Last week Verizon announced that the new Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone will soon work on GSM networks around the world, not just the CDMA networks similar to the one Verizon operates in the U.S. With the far broader coverage of GSM, this was great news for world travelers with the Android phone. You'll soon be able to swap out the Verizon SIM card and insert one from a local carrier when you are overseas. But, in my post in response to the news, I warned that even though Verizon customers with a Galaxy S III can roam more widely now, they will pay a premium for the convenience to do so. Voice rates usually run about $1.29 per minute in Europe and much higher in other areas. Data, if you do not purchase a plan, will cost about $15 per megabyte outside of North America.
There is a cheaper way. If you have a “new” iPad (remember, we cannot refer to it as the iPad 3, according to Apple) then you may want to consider it as an alternative roaming device for voice and data as its multi-network and frequency capabilities roam on virtually any network, anywhere, for data services. This means that if you purchase a local micro-SIM card (the ones compatible with the new iPad) you can make and receive phone calls on Skype or other VoIP service for about two cents a minute, in contrast to the high cost of roaming voice calls based upon all of the U.S. carriers pricing plans. Read my article on the new iPad that discusses its network capabilities. When you factor in the iPad's larger screen for reading and surfing the Internet, there's a good argument for bringing a second device along for the ride.
Remember that the iPad or other tablets do not support traditional voice phone calls on any network, but that distinction is largely irrelevant if you use Skype and have an inbound phone number. By using Skype-In, anyone can dial your tablet or phone if the application is turned on. By calling your U.S. Skype number they can reach you as with any other phone so long as you have an active Internet connection. If you call-forward your U.S. cell to Skype, you can avoid the high per-minute charges to receive calls and voice mail as well.
While the new iPad is not a traditional phone, the distinction between a smartphone and tablet has been blurred. Its capability to send and receive email, review documents, and surf the web are far superior to that of a smaller smartphone because the Internet was not designed for four-inch screens. For that reason you may decide that a tablet, and especially the iPad or even the new Nexus 7 tablet (if you have a WiFi connection), is a far better choice as a communications tool when you are overseas if you do not need the convenience of a smaller device with its obvious limitations as far as screen size. While most of the smartphones are capable of making Skype and other VoIP calls, they may not offer the connectivity to different networks, or a screen that is actually designed for the Internet and other functions. And if you want to do video calls, I much prefer a tablet rather than my smaller smartphone.
When I travel I studiously avoid making and receiving voice calls over the public switched network because of the costs. I almost exclusively use Skype. There is no difference in quality or intelligibility, call processing is just as fast, and with a local data plan I am essentially paying nothing to stay in contact. I use video quite often during conference calls, which is not available on traditional cellular networks and is more difficult with a smaller phone. So if you want to save money and have a more versatile way of communicating, take your tablet, get a local SIM card and enjoy your travels, knowing that you will not get a large phone bill when you get home. I would suggest using a Bose or other earbud headset that allows you to talk and listen more effectively, especially when you are doing video calls.
Note that the last version of the Verizon Galaxy Nexus (i-525) does not have a GSM radio and thus will not work for international service except in about 35 CDMA compatible countries. If you are traveling to Europe, this earlier Nexus will not work on any GSM network.
