Cell phone use during travel

I need to be in contact with work while I am on my trip. What is the best way to have this if I will be in the Ukraine and Russia?

Best thing to do is to buy a pre-paid cell phone when you arrive there. Unless of course you have AT&T as a provider for your cell phone(I have heard they work in europe). As for Verizon, been there done that and no service anywhere because they dont have any towers out there. You also can buy some calling cards prior to going there and use your hotel phone to make calls. I used to use calling cards when I was in the Marine Corps to call back home from all over the world they will save you alot of money.

magic jack

AT&T works, but is expensive, even after you upgrade your options to do discounted Int'l roaming and text. In Ukraine, I had better luck finding wifi and using Skype, honestly.

In Ukraine you can any moment buy a mobile number of local (ukraine) provider...don't need any contracts or passport to buy...it's not expencive near 50 grivnas (the start package).
If you called your girl from US to Ukraine you know the price of the speaking and sms.
You will tell your new number and they will find you if needed...you will not use roaming

If the seller is good, he will advises what package contains cheaper trunk calls
Because in different packages there can be different services

Avoiding a Large Phone Bill When Traveling:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/travel/01prac.html

I recently heard that Google talk, when registered in the US, will work worldwide. BUT it must be registered in the US with US accounts.. Google denies this claim, however, friends tell me different. It seems that they can access their Google talk account from anywhere and dial locally in the US.

The second choice that seems to work well is "Magic jack" a small USB device that when first activated in the US ($40 USD for device and first years subscription) will work anywhere it can access an internet connection. I can personally verify this from friends in Switzerland and the mid east who have these devices and uses them daily. You will need to take along the Magic Jack and a small cheap corded handset.

and of course Skype.. which allows free conferencing worldwide with other Skype users or you can pay a small premium for access to standard phones.

My VERY BIG WARNING!!! US users of Verizon or similar with smart phones.. be sure to disable your ""APPS" on the phone BEFORE leaving the US. Otherwise your phone will continue to "INTERNATIONAL ROAM" your web updates and accounts when in Europe and you will return home with a $1000.00 phone bill!!

I have been using G Voice for several years (previously G Grandcentral). There are 2 ways of using it. First way is to initiate a call using your PC and the PC dials your cellphone and then connects you to the called number. I don't think that way would work in FSU.

2nd way requires an Android smart phone which you simply connect to your Google account which has a Google Voice line active. You then have the option of making all your cellphone calls thru G Voice. You can even get free texting this way. I see no reason that wouldn't work anywhere. But you would need an Android smart phone with a data plan active and the Google Voice app installed. But I just got my Android phone 2 weeks ago, so I have never tried it.

Are there any Ukraine or Russian mobile providers,that have unlimited international sms,for a set amount a month? In the U.S. t-mobile has unlimited international sms for $5 usd a month,if you already have the unlimited sms plan,but it is only available on the contract service,not there pay as you go plans.

Here's the rundown guys,

Verizon is CDMA technology and is used only in USA, parts of China and all of Korea.
T-Mobile and AT&T uses GMS technology.
All of Europe supports GMS only.

T-Mobile phone's does not support 3G in Europe.
Only AT&T supports 3G in Europe.
So, with T-Mobile phones, you'll only connect with EDGE Data connection.

The best option [if you have a smart phone] is to make sure it's an iPhone.

My set-up:
Jail-broken iPhone [AT&T) and use T-Mobile service State-side.
When I land in Moscow or Kiev, I buy a prepaid SIM card at one of those Kiosks.
They'll even install SIM card and test the phone connection before you leave.
You'll get a local# and texting int'l at a very reasonable price.
I think I paid something like $10 [includes Data service] and lasted me for a week.

If you're real savy and want to make free phone calls and texting back to the States,
Here's another thing I do to call or text to State-side for free.
I call using wi-fi or through Data (3G or EDGE Data will both work).

SET-UP
#1) You must have an iPhone 3GS that is jail-broken.
#2) You must have a Gmail email account
#3) Then, set up a Google Voice account (this is a free telephone service with a real tel #)
#4) Download "GV Connect" app ($5.00)
#4) Then, download "Textfree" app from iTunes store (this is free too and another tel#)

HOW TO RECEIVE CALLS and Text while overseas via Wi-Fi or Data service
#1) You forward your Google Voice tel# to your"TextFree" tel#.
#2) So, when someone calls your Google Tel#, it will forward to your "TextFree" Tel# and you'll answer the call.

HOW TO MAKE CALLS BACK TO STATESide
#1) Open your GV Connect app.
#2) Dial the tel# you wish to dial
#3) Your "TextFree" tel will ring
#4) Once you answer your TextFree phone call, Goggle will then connect the call back to Stateside.

This all sounds quite complicated but once you download the apps, it's pretty straight forward.

I've been doing this for the last two years.

One last thing,

If you really have someone special, buy a used iPhone on eBay and have it jail-broken.
Then, give it to your girlfriend.
Then you guys can communicate for almost nothing.

Since TextFree is a Wifi service, it doesn't care where the phone is physically at.

If this still sounds all too complicated,
drop me a line and I'll help you.
Why am I doing this?
I just hate paying for something I can't touch.
email: vjgli@hotmail.com

Virtually, all of their services are prepaid.
Megafon or Beeline in RU seems to be the most popular, the Data is $10 for unlimited for one month.
I've used both and they are both 6 or 1/2 dozen.

Yup, that no joke.
Hey jscottv,
My buddy was in Vietnam for a week and AT&T charged him $342 for Int'l roaming charges.
He never used the phone for any outgoing calls. And when someone called him, he never answered either.
But as you stated, he got Charged!
Good advice dude.