Cellular Abroad loaned me one of their new "Talk Abroad" phones that they sell/rent in conjunction with National Geographic. I needed a phone that I could use from several countries - Switzerland, Italy, France, and England - and thought this would be a good opportunity to test drive their new phone.
The phone is working well. Cellular Abroad sent me the same package someone would receive if renting the Talk Abroad phone from them. The phone was charged and the SIM card was in the phone. All the European plug adapters were included. I simply turned the phone on and it registered on a US cell network. The phone comes with a United Kingdom phone number (country code 44). I tested it by calling the UK number from my home phone and having one quick phone call.
When we got to Geneva I turned it on and it found the Swiss network. Incoming calls are free, but outgoing calls are $0.90/minute. The phone comes with $30 credit for calls and you can easily add more money by phoning a Cellular Abroad toll free number from the phone. They use the credit card you gave them when you rented or purchased the phone and add extra call time to the phone. I started out with $60 of call time so that I would not have to worry about it during the trip.
The phone is programmed so that you do not dial any long distance code. In the US, the long distance code is 011; in Europe it is 00 - but on the Talk Abroad phone you just dial country code and the number. Most cell phones let you dial the plus sign (+) instead of the long distance code - the phone knows where you are and inserts the correct long distance code. So, dialing is a snap - dial the country code and the number.
So far I have tested the phone in Geneva, in the small mountain village, Leysin, where we are staying, in Aigle (larger town near us) and in Gstaad. Each time I was able to easily make a call. I have also used the phone as a number for people to call me and have received a few calls. Reception is good and the calls are clear.
The phone, a small WP brand phone, holds its charge well and is small enough to carry everywhere, even on a hike.
I will be checking how it works in other Switzerland location, in Italy, in France, and in England.
