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Product Description

From Albania to Zanzibar, the Mobal GSM World SIM Card provides cellular connectivity that works with 320 GSM networks in over 170 countries, enabling you to keep the same phone number every time you travel. This SIM enables you to dial direct (rather than punch in a complex series of connection and password numbers), and it automatically chooses the strongest cell phone signal of all the GSM carriers in the area. The Mobal GSM World SIM Card debits call charges from your credit card and provides online statements, detailing the charges with an itemized list of the calls you've made. There are no monthly or annual fees, and you only pay for the calls that you make or receive on your phone--if you don't use the service, you won't have any charges. For country availability and call rates for that country, check this Mobal rate and coverage page.

If traveling in Australia, your Mobal GSM World SIM Card will be charged $1.25 a minute for calls made to and from your phone from within the country, with higher rates when making international calls. For country availability and call rates for that country, check this Mobal rate and coverage page.

All current GSM cell phones should be compatible with the Mobal GSM World SIM card. However, you should check with the supplier of your cell phone that there are no SIM card restriction locks in place. Also, you must check that your GSM cell phone is of the correct frequency for each of the countries that you intend to visit. Most of the world's GSM networks operate at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. However, in order to use the networks in the U.S. and Canada, you will need a cell phone that is also capable of operating at the 1900 MHz frequency.

Billing Details

• Call charges are quoted in US Dollars per minute, all inclusive.
• Absolutely no additional roaming charges or hidden extras
• National Calls are calls made to the same country that you are calling from, including cell phones and "toll free" numbers.
• Calls made to other Mobal GSM cell phones are charged as "Calls to the UK."
• "Calls to other countries" includes calls to all other international destinations, except for calls to Iridium, Inmarsat, Globalstar or Thuraya sat phones.
• SMS text messages are $0.80 per message; incoming text messages are free of charge.
• Call charges are debited from your credit card as and when we receive the call data from the networks.
• Statements are available online, detailing the charges that we have taken, including fully itemized lists of the calls that you have made.

Your New Phone Number
Your Mobal GSM World SIM card is registered in the UK. It always has a UK phone number, irrespective of the countries that you travel to. The UK?s country code is 44, therefore it is essential to include this country code when giving your new number to friends and colleagues outside of the UK. Of course, if they are calling you from the UK, the 44 will not be necessary; they can simply call the number in its local format. Because your number is always the same, callers do not even need to know which country you are in when they call you. Callers will be charged by their phone provider at their UK mobile rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GSM?
The GSM network (Global System for Mobile communications; originally from Groupe Sp¨¦cial Mobile) is the most widespread mobile network in the world, used by over 2 billion people across more than 212 countries and territories. GSM differs significantly from its predecessors in that both signaling and speech channels are digital call quality, and so is considered a second generation (2G) mobile phone system. In order to use the GSM network, you must have an unlocked GSM handset (which is compatible with the local cellular frequency where you will be using it) and a SIM card.

What is an international GSM SIM card?
GSM phones require a small electronic chip, called a SIM card, to be inserted into a slot in the phone. This international SIM card is the "heart" of your cell phone--it contains your cell phone number, your phone book, and all of your registration information. The Mobal international SIM card provides you with access to over 320 GSM networks in over 170 countries.

Is my phone SIM locked/unlocked?
A GSM cell phone that is "locked" means that it only operates with the SIM card that it is supplied with (Mobal World Phones are SIM locked to the Mobal international GSM SIM card). GSM phones that are '"unlocked" work using any SIM card (if you already own an unlocked GSM cell phone you will be able to use the Mobal international GSM SIM card). You may also see the same term described as SIM latched/unlatched.

This is a unique SIM card service that the travel experts love! You get global coverage on 1 phone number. It’s easy to use because it uses standard direct dialing like your home phone (unlike the complicated call back system above). And your service is continually active whenever you need it so you’ll never get cut off. And most importantly, you get the best call quality — it automatically chooses the strongest cell phone signal of all the carriers in the area. It’s the equivalent of your US cell phone being able to choose between Cingular/AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Nextel and Sprint for the strongest signal every time you make a call, so the quality is always the best. And quality is obviously the most important feature of a cell phone service!

Customer Reviews:

• WAY TOO EXPENSIVE
  they just gave me a +44 (UK) country code phone # without asking when I was staying primarily in Italy. Way too overpriced for what it is. ...more info
• Global SIM
  The purchasing was easy. Getting the SIM card working is a whole different matter. The watchword is patience! The SIM card seems to need more than 24 hours to activate after following procedures. Other than that its doing very well! I would recommend it highly except for the cost which does not compare favorably with SIM cards purchased locally in other countries...more info
• Read the details very, very carefully, get full information first.
  Mobal is supposedly an "international" SIM card, but note: you must be a resident of the US, Canada or the UK to use it, and must give a US, Canada or UK credit card number to use the pre-paid portion of the card!!! This info may be there... maybe I missed it, but I am stuck back home, no SIM card because I thought this card would work. Two points: Even though the Amazon offer made the Mobal SIM card "free", it ended up costing hours of frustrated attempts, lost time, and other missed opportunities since I did not take advantage of buying a different SIM card at the time. Second, check the rates: in my case, it turns out that my home SIM card international roaming rates are CHEAPER than Mobal. Let the buyer beware! Make sure this is for you before counting on it. NOTE: the Mobal email support took several email exchanges to clarify the situation completely, but they were quite fast on turnaround....more info
• A card for the rich
  The plan says that to make a call from my location would cost 13.99 a minute and recieving calls unwanted or not would be 1.99 a minute. I will never use this card but will save it to remind me never to buy another....more info
• Don't do it
  I saw no cost savings with this phone. Seriously the invisible small print is incredible... its nearly impossible to truly figure out the rates your paying. The web page is really not at all user friendly or helpful, customer service is sketchy and unhelpful as well as not informative (after you buy it). The invoice you receive for usage is not itemized and they have done everything in their power to make it that way so you can't track your rates.
  
  Honestly it is cheaper to use your US phone anywhere else in the world, I do that now regularly with both AT&T and T-mobile and while it does cost plenty more it they provide a detailed bill and I know exactly what and why I am charged. I would never ever use this or give any positive feedback for this service.
  ...more info
• Calificacion del Producto
  Not yet I have been able to use it, but I hope not to have bigger complications with the activation of the product...more info
• Rip-off
  This SIM card is free with an Amazon cell phone, but it's not worth it. To use it, you have to register your credit card, and then get charged exorbitant rates. Save yourself some $$ and buy a pre-paid SIM card when you arrive at your destination (assuming you have an unlocked tri- or quad-band GSM phone)....more info
• Can't be use, need to specify which country before saling it
  Amazon.com must tell us with what credit card can be charge, because I have it useless.
  Not a big deal, is a waste of time and money
  What a bad impression I got, I'm a freak amazon buyer, but by now I will reconsider...more info
• it's a gimmick
  This product is to fool customers. You have to get into their web site and provide a credit card to activate the sim card. How clever....more info
• ZERO stars - AVOID!!!
  Read the other reviews carefully. Those ranking it "high" may not be well-informed about all options -and there ARE comparatively INEXPENSIVE, easily available options!
  
  You'll need an unlocked quad-band phone (available in all price ranges - sometimes buying one at destination can be competitive re price but not always) plus your own regular service SIM, pre-authorized for international use (call your carrier before you go) to use "just in case" until you decide which service to use wherever you're headed. Even at a dollar or two per min for a "just in case" call, YOUR OWN service will, for those few calls until you get a local SIM, be cheaper. (Or you can always text-message/SMS, cheaper YET, even on your own SIM!) Also pack a good pre-paid international phone card, too, as back-up (amt depending how long you'll be gone and how many countries you're jaunting off to - you can recharge this, too) so you can call home from something other than your cell (which can also get pricy).
  
  On arrival, purchase a local-provider SIM w/appropriate features for you (kiosks, local cell ph provider stores), and add some initial funds to it. Install or ask them to do so. Then buy pre-paid "recharge" cards as needed; not high-priced. I found them even in E Europe (every country) and Turkey - yes, higher per min than a contract, but a TINY percentage of the cost of Mobal or your own cell ph! Take a few minutes on-line and explore regarding this - you will be very glad you did.
  
  I hope Amazon withdraws this from their offerings, I truly do. ...more info
• works poorly, and overpriced. Stay away from this phone.
  I travel to Italy and a few other countries every year rand I thought buying this phone would solve the problem of being inconvenienced. I liked the idea of not having to fuss with a SIM card, as i didn't think I would have such an easy time in places like Albania or Bolivia. The hype on this phone made it sound like a godsend, and since i use it so little, I felt the sting of high prices would be offset by the convenience of credit card billing. I can't believe how many times I had to endure "no service". There is no excuse for that in the cities where i used my phone (Frankfurt and Rome). My phone always read "emergency services only",. After a frustrating attempt at getting an answer from this non responsive company, i was told the phone would lock when a compatible network could not be found. I could understand this in some mountainous outback, but was mystified why this would happen in Milan and Rome.There was also a total lack of meaningful customer support.If you call them, you wil be charged the extremely high rates while you hang on. If you use the "contact us" option online, you will merely be told to refer to the owner's manual.I am totally unknowledgeable about cell phones, so finding one that would suit my needs was a challenge. All I can say is.. steer clear of this phone!!The service is unbelievably overpriced I am now searching for a new phone. Do not buy this one....more info
• Convenient but overpriced
  Having a SIM card that does not incur a monthly or yearly fee is convenient when one travels abroad only occasionally and for a very short time.
  
  The per minute price for this convenience is excessive, however. It costs much less (on a per minute basis) even to use a satellite phone (Iridium or Globalstar); satphone calls are about $1/minute and can be placed from anywhere, including the middle of the ocean where there is no cellular coverage. By far the least expensive and most convenient option is to buy a SIM card at any one country one arrives at; most of them sell them in kiosks at their respective airports. Outgoing calls to the US would be 10-20 cents/minute, outgoing local calls would be 1-2 cents/minute, and incoming calls would be free; by contrast, all of these calls would be over $2/minute with the mobal SIM card.
  ...more info
• Much better alternatives available
  You don't even need to read the fine print to see this is a bad deal. The lowest price you will pay for a call is 1.25 USD ranging up to 7.95 USD. If you really need to have a portable phone in another country buy a prepaid SIM from a local company. You will have to deal with the "hassle" of giving your contact info to everyone who needs it, but it could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Either that or get a disposable phone card, even in expensive countries you'll get about an hour for $20 USD as opposed to $75 USD (at the very least) with the Mobal SIM....more info
• A great deal and a great idea for those who travel abroad..
  I received this card when I purchased an unlocked phone. Considering I travel a ton, this was a nice freebie.
  
  Pros:
  
  - First of all, I have to say that the instructions are very simple to follow. All of my questions were answered by the time I finished reading the two-pager. There is even a great troubleshooting portion at the end.
  - The rates are about $0.05 per minute cheaper than AT&T, but ultimately it will depend on which countries you visit.
  - I love the fact that I now have an "International Number" for whenever I travel. I just pop the SIM card into my Quad-Band phone and I'm all set!
  - The card was free with purchase of my Sony Ericsson W580i Grey Phone (Unlocked).
  
  Cons:
  
  - None that I can think of.
  
  Helpful tips:
  
  - The phone number you are assigned is from the UK. It will start with county code 44. If people are going to call you from the US, they need to dial 011 44 and then the unique number Mobal assigns you.
  - Mobal provides a SIM PIN if you wish to lock you phone. It's not required, but it will prevent unwanted use if you happen to lose your phone.
  - The worldwide emergency number is 112. Works just like 911 in the states.
  - You have to go to special SIM activations site (Amazon wont let me post the actual URL) to activate the SIM card. Once there you need to enter in your SIM card serial number and the phone number that Mobal assigns you. These numbers are all found in the upper-right hand portion of the instruction sheet. This site is also where you register and enter your credit card information....more info