Mobal International Cell Phone Review
Pros, Cons of Mobal Cell Phone for International Adventure Travelers
Aug 20, 2009
Adventure travelers have special communications needs while on the road (or the trail or the boat or the donkey path), because they travel in multiple countries, often for weeks or months at a time. The options for international cell phone service are befuddling, ranging from buying SIM cards in every country visited, to arranging for service that works abroad, to purchasing a disposable phone, to renting an international cell phone, to using Skype and the Internet. The Mobal phone, which uses one SIM card to work in countries all over the world,, is one solution that seems especially well-suited for adventure travelers.
Types of Mobal International Cell Phones
Mobal is a British company. It offers three levels of international cell phones:
- The "Budget" model, $49, works in 150 countries, but has no service in the United States.
- The $99 "Classic" is Mobal's most popular model; it can be used in 170-plus countries, but offers only limited service in the U.S., mostly in major cities and populated areas.
- The "Deluxe" model, at $179, offers expanded service in 170-plus countries, as well as better service in the U.S.; it also includes a two megapixel camera.
The company also offers interrnational cell phone rentals, satellite phone remtals, and international SIM cards.
Mobal international cell phones are most useful for travelers who visit multiple countries, who find themselves frequently off the beaten track, and who use mobile phones basically for travel arrangements, emergencies, and quick keep-in-touch calls (grandma’s birthday, "Honey, my plane is late," and "I'm staying in Timbuktu an extra week") rather than long conversations.
Cell Phone Review: Pros of Mobal International Cell Phones
- There is no calling plan and no monthly service charge (a real advantage for adventure travelers on extended journeys).
- Minutes don't expire. After the initial minutes that come with the phone are used, minutes are replenished on a credit card as needed.
- Mobal international phones are a good choice for travelers who will be in Kenya one week, Uganda the next, and may be traveling overland across remote border crossings where there is no opportunity to buy a SIM card or a local phone.
- The Mobal cell phones are also a great choice for the "If it's Tuesday, must be Belgium" crowd. Travelers on a multi-country tour – say a European riverboat, a bus tour that goes through several countries, or a cruise that docks at multiple international ports – don't need to buy a SIM card for each country they visit.
- The Mobal is a good choice for travelers who only expect to use their phones in an emergency or for brief travel confirmation calls. Minutes are expensive, so it can be costly for a stranded traveler stuck on hold while an airline tries to sort out flight delays.
- Mobal cell phones work on all networks in any country they service (except the U.S., where coverage depends on the specific model of phone and the frequencies available). They pick out the strongest signal, so not matter how remote the destination, if the phone works in that country and a cell tower is available, Mobal will get a signal..
- Friendly, efficient customer service is available from U.K.-based operators via a toll-free telephone number.
Cell Phone review: Cons of Mobal International Cell Phones
- Mobal is not a good choice for travelers who are chatty on their cell phones. Minutes are expensive, starting at $1.50, depending on where the call originates and the country being called. They can skyrocket to $5.95 or more a minute. Calls to the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. tend to be on the less expensive end of the spectrum, but regardless of the country, this is not a good option for people who spend hours on their cell phones.
- The $49 model has no U.S. coverage; and the $99 model has limited coverage in the United States. U.S. users are far better off using their own cell phone in the U.S. and reserving the Mobal for international use.
- The phone number assigned to the phone is a British phone number, which means that when Uncle Ted in Idaho is calling his nephew who is volunteering in Turkey, he has to dial a number in the U.K.! Similarly, if a volunteer in Tanzania gives the number out to a Tanzanian co-worker, the co-worker in Tanzania has to make an international call to the U.K. number to reach the volunteer, even if the volunteer is sitting in an archaeological dig across town.
The bottom line: Mobal international cellular phones are a good choice for adventure travelers who need a phone as an emergency tool, who travel to remote areas in many countries, and who want a hassle-free phone with no calling plans or expiring minutes.
Adventure travelers might also be interested in a product review of theft-proof bags for carrying electronic equipment such as cameras and cell phones.
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