Traveling with your cell phone, and your questions answered

Q: I have a family member going to the Olympics in Turin, Italy, this winter. I would like to buy a cell phone that can be used in Italy, France, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States. Is it possible to get a phone that will automatically adjust itself to cell networks in these countries? The family member is not technically adept, so making adjustments on the fly would be problematic.
--Ambrose

A: First off, your family member will need a GSM phone. GSM is the cellular technology used in Europe; in the United States, Cingular and T-Mobile use GSM, but Sprint and Verizon Wireless use another technology called CDMA. My usual advice to readers who are traveling overseas and plan to use their cell phone frequently is to get an unlocked GSM phone--in other words, a GSM phone that isn't tied to a particular carrier. That way, they can buy a prepaid SIM card in each country and use the phone with a local telephone number and carrier. In your case, however, that may not be the best option, as it would require some tinkering with the phone when on the go.

An easier but pricier method is to go with a Cingular or a T-Mobile cell phone. The plus side is that in most cases, the phone will detect automatically the local network when it is turned on. Both Cingular and T-Mobile have carrier partners in those countries, so you should get reliable coverage. The downside here is that because you'll be using a U.S. phone number, you'll need to keep track of how often you use the phone. International roaming can be pricey, so do your best to brace yourself for sticker shock from your bill. Another point to consider is that the phone should support 900 and 1800 GSM bands, as that will give you the most ideal coverage. Cingular's Sony Ericsson Z520a is a great example of such a phone. Alternatively, if your relative is a Sprint or a Verizon customer, they can rent GSM phones from their carrier for the length of their trip. For more information on taking your cell phone abroad, see CNET's quick guide to world phones.

Q: When Cingular merged with AT&T Wireless, I was a subscriber of the latter. Cingular classifies me as a "former AT&T Wireless subscriber," and I still have my AT&T plan and my AT&T phone (Audiovox SMT5600). Now, if I want to add any features to my plan (a second line, for instance), I have to "switch" to a Cingular contract; however, I think my AT&T plan is better. I'm also afraid that when my contract expires in a few months, Cingular will force me to sign a new contract, which means I'll have to pay per month and lose my phone. Do I have any protection from being forced to switch?
--Jason

A: You ask a great question, Jason. Although carriers that merge always boast about how much the union will benefit customers, there's always a downside to corporate marriages. In your case, the downside is that Cingular will try its hardest to get you to make the switch, since this is in the carrier's best interest--never mind yours. There is some good news, though. Cingular can't force you to sign a new contract once your current plan expires. The bad news, however, is the company can make life difficult for you. It's common practice for carriers to require customers to sign new contracts when they purchase a new phone and accept any service rebates, as well as when they change any features to their plan, such as activating national roaming. It's not particularly fair, but it's an industry standard. So if you want to stay on your old AT&T plan, you'll have to accept your service for what it is. On the other hand, if you're interested only in getting a new phone, you can always buy an unlocked GSM phone and use it with your SIM.

Q: Do I understand this correctly--if you have a GSM phone, this means you can buy a SIM card and not have to be with a carrier under contract?
--Wanda

A: Yes and no. Just because you have a GSM phone and a SIM card doesn't mean you're automatically exempt from having to sign a contract. If you don't want to sign a contract, however, you do have a couple of options. Both T-Mobile and Cingular offer prepaid services, which don't require contracts. But if you go this route, the phone will be locked to the carrier, so you won't be able to change service providers at will. If you have a prepaid Cingular phone, for example, it won't make calls if you pop in a T-Mobile SIM. Another idea is to get an unlocked phone and buy prepaid SIM cards.

Q: I am often disappointed that CNET never covers cell phones available in the Japanese or the Korean market. I lived in Japan for three years, so I know what wonderful technology is available there. I think CNET's readers would be interested in knowing.
--Christopher

A: We don't review Japanese or Korean phones primarily because we would not be able to give them a fair or an accurate evaluation if we tested them in the United States. Japan's cellular network is more advanced than anything we use here. As a result, we wouldn't be able to use many of the cooler services that would be available in Asia. So as much as I would like to play with these futuristic phones, we just wouldn't be able to do them justice. For a glimpse of what's abroad, check out our regular feature of top Asian phones.