt(GSM
900) |
Micronesia(GSM 900) |
Uganda(GSM
900/1800) |
| El
Salvador(GSM 900/1900) |
Moldova,
Republic(GSM 900)f |
Ukraine(GSM
900/1800) |
| Equatorial
Guinea(GSM 900/1800) |
Monaco(GSM
900) |
United
Arab Emirates(GSM 900) |
| Estonia(GSM
900/1800) |
Mongolia(GSM
900/1800) |
United
Kingdom(GSM 900/1800/3G) |
| Ethiopia(GSM
900) |
Morocco(GSM
900) |
USA(GSM
1900) |
| Faroe
Islands(GSM 900) |
Mozambique(GSM
900/1800) |
Uzbekistan(GSM
900/1800) |
| Fiji(GSM
900) |
Myanmar(GSM
900) |
Vanuatu(GSM
900) |
| Finland(GSM
900/1800) |
Namibia(GSM
900/1800) |
Venezuela(GSM
900/1800) |
| France(GSM
900/1800) |
Nepal(GSM
900) |
Vietnam(GSM
900) |
| French
Polynesia(GSM 900) |
Netherlands(GSM
900/1800) |
Virgin
Islands (USA)(GSM 900/1800) |
| French
West Indies(GSM 900/1800) |
Netherlands
Antilles(GSM 900/1900) |
Yemen(GSM
900) |
| Gabon,
Republic of(GSM 900) |
New
Caledonia(GSM 900) |
Yugoslavia(GSM
900/1800) |
| Gambia(GSM
900) |
New
Zealand(GSM 900) |
Zambia(GSM
900) |
| Georgia(GSM
900/1800) |
Niger(GSM
900) |
Zimbabwe(GSM
900) |
| Germany(GSM
900/1800/3G) |
Nigeria(GSM
900/1800) |
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