A local sim card or a travel sim card – what’s the difference, and which one’s better?

The purchase of a local sim card is ideal for those who visit a particular country on a regular basis, as they are often cheaper than using a travel sim card, or the phones original sim card. For example, a local French sim card can be purchased in France, and costs around 27 Euros. For this amount, you’ll receive the sim, which has a local French number assigned to it, as well as a cheap rate for international calling, starting at just 0.08 Euros per minute.

The local sim card, or in this case the French sim card, can be purchased at the above price from www.internationalsim.eu, where local sim cards for many other countries can be purchased, too.

Generally, a local sim card has the following rates attached to it: free inbound calls (both landline and mobile); 0.16 Euros for incoming calls (both landline and mobile); 0.10 Euros to send a local text; 0.15 Euros to send an international text; and a small connection fee of around 0.10 Euros.

All local travel sim cards must be activated before they can be used, with top-ups easy to come by, available in most shops and outlets. If you’re interested in buying a local sim card, you’ll need to get your phones network unlocked, providing it hasn’t already been, in order for the sim to be compatible with your phone.

Investing in a local travel sim, such as the french sim card, is a great way to save money on expensive roaming charges. Buy a local sim to ensure that no matter where in the word you are, you can speak to the people you love for a similar price than that you’d pay when using your mobile at home. There’s nothing worse than being away and feeling as though you can’t and shouldn’t use your phone. Buy a local sim card today and the calls will be so cheap you’ll be able to make as many as you like.

Here are just a few of the local sim cards that you can buy online today. Make sure you buy them before you go abroad.

    China Mobile Hello Sim Card

Incl 60 CNY call credit / Chinese number

   French Otrel Sim Card

French number / free calling with ortel family

    India Sim Card

Indian number

   Passport Sim Card

Are you a frequent international traveller or do you visit more countries, then the Passport-service is for you.

Works in over 160 countries / international calls starting at EUR 0.34 /min

  USA AT&T Sim Card

US Number / international calls starting at $0.19

Are you tired of running out of credit on your mobile and constantly having to go out to top it up? Or are you going abroad and worrying about running out of credit? If so, mobile top up has just got easier, thanks to the new Ezetop service that’s recently been introduced.

This mobile top up service is powered by Ezetop, which is a well known name in the world of international mobile top up. Ezetop allows people to top up their own mobile or someone else’s, in various different stores or online. Whether it be for a friend or family member, Ezetop makes the process simple.

The service is compatible with more than 160 different mobile phone providers, so you don’t need to worry about what network the mobile is on. The mobile top up can be activated in 60 different countries around the world, no matter what network you’re on, so where ever you are, you can make use of the most convenient mobile top up service- Ezetop.

The process of topping up a mobile phone online is as easy as can be. All you need to do is go online and select the country where the mobile phone credit is being sent to, and then select the network of the mobile phone, too. The last step of the process is to enter the mobile phone number, so the network and country can be verified, and then complete the process by choosing how much you’d like the mobile top up to be for. The mobile phone credit will be on the phone immediately, so there’s no waiting around.

Don’t have the internet? Don’t worry. The Ezetop service is also available in various different retail stores, so you can still make use of convenient mobile top up. It really couldn’t be any easier to top up your phone, whether home or abroad.

Try the prepaid online recharge service today and top up a friend’s or families’ mobile phone with credit.

A prepaid travel card makes it safer to take money abroad, and safer to spend it whilst you’re out there, too. With many not charging fees for using them, as well as drawing out money, they’re ideal to say the least. However, with many different ones available, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. Here’s a low down on a selection of them:

My travel cash- this prepaid travel card won’t charge you to withdraw money from a cash machine, nor will it charge when you pay for items using it. If that’s not enough, it also gives 1% cashback on everything you spend; a win-win situation! 5/5

Caxton- this prepaid travel card is extremely easy to use. Simply pay £10 to open the card, and this will then be automatically loaded onto it, in the correct currency. There are no fees for paying on the card, or from taking money out at a cash point. This is a really easy and cheap way to safely carry money abroad. 4/5

1^st contact – this travel money card has a 0% commission rate and doesn’t charge an activation fee for opening the card. However, it does charge an atm fee of around £1.50. Although it’s not the most expensive travel card you could apply for, it’s still not as cheap as others on the market, like the my travel cash card. 3/5

FairFX- this travel money card is good for using whilst abroad, on holiday, on business, or if you simply want to purchase items over the internet. It’s accepted in all shops and restaurants displaying the Mastercard symbol, as well as Mastercard cash machines. However, users will incur fees for using this card, of around two dollars or 1.5 Euros, and around £1.50 for withdrawing money from a cash machine. 2/5

More prepaid travel cards can be found at Visa Guru.

A new Canada visa has recently been launched, making travel to the country easier than it has ever been before.

The 10-year multiple entry visa has become a necessity after more and more tourists are visiting Canada year on year. The expectation travellers have is also on the increase, creating a need for the country to be welcoming to its visitors and understanding of the complications associated with booking a trip away from home.

Previously, a Canadian visa was valid for five years, but as a result of many countries issuing passports that are valid for ten years, the country has decided to mirror this with the length of their visa.

With a ten-year multi-entry visa, visitors to the country are able to enter as many times as they like, for the duration of their Canada visa. This visa is needed for travellers who are visiting several different countries, often returning to particular destinations more than once on their trip. If you only plan on visiting Canada once, for a specific amount of time, then a single trip visa would be more suited to you, as with a multi-entry visa you’d be paying double for extended entry that you don’t need.

The Canada visa requirements state that only low-risk traveller’s should be issued one, as well as those who already live in countries that require visitors to apply for a visa. The authorities also state that those applying for a Canada visa should a valid passport; passport photos for all travellers who require a visa; proof of how much money they have, which is dependant upon what they plan to do in Canada; and they may also need a letter from a close family friend or family member currently living in Canada, which acts almost in the same way as a reference for a job. However, this is not a document needed by all travellers.

Find out the visa hassle factor for Canada.

By Unknown

If going on a holiday or on a business trip in another country, it is important to get a new travel SIM. It is one of the best ways to save money whilst making calls and staying in touch with family and friends back home.

There are several ways to transfer contact data from an old SIM card to a new SIM card for the purpose of travel.

One method is to save all your contact numbers to the SIM Cards Memory, then transfer your SIM card to the new phone. Copy the SIM cards contact numbers to the new phone memory. This method would apply if both phones are using a SIM card and support this feature.

Another method is to transfer all your contacts from your old phone to your new phone via bluetooth. You will need to connect both phones using a bluetooth connection. With this method, you should be able to transfer your contact details quickly and easily. Please note that different phones store contacts in different ways and the contacts might not display on your new phone the way they did on the old one. Of course both phones need to support this function as well.

Infrared connection can also be used to transfer contact data to a travel SIM. It works the same way the bluetooth connection works. This is a much older technology and won't be found on most new mobiles. Although it works in the same way as Bluetooth it is typically much slower. This is usually used as a last resort however you should not need to use this method.

Another great method is to download all your contact numbers from your phone to your computer using a standard USB cable. You can then transfer the copied data to your new phone from your computer using your cable connection. This is quick and also ensures that you have a backup of your contacts for the future. This can be achieved using the software supplied with your phone or by downloading a third party application.

Certain network providers allow some space to save contact numbers and later retrieve them using menu services in the SIM. This is also worth checking out.

This method is quite expensive but would work if you can afford it, you can send your contact numbers via sms from your old phone to the new travel SIM card.

As you can see there are many methods to choose from. The easiest option is probably to transfer your contacts from your computer. This is because you only need one mobile for this and allows you to backup your contacts. It is also extremely quick.

When going on holiday you won't need all your contacts with you. This means you should only take the contacts you need and will use. Most travelers take contact details for their families, close friends and work. This will ensure you have all the contact details you might need in an emergency and should make the process of transferring contacts details much quicker.

Mark Mayne – Owner of AmericanSimCards, the USA SIM cards specialists

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Daniel_Mayne
http://EzineArticles.com/?Best-Ways-To-Transfer-Contact-Data-to-Travel-SIM&id=5378817

If you are considering renting a car on your next holiday, you best read Visa Guru’s top 10 car hire tips:

1. The early bird gets the worm, and in this case gets the best car hire deal – make sure to book the car you’re planning on hiring in advance.
2. Size makes a big difference in the price you will pay for the car hire, so be sure to only book as big a car as you need. So you really need that 4×4 vehicle?
3. Make sure you collect and drop off the vehicle at the same time on both days, as the fees are normally charged per 24 hours.
4. Keep the hire car reservation confirmation with you, just in case of any disputes.
5. Make use of the internet to find the cheapest car rental price, as there are plenty of deals out there to be had on the net.
6. To be charged a fair price, book early, as the best deals are always available early on.
7. Try not to collect the vehicle from the airport, as in most cases this carries an extra charge.
8. You may save a fortune if you pay for a membership with the rental company.
9. If you’re travelling with little ones, make sure you bring your own car seats and/or booster seats, as a surcharge will be added if you require these items.
10. Don’t buy car insurance unless it offers a cover your own insurance doesn’t. Often people opt for an insurance that’s very similar to what’s offered on their own policy, and therefore duplicated in many areas.

I hope my car rentall tips will make a difference to you on your next holiday.

Search discount car rental with Visa Guru. Visa Guru has one of the largest selection of car rental options from over 550 leading and independent car rental suppliers in 175 countries in 25,000 city and airport locations.

By Leane Smith

Nowadays, many travelers prefer to get international SIM cards for their journey. It is considered important as it can help them to cut down on their roaming expenses. When you travel to another country and use your own SIM then the roaming charges are very high and you may end up paying a lot. So instead of using your own GSM SIM card you can rent global SIMs which can cut down your roaming expenses by almost 85%.

There are many companies that offer international SIM cards on rent. With this service, you can get your international number before your journey begins and can use it during your trip. When you use an international SIM then you would be able to eliminate all incoming call charges which are otherwise applicable in the case of international roaming. Companies which offers the rental SIMs, can provide you with different kinds of cards and you can pick the one that is suitable for your journey.

Most of the rental companies can provide you with country specific GSM SIM card that may work in one particular country only. So if you are traveling to one main country then you can rent that card and use it for being in touch with your colleagues. However, if you are traveling to the different European countries then you can opt for One Europe card. This SIM can work in most of the European countries and you won't have to change your international number during your trip. You are not charged for roaming or for incoming calls and can thus make use of the cheap call rates.

In case someone is traveling to different countries in the world then he may require a global SIM that is functional in most of the countries. Opting for such international SIMs can also help you to cut down on the telephone expenses and still be in touch.

In order to use the GSM SIM you need to own an unlocked mobile phone. A locked phone can not work with other networks and therefore you may not be able to use it with the global SIM. To deal with this you can look for cell phone rental plans which can help you to get global phones easily. These phones are available with the companies that provide with SIM card rental plans and you can contact them to get it easily.

Leane Smith is an expert author who has written articles on cellular phone service,international cell phones, travel sim card, overseas cell phone rentals. Leane is offering information on importance ofGSM sim cardswhile you are away from your home.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leane_Smith
http://EzineArticles.com/?Importance-of-International-SIM-Card-When-You-Are-Away-From-Home&id=5894820

The WorldSIM card, with the strapline ‘go global be local’, is exactly what it says it is – a sim card that can be used all over the world. As the strapline also suggests, you can go wherever you like in the world, yet pay local call charges, consequently avoiding the high roaming charges of taking your own phone and sim card abroad.

The WorldSIM card is a prepaid travel sim, which allows users to accept incoming calls for free in over 200 countries. Although there is a charge for making outbound calls, this is only around 25p. Another perk of the WorldSIM card is that several different mobile numbers can be attached to it. Currently the sim card accepts both UK and US numbers, and more countries will be added to it over the coming months. The WorldSIM card is compatible with all types of phones, so everyone can avoid extortionate roaming charges and enjoy being able to us their mobile whilst abroad, no matter whether you have the oldest or the newest make and model of mobile.

At just £39.99, the sim card soon pays for itself, once you’ve spoken for half hour or so using it. Ideal for those who travel abroad a lot, work away, or live abroad, travellers really can’t afford to be without the WorldSIM card. Additionally, with the sim storing calls once they’ve been recorded, it’s perfect for recording meetings or conference calling. Any amount of people can be added to the call, with a flat rate of 1.5 times the amount of a normal call charged, meaning you’re not penalised for having a conversation with multiple people at the same time.

Worried about running out of money on your phone? If so, don’t. You can set up an automatic top up of the sim, each time it falls between a specific amount, and with calls this cheap, you’ll really get your moneys worth when using the WorldSIM card.

Visa Guru has 20 WorldSIM Cards to give away to 20 lucky readers of the Visa Guru blog.

All you need to do is answer 1 simple question……

To stand the chance of winning 1 of 20 WorldSIM Card starter packs please answer the following question: (one entry per person per IP address)

Question:  Which award did WorldSIM recently win for Innovation & Best Traveller Services Company?

Possible Answers: Bronze, Silver or Gold

Tip: We have the answer on the Visa Guru Facebook page.

Buy a WorldSIM card

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Competition closes 31 October 2011. Spam entrants will be removed from the draw. Entrants will need to verify their email addresses.

 

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