NuNomad

The Work-Travel Balancing Act

by Ricardo
I was watching an episode of “Family Guy” recently, the one where baby Stewie ridicules people who strive to be seen in public (eg: Starbucks) with their notebooks open—perhaps tapping-out that promising screenplay. Though the tot doesn’t blow the heads off of the coffee-gulping remote workers (the cartoon character tends to get extreme at times), the scene does illustrate the point of remote working becoming a sort of cliché these days.

What I’ve found in the nearly seven years of nomading the world is the increased misperception of those who choose to integrate their work and home life with their lust for travel—versus those who simply like to demonstrate to others that they can finish up their projects down the street from the office (such as the ubiquitous coffee shop that supports wi-fi). And that misperception is understandable. These days, it is no longer unusual to find overseas backpackers huddled in laptop sessions at the cheap eateries or guest houses. Where they once sat around watching pirated video tapes of Bay Watch on the establishment’s television, they’re now watching pirated movies on their personal LCD screens while updating their blogs. The trading of paperback books has been replaced by the trading of DVDs, MP3 files and MySpace URLs.
Is that a bad thing? Probably not. Sad and pathetic? Hmm.

Aside from the reality that real nomads tend to do their work in more productive, if not appropriate, working environments (eg: rooms with great views), one must also find their balance. One of the harder disciplines of living this sort of work-travel life (I’m going to list two of mine now) is finding one’s center. Pardon me if I sound like Zen Master Ricardo, but if you’re traveling the world and finding yourself behind the screen (be it notebook, BlackBerry, iPod, mobile phone or other handheld device) as much or more as when you were stuck in your home country, then maybe you’re missing out on the whole nu nomad travel thing. Travel is about “getting out there,” not becoming a mobile version of the bored, introvert you were at home. At least that’s how I see it.

So what’s the advice? It’s sort of simple: set boundaries. Okay, you don’t need to be anal about it, but do try to look to the horizon for your next travel destination—as opposed to, let’s say, over the lid of your screen to the cute person at the next table. When out in public, leave the hardware in your (secured) room. If you’re in nature (hell, the town center even), pull those ear buds out buddy and listen to the sounds around you. Simply steer your life from gadget man (woman) to care-free traveler.

This brings me to the other discipline: refraining from buying too many gadgets. Not only does having redundant and superfluous equipment distract, but it weighs you down maak-maak (that’s Thai for much-much). The selection process of what you really need to be mobile, yet get your work done properly, is a judicious process. And as one of the bigger offenders of this rule, with my two laptops (one is an overblown desktop replacement and the other is an ultra-ultraportable machine for weekend excursions) I am now moving to trim down. So I ask myself: “Ricardo, do I need to have an MP3 player when I have a laptop for my music and movies? Do I need a Palm Pilot when I already have easy Internet access and a small GSM mobile phone? Do I need a travel printer when I rarely print to paper any more and when there are printing services at the cyber cafes. The truth is that I can do my work with one good machine (I’m looking into the new Lenovo ThinkPad X300.
—which is similar in design and weight to that of the MacBook Air). As for my MP3 player, my bulking Creative Zen unit is going to be replaced by an iPod Nano. And since my full-feature camera is already very compact (Canon PowerShot A710), I can concentrate on buying a new guide book (for either Laos or Hungary). And the money I’ll save from not buying all “cool tech stuff” I can spend foolishly while on my journey abroad.

So, now that mobile technology for the real road warriors is trimming down we too can take advantage of less weight and increased (physical) mobility. And if you need a little more advice on what may be necessary for your nomadic travels and not, Quit Dreaming and Go! (our handbook on how to nomad) has a comprehensive section for you to pack with.

Weekend Nomading the Mae Hong Son Loop

by Ricardo

One of the disciplines of nomading is knowing when to stay put—you know, work—and when to explore. For the past month I’ve been apartment-bound in Bangkok finalizing a couple of complicated web projects, stuff I’d rather do in my familiar environment (not the least of which is enjoy my stash of wine) than in the unknown accommodation to come. Last Thursday morning I finished up; Thursday night I was on a train to the north to begin a motorcycle journey of Thailand’s Northeast provinces known as the Mae Hong Son Loop. That and to re-visit Thailand’s second largest city, Chiang Mai, a popular tourist destination I haven’t been to since 1998.

Ten years ago, unfortunately, I found Chiang Mai not the laid-back baby brother to manic, cosmopolitan, Bangkok, but just a large city with a square of historical sites wrapped within an explosion of unimaginative tourist-oriented business such as western eateries and hotels/guest houses whose main draw was free satellite television. That impression has not changed. But at least now there’s free Wi-Fi in many of the accommodations as well as affordable serviced apartments that have amenities for the nomad (rooms with desk/table space to work from, refrigerator, hot shower and AC). Needless to say, once I saw that my email box had remained empty of “must do” messages, I bolted the hell out of Chiang Mai after only two nights stay. By early Sunday morning I was on the loop in the direction of Mae Hong Son, the picturesque town I’d longed to visit since first visiting Thailand a dozen years ago.”

Orientation: The Loop hosts three (relatively) large towns: Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Pai. Highway 108, taken from Chiang Mai clockwise, will get you to Mae Hong Son. The Loop continues on Highway 1095 past the popular-with-backpackers town of Pai, onto Chiang Mai. All three can easily accommodate the traveling worker for any length of time, meaning that hi-speed (100mbps ADSL) Internet is abundant, nomad-friendly accommodations plentiful, and places to go and see when not behind the computer screen are within reach. Between the three key stops, comprising the 600 kilometer loop, are unspoiled traditional towns, hill tribe communities, and several national parks—with some sort of Internet access available most of the time such as GSM via your mobile phone (in case you just have to get online). Since I was off-the-clock until Tuesday (California’s Monday morning), I knew I had several days to simply travel; so I put my laptop to bed in my backpack.

Preparation: Aside from a set of warmer clothes than I usually sport in Thailand (the North, even in mid-February, can get downright cold), the only requirements were a reliable motorcycle (125cc Honda Dream from Jaguar rentals in Chiang Mai), my Thailand guidebook (most will have a section on The Loop), protection from the sun, a liter of water, and my GSM mobile phone service which permits my mobile phone to serve as a wireless modem for my laptop. And since this article is not intended as a roadmap but as a bit of insight to The Loop, you’ll want to consult your travel guide. (Note: for those who wish to see The Loop on a more intricate level, there are a couple of good maps available in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son bookstores. One of which is the “Map of Mae Hong Son Loop.” One other interesting resource is the Golden Triangle Rider website, although this website appears more for the “Wild Hogs” set.

The Trip: Taking The Loop clock-wise about an hour’s ride (at 60km/hr) you’ll arrive in Chom Thong. It’s a nice-enough little town hosting the impressive Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong. Aside from that, it’s just a place to take a break. It’s also the gateway to the Do Inthanon National Park (dramatic waterfalls, a concrete enclosed hot spring, and panoramic views that one can expect from a mountain top vantage point). However, since I am boycotting Thailand’s absurd Bt400 entrance fee to its key national parks (Fee’s range from Bt100-400. Thai residents pay only Bt20. This park is Bt400), I thought I’d save my $12 for something else. (Note: the current exchange rate is $1 USD to 32 Thai Baht.)

Mae Sariang is where I spent my first night. It’s a charming little town along the beautiful Yuam River. Here there are accommodations ranging from pricy boutique hotels (mostly for affluent Thais who are on holiday) to bed-only guest houses set within traditional teakwood homes. I chose the latter, the Northwest Guest House across the road from the river. The town has a couple of excellent seafood restaurants, and pleasant places along the River to have a beer with your cheap Thai or Western food. (This is the sort of laid-back environment that Pai was known for a dozen years ago.) The people of Mae Sariang are very pleasant (not in a phony way as in Chiang Mai or Pai), personable and appear to be enjoying life. One could easily stay several days here, catching a bus up highway 108 when ready to continue on. That is if they don’t have their own wheels.

Mae La Noi is only 30km away from Mae Sariang, but after stopping for an iced coffee (“café yen”) at the stand next to the big Silver Sala (a sort of wall-less pavilion) and being overwhelmed by the magnificent view of the rice fields below and traditional hill town in the backdrop, I decided to drive down into the valley (known as Ma Yuam Fam Kwaa) and cruise the town’s picturesque streets that lead into hill tribe communities and vast farmlands. I found the location so enchanting that I stayed the night in the area’s only “home stay” which was a new teakwood mansion at the entry point of Ma Yum. The sign in front of the compound is in Thai, but it’s obvious that it’s a place to stay for the night. (For Bt500, I had one of the nicest rooms ever. Amazing views, very comfortable sleep. There are two nice bungalows for Bt300.)

Khun Yuam, an hour’s ride from Mae La Noi, is a popular resting spot for Loopers. Though the town is pretty and hosts a museum on WWII history, there are few attractions other than nature walks. There you’ll find the Baan Farang Guest House. It’s very clean and comfortable as well as a great place to eat. (Rarely do roadside backpacker places do justice to Thai food.) And the operator, Ms. Macci, is an interesting young woman, with much history of the region to share with you.

Traditional villages continue to dot much of highway 108 and you’ll find yourself wanting to stop and take a peek inside some of them. Do that. It will be well worth your time. (Of course, try to be inconspicuous and avoid clicking pictures of locals as if they are statues and not people.) The National Parks also become more abundant as you climb higher north. Mae Surin has one of Thailand’s most spectacular waterfalls, and offers up spectacular views. One can go up to Mae Ko Vafe without the need for the expensive park fee, up to “microwave top”, passing a Hmong village, where there’s a nice viewing area.

Mae Hong Son, Thailand’s northwestern capital and province, is actually a small town. It’s not only a very lovely place to chill out (BTW, in the winter the temperatures can get to freezing) but a location to make as your base for trekking and area visits. It’s also a fine place to stay put and work for a week or two. The food up here may not win awards (though one must try Pra Cra Ho seafood restaurant at the town’s gateway), but the people are interesting, bright, and love to chat. With all of the coffee houses, book readers, mountain bikes and joggers, you’ll think you’re in an Oregon (USA) college town. Jong Kham Lake is the counterpoint of the town and where many of the budget guest houses nudge up to. Most of the cheaper places charge about Bt300 per night (bed only, but great views of the lake), but there are places set back aside and behind Wat Chong Kham that are of great value. Romtai House has teak bungalows around a lovely lotus pond for Bt300-500 per night. Though no Wi-Fi yet, the rooms are big, have furniture, refrigerator, hot shower, AC, and Satellite TV. And just a short walk away, on the lake’s southwest corner, is Baan Tue Lek coffee house. Miss Pook provides free Wi-Fi—as well as great information on what to enjoy within her town. Great location.

Mae Hong Son is not, however, a party scene. The few bars in town are more quaint then “happening”. (You’ll want to continue on to Pai for that.) There are, however, interesting morning and nights markets here, loads of coffee houses to read a book in, National Parks and nearby traditional villages and hill tribes to explore. Mae Hong Son is slow—but in a good way.

If you leave Mae Hong Son early and travel highway 1095 you can arrive in Pai in time for lunch. You’ll first pass the town of Soppong (known for its cave tours), which is where you’ll begin your decent southward. But do take your time on these hairpin-turn roads, and savor the drive. Along the way you’ll be treated to some of Thailand’s finest nature and views of hill tribe villages. (Because once you’re in Pai, the delicate natural order of the northwest takes a dive.)

In the past decade, Pai has become the darling for backpackers (most of whom only travel with the Southeast Asia on a Shoestring—known as the guide book for the herd). What was once a sleepy little town along the Pai River has become a tourist haunt for the young who are seeking traveler companionships, cheap ganga and convenience over authenticity and inspiration. Having once enjoyed Pai as a place with a soul, it now only breaks my heart. It isn’t Khao San Road yet, but give it another few years.

Once you leave Pai (or pass by it) you’ll see more of the familiar scenery you’d seen while arching over the northern tip: traditional villages, terraced fields, magnificent landscapes. This will continue for about 90 minutes before entering the greater Chiang Mai region.

Trains to and from Chiang Mai to Bangkok are scheduled throughout the day. Get a second class sleeper berth and pass the night away in slumber. Flights are also available all day, with frequent promotional prices.
To see images of the Mae Hong Son Loop, visit the Laptophobo Photo Album.

Meet the Nomads - FB Fabulously Broke in the City!

by Carmen Bolanos
November 9, 2007

Meet FB, a consultant, nomad and blogger who maintains her anonymity for her blog, Fabulously Broke in the City. A recent college grad, FB is passionate about paying off $50,000 in student loans before 2009. In fact, that's a lot of what her blog is about - how to save money. A big part of FB's answer for how to do this is to have a 100% nomadic lifestyle. Interested? Read on....

A lot of people aspire to a nomadic lifestyle because they are drawn to the romance of traveling. You seem to have adopted this life to pay off your debts and start some savings. Can you tell us how you got into being a nomad?

It was really more out of chance than anything.

I graduated almost 2 years ago, and just happened to accept an offer and a career that meant 100% travel. At the time, I didn’t really understand what 100% travel meant, but after the first year of paying $1600 for an apartment that I only stayed in and saw 2 months out of the 12, I realized it was A) stupid to keep paying for such an expensive storage unit and B) it was an opportunity to get rid of one of the biggest living expenses in most people’s lives – shelter.

So one day, I looked at my husband and said: “Oh my god, we could be modern nomads”. He laughed at first, but he slowly came around to the idea, and now has full embraced it in the name of paying off debt. Modern because we are very into technology and this is a new way of living for us, and nomads because.. well, we don’t have a home.

So, less than a year later, we finally made the decision to give up the apartment early 2007, and have only been doing this for a short amount of time, but so far it’s worked out quite nicely for me. I’m hoping to be on a client project 100% of the time next year so I don’t have to worry about paying month-by-month rent, and /or any of that other stuff. I’d willingly give up all of my vacation weeks for that opportunity to be working 100% of the year. How strange is it to be saying that?!

What kind of education or experience does someone need to do the kind of work you do?

Well as a consultant, they generally hire from big name colleges (not all do, mind you), and I got an undergraduate honors degree in business administration, with a specialized concentration in management information systems.

I think anyone could be a consultant. You just have to be given the chance to get your foot in the door. All it takes is the right frame of mind, and perspective, and whether or not you have an affinity for what a consultant does on a day-to-day basis, which can range anywhere from being a project manager of sorts, to having a specialized knowledge in your field – be it strategy and change, human resources, airlines and their tax schedules and laws, supply chain management, finance, information systems, etc., and to be dealing and treading lightly with client members you are not familiar with yet and/or executives who will question your decisions on a daily basis because you have to constantly prove and sell yourself every time you go to a new client, as they don’t know you and what you can do yet. So if you are a person who doesn’t like a challenge, or constantly having to prove themselves, this may not be for you.

But in general, there are many types of consultants in the world, with different skills and specializations, you just have to find the right combination that resonates with your skills and strengths.

As you say in your blog, you have put your personal belongings into storage and you really don’t return to your home base. How does this work?

I put all of my furniture and all the sorts of things associated with an apartment (decoration, towel racks, furniture, etc) all into a storage location in another more rural city because it’s cheaper and you get more space than if you rent a storage location in an urban city. My clothes, shoes and day-to-day things that I need to access on a regular basis but cannot really travel with all the time, are kept in my home city’s storage location, where if I go back, I basically go to the storage location, pick up what I need, and rent an apartment month-by-month when I need to be in the office. Then when I’m on another project that isn’t in my home city, I put everything back into that urban storage location, and leave.

What do you bring with you when you travel?

Generally… clothes (work outfits and a pair of jeans with a sweater – I tend to wear work tops with jeans anyway, so everything I own is multi-purpose for work and play), a frying pan, a kettle, a gaming system (like a Nintendo Wii), 4 pairs of shoes (winter boots, running shoes, ballet flats and a pair of heels), my toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, facial lotion, razor, etc), makeup, perfume, an umbrella, jewelery, a wireless router, 2 laptops (one work, one play), laptop bag, iPod, 2 RJ45 LAN cables, a cellphone, a PDA, etc etc. Basically everything I need.. IMMEDIATELY. I don’t bring things like furniture, a special pillow, décor, none of that. I only bring technology, clothes/shoes and toiletries.

How often have you had to rent month to month in between consulting gigs?

Usually once in between every gig. I usually beg for projects right away, or try and be staffed on a project immediately after leaving my last one, but sometimes that isn’t feasible. I’ve been lucky so far, and if it’s only a week or less in between projects, I crash at my friends’ places, or my parents’ house.

Your husband travels with you. What are the pros and cons about this? Do you have any advice for people making a decision about traveling alone or traveling with others?

PROS: He cooks sometimes, sort-of cleans (tidies up), organizes the travel arrangements and logistics of all that, and drives me everywhere. Plus, he’s fantastic company and he is my best friend – I can always relate to him, tell him how my day is going and basically have my own support at home when I’ve had a tough day.

CONS: You always have to consider his feelings and needs when you’re accepting offers to go out to company dinners, or outings, and whether or not he can come along. I sometimes feel restrained and guilty because he doesn’t know ANYONE in the city, whereas I have work colleagues on the client site, and my own company colleagues. It gets to be pretty guilt-inducing. Oh, I guess to reduce debt further, he could be working part-time here and there, but… to be honest, I couldn’t care less if he did or not.

As for advice about traveling alone or having others with you.. I’d totally recommend that if you are someone who NEEDS a familiar support and network , then bring someone along. But they have to also be in the same mindset and love to travel and/or deal with challenges, and they have to also be OK with being alone for very long periods of time. But if you are someone who is more independent, and can adjust being by yourself for a long period of time, then you don’t need anyone to go with you, you just need to be sure that you really are a self-entertaining, self-sufficient sort of type.

You must know hotels better than 90% of us. What makes a hotel better or worse for a nomad? What do you do to make the room your home?

I basically treat interviewing hotels like I’m looking for a permanent apartment.

MUST-HAVES for Nomad Hotels
- Have a full-sized kitchen (stove, sink, microwave, fridge, and an optional dishwasher)
- Has laundry facilities on-site (the coin operated machines as well as dry cleaning)
- Have a rewards program, because you’ll be there for 5-7 months, and racking up the points at ONE hotel is better than having lots of points across different hotels
- Has security and front-desk staff 24/7 with a keycard lockdown, MANDATORY for entry after midnight (i.e. you have to swipe in your hotel room card before even entering the hotel after midnight)
- Has a clean bed with fluffy pillows preferably in a separate room, very apartment-like
- Has a couch and a TV
- Has a decently sized bathroom that you can fit into
- Has storage – dressers, cabinets, drawers, closets. Some hotels really lack this
- Has cleaning staff that come in every day, not once every 2 weeks – the reason being that having the option to have them come in and clean whenever you want to fit YOUR schedule, is better than not being able to let them in on that ONE day, and missing your chance for 2 weeks
- Looking at who stays there on a regular basis – business people, families, no shady characters and party-animal college students who just want to trash a hotel room for a weekend
- Location is important: near a grocery store, near a pharmacy, near a post office, near a Starbucks (*grin*) and near a couple of restaurants is nice because you can just walk to get a meal if you are too tired to cook
- Has indoor parking if you’re driving
- Has a voicemail system so people can dial your room directly and leave you voicemail messages instead of always going through the front desk
- Has internet/high speed connections in the room
- Is close to my client site – close as in 5 km or less away, so I can walk in the mornings
- Has a list of fees and different charges for things like telephone calls up front

OPTIONAL for Nomad Hotels
- Has a gym or a swimming pool
- Has a complimentary HOT breakfast in the morning (no Continental Breakfasts, thanks. They end up being cold fruit, cold cereal, cheap trans-fat-saturated muffins and coffee and tea)

Have you been traveling only within Canada or internationally?
I have only been in North America, but I’m still hoping.

Any thoughts on what makes a city more or less accommodating for you as a nomad?

If it’s more urban, I’ll be fine. Most companies are located near urban centers, and I tend to “live” and stay downtown, so everything is within walking distance for me. I’m happy if I just have a hotel, pharmacy, grocery store, a couple of restaurants and some form of entertainment or a park, or SOMETHING to walk around and look at.

But it’s when you don’t get a company that’s urban, and is in a more rural setting, that you run into problems like finding a hotel that you normally patronize for the points, restaurants, and entertainment. I haven’t encountered that yet, but…. there’s a first time for everything. I hope I don’t have to ever deal with that but.. 

Oh and if one of the languages is English, I’m set. I’m not against learning another language or picking up a couple of phrases here and there, but it’s going to be a hard road ahead if they only speak another language and I’m supposed to do my job on time and under budget.

Any advice for other people who might want try this lifestyle?

Be prepared to be very lonely and frustrated. Sometimes not knowing the language, the local culture and customs, the slang, and constantly being in a new company environment without any support networks like your friends and family – it can be daunting for those who hate constant change and take a long time to process/learn and absorb new things (like learning new business processes, systems, taxes, ways of thinking). Because once you know and learn everything, you’re off the project and on a new one, where you have to learn everything all over again.

You have to be quite social and outgoing as well, because if you’re an introvert who likes to keep to themselves, and only opens up after knowing people for a while and finally feeling comfortable with them, you’re going to run into problems making friends at work or at least getting on their good side and making going to a new work environment more bearable. You also have to be prepared to put up with company politics, budgets, and financial constraints – meaning they may ask you to do things you don’t want to do, like stay in a bad hotel, carpool with 5 other consultants, spend as little as possible, and deal with the headache of waiting for them to reimburse you for plane tickets, meals, laundry, taxis, etc. The bean counters will (almost always) fight you every step of the way. And then you have to be careful when you do your taxes at the end of the year to claim everything properly and by the book, and to make sure they haven’t messed up on anything on their end or on yours for that matter.

You’re already over half way through with paying off your student loans. Congrats! When do you expect to be done and what will you do when it’s all paid off?

Actually I’m only at 38%. I messed up on my calculations when I re-ran the numbers last night. *embarrassed* I expect to be cleared my loans by December 2008 (all $53,000 will be done! DONE! DONE!). But I’m realistically aiming for the end of December 2009, assuming unforeseen circumstances.

When it’s paid off, I’m taking a 2-week vacation or a cruise (on the cheap, fun and frugal of course), and paying it in full with cash instead of on credit card which is going to feel very cool.

Then, I’ll buckle down, and start saving for a down payment on a home. I’ll be 25 or 26 by the time my debt is paid off, so I have 4 to 5 years to aggressively save every penny I can, before I turn 30, which is my deadline age to buy a home.

I have to note that it’s quite easy to get into the mindset of saying: “Oh look, I don’t have a $1600 gorilla on my back (rent), and I get a lot of the comforts of life paid for (food for example), so I can relax and start spending more than I did before because there’s more leeway”.

In fact, we were in that mindset for the first month or so of our modern nomadic lifestyle. It wasn’t until I started tracking my expenses that I realized we were A) wasting a lot of money and B) buying items that we’d have to carry on a regular basis on every project and/or end up putting it in storage. So essentially, we were spending our money on JUNK and STUFF that we’d have to just put and store away in our already bulging, overstuffed storage locations. We were spending money now, to enjoy the items later, which makes no sense logically, financially or economically.

Now, it’s more of a game for me (my husband is reluctant to see it as an enjoyable experience) to see how low I can get our personal expenses (clothing, overages on food, entertainment), and currently we’re trying to stick to a budget of $500 a month, not including our personal “fun” money, debt repayments, retirement savings, or emergency fund savings.

I think it’s a great lesson for us to learn now and to KNOW that we can spend less than $500 a month in basic, personal expenses. So when we go to finally settle down, I have a good idea of what we can spend as the bare minimum then tack on the cost of the apartment, utilities, food and transportation. Which makes estimating our future living costs a lot easier.

Connecting to the Internet When There's No Cafe in Sight - GPRS

by Carmen Bolanos
October 15, 2007

This is the first in a series of blogs on alternative ways to connect to the internet. This blog covers GPRS is and how it works. Please visit back for the continuing series.

As nu nomads, we are often looking for ways to connect to the internet to communicate with clients, collaborate with colleagues, or simply to get information. Usually this is as simple as finding a dwelling with internet capability or walking down to the local internet café. But for those of us who like the more remote parts of the globe or the quaint life of a smaller town, connecting to the internet can be a real challenge. However, there is still hope for the determined individual. It takes a basic knowledge of the options and some pre-planning on the home-front to be sure you have the right equipment.

The fundamental need is getting a signal that will transfer data. Many mobile phones have internet capability and options such as Blackberries include a keyboard for sending those short emails.
But if you have more extensive internet use requirements the micro-mini screens and keyboards become unbearable over time. You need to use your laptop. Hence, getting a signal to transfer data — for the laptop. You do this with a mobile phone and GPRS.

Living Life in 3G (or 2G or 4G)

Mobile phone/internet technology is evolving so rapidly that it would be nearly impossible to produce a piece that was completely up-to-date. The evolution of this technology is actually quite a bit ahead of what is readily available to the common user. So, while I write to you about GPRS, this is a technology that is already somewhat outdated even though it is still new enough not to have been adopted by many countries.

Mobile phones are categorized by generations. Older mobile phones that were made primarily for voice and sometimes photo transfer were considered to be “2nd Generation (2G)”. GPRS was a technology that evolved to allow 2G users to access the internet and also to increase interest among users in gaining more use of this option for the future. However, third generation mobile phones have now evolved, allowing for internet access at much higher speeds than their predecessors. In fact, 4G phones are already in existence. So is GPRS obsolete? No – not yet. At the moment, because of expense and licensing issues, many countries have not built 3G networks and for many that have begun to build, the coverage is still quite limited. Therefore, the international traveler should not expect to be able to access 3G features (internet) while away making GPRS a continued necessity.

What is GPRS ?

GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service. GPRS service is billed on a “per kilobyte of data transferred” scale rather than per-second. This makes GPRS an affordable way to use the internet via your mobile phone. To access GPRS you will need a GPRS capable mobile phone and a GPRS enabled SIM card for the country in which you are traveling. (SIM cards are inserted into GSM phones to allow access to networks within various countries. These can be purchased in convenience stores, gas stations, etc. at your destination or before your departure at Telestial)

In a nutshell, when you use your mobile phone to speak, every minute that you are chatting is a minute that you are requiring space on your provider’s network system. Therefore, mobile phone charges are based on a per-second scale. However with “packet switching” that is used in GPRS, the network is only used for the few seconds that data is being transferred and in the meantime while you are working on your document or reading the web page that was just transferred to you, you are not using the network space.

What Kind of GPRS Phone?

If you read our article on Cell Phone Basics for Travelers, you will already know the importance of getting a GSM phone. This is no different when wanting GPRS capability. GSM systems are the only systems where GPRS is currently in use.

There are 3 classes of capability you may find when searching GSM/GPRS phones:

Class C phones cannot transfer voice (GSM) and data (GPRS) at the same time. With a class C device the user must use only one service at a time and switch the phone manually to change over.

Class B phones connect to both GSM and GPRS simultaneously but only one service at a time can be used. The phone automatically resets after the call or connection is finished and there is no need for the user to switch the phone manually.

Class A phones can use both GSM and GPRS simultaneously allowing the user to speak and transfer data all at the same time.

Most phones on the market right now are Class B phones.

And Now for Service

In addition to having a GPRS capable phone you will need to find a phone service provider or country SIM card that supports GPRS service. Read carefully when choosing your service or SIM card about whether GPRS is supported and what rates are charged. Here are some sample results I found through Telestial:

Spain Vodafone SIM Card – 2 Euros per megabyte ($2.80 US)
Thailand Happy SIM Card - .10 Bhat per kilobyte ($.003 US)
Jordan Cardcom SIM Card – GPRS not available
Canada Rogers SIM Card – GPRS not available but email is retrievable
France Orange SIM Card – GPRS not available

Don’t assume that GPRS will always be readily available anywhere you go. You may expect most extensive GPRS coverage in Asia and the U.S. but you may not find it in every European country. Do your homework before you leave home!

Making it Work

So you have your GPRS enabled phone and a GPRS enabled SIM card. The next step will be to learn how to use the service. There are 3 methods for connecting your mobile phone to your laptop.

1) Data-cable – yes, the good old fashioned wire method. This is reliable and not too inconvenient when traveling.

2) Infrared – requires the alignment of the IR port on the laptop with the IR port on the phone. However, if you are on a jostling train or in a limited space this might be difficult. For instance, some laptops have their IR port in front of the keyboard making typing impractical. You also need a phone that includes IR connecting.

3) Bluetooth – this can be an ideal option as it allows connection just through proximity but will require configuration of a Bluetooth enabled phone and laptop with Bluetooth or Bluetooth card. In addition, this option may slow your connection and run your phone battery down fast.

Once the phone and laptop are communicating, you will need to access the GPRS network. Accessing GPRS networks usually involves dialing in access codes and passwords. These codes and passwords will vary depending on your service provider and country in which you are traveling. Instructions for accessing the network should be provided by this service.

And, voila! You’re in business, nomad.

Sources:
http://www.telecomspace
http://pcworld.about.com/news/Sep292005id122411.htm
http://www.esato.com/archive/t.php/t-122341,1.html
http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/002757.cfm
http://www.gprshelp.co.uk/html/GPRSArchitecture.html
http://en.wikipedia.org

Special thanks to Jeff Van West of Van West Company for his input on this article

Let's Do Our Part - Light Up the World with the Bogolight

by Carmen Bolanos

Did you know that two billion people in developing countries rely on kerosene lamps, candles and single use battery flashlights for light? Think about that. Think about the environmental impact - candles, kerosene and batteries that must regularly be replaced. Think about the safety impact - how many homes may catch fire each year as a result of kerosene or candle accidents. Think about how many of these people including children spend all their daylight hours working outside the home so that their only time to read, study, or attend to daily tasks in the home is after dark.

As Nu Nomads many of us have had the privilege to experience places like this first hand and to see what some of the basic needs are for these families. Part of my reason for co-founding Nu Nomad has been that I believe that the more we as a human species can experience each other and learn about each other's lives, the more we will gain understanding and the more we will come to a state of peace in the world. This is my big hairy audacious goal. However, there are also practical ways we can all make a big difference.

Getting a Bogolight is one of these ways. Mark Bent, the genius behind the Bogolight, has invented a solar powered flashlight that will run for 4-5 hours with 8 hours of charging. The charging can be done as it hangs from your backpack while you climb the Himalayas. The battery needs only to be replaced about every 2 years (and recycling programs are underway). The flashlight itself will last for 20 years. However, the best thing about the Bogolight is not the flashlight itself, but the program behind it.

BOGOLight stands for Buy One Give One Light. For every flashlight you purchase, another one is sent to a person in a developing nation. In addition, Bogolight will donate $1 to a charity in that nation with your purchase. So you're really helping in several ways. There are even programs underway to remove the batteries out of the developing nations for recycling when they need replacement.

Whether you're hiking in the Amazon or spending a month in Paris, a flashlight should be a part of your Nu Nomad gear for practicality and safety. I encourage you to make it a Bogolight. Besides, it may keep you from having to figure out how to say, "where can I get a new battery?" in Swahili someday.

Visit the Bogolight site, take a look at their program, their success stories, and their product. Then do something good for yourself, for someone else, and for the world around you!

Homesick for a Great Movie, Nomad?

As much as I am an advocate of immersing yourself in local culture when you're traveling, I have vivid memories of getting homesick for an occasional movie in my mother tongue. I remember finding an Audrey Hepburn festival at the local theater in Naha City, Okinawa. I saw every one. But somehow watching Audrey's beautiful mouth move while I heard a high pitched Japanese voice-over of very different words just wasn't the same.

That's why I was so excited last week when I logged into my account at Netflix.com

If you have Windows XP,with Service Pack 2 or higher, Internet Explorer version 6 or higher, Windows Media Player version 9 or newer, an active connection to the Internet and the free Netflix Movie Viewer, you are just moments away from watching some great stuff.

So, what does it take? If you are already a member of Netflix, you can access instant viewing for free. Just go to the home page and click on "Watch Now" to see the choices and read about how it works. You are allowed an hour of viewing time for every dollar of your monthly fee. In other words if you are paying 17.99 per month, you have about 18 hours of instant viewing time for free. You will need to download their Netflix Movie Viewer program.

I downloaded the Movie Viewer and it took less than a minute. You can watch the movie on full screen and you are able to pause, fast forward or rewind as needed. Within moments I was watching a movie.

If you are not yet a member, just sign up at Netflix.com and you can try it for a month free. When it's time to pay you can use a credit card so it shouldn't matter where you're located as long as you can supply the information needed.

I will say the variety of movies, documentaries, and tv shows available for instant viewing is much smaller than the regular Netflix library. You can browse what's available in the "Watch Now" section before making your decision to sign up. Also, remember that if you don't have access to a good internet connection, your viewing experience may not be of very high quality. The faster the better of course. All that said, however, if you're really wanting something from home like I was in Japan, this could be the answer to your flick fix!

Other possible uses of this service? Just imagine - you're in the airport with your two young kids after 7 hours of travel on the last plane and you've just been told your next flight has been delayed 3 hours. Netflix to the rescue. The possibilities are endless. Happy viewing!

MojoPac: A Laptop Hobo’s Best Traveling Companion

How many times have you wished that your computer was with you while out-and-about? You know, like when you’re checking emails at an Internet Café in some end-of-earth location and one of your customers has just emailed you an urgent request—a situation that requires you to use all the tools within your home computer. But, unfortunately, you’re nowhere near home. Now imagine that you have your entire home computer environment within your pocket hard drive, MP3 player or even flash stick.

I’ve been waiting for such a travel tool for quite some time now. A program which converts any PC operating on XP or Vista into a fully-functioning, near-mirror image, version of the password-protected computer I work on everyday—complete with programs, settings and document files. Thankfully I’ve found such a tool, Mojopac , and the test results are impressive.

How it Works:

Simply plug in your USB device (in which you’ve pre-loaded MojoPac, along with all the stuff you’d load onto your home computer—save for the actual operating system) into the host computer and their screen becomes your familiar desktop. Toggle back and forth between the host environment and your MojoPac view. Their Internet connection is yours, and there’s no need to add anything to the host computer.

After spending a week testing MojoPac out in various working situations: multi-tasking between half a dozen programs (Macromedia Studio, MS Office, and far lesser known applications), and going from one computer to another, I can say that the MojoPac can serve as your primary working environment, where you treat PCs as simple (to quote the makers) “dumb terminals”.

Road Tested:

I was on day 5 yesterday of testing my MojoPac when I realized that I had to renew my tourist visa (make a visa run), requiring me to drop everything to take a mini-bus to the Malaysian boarder. (I’m currently based in Southern Thailand.) That morning I check my email box and got a request by one of my customers to update several of their web pages. My primary computer, however, is an HP Pavilion zx5000—a heavy, oversize, desktop replacement machine. I wasn’t about to lug that beast along for the ride. However, I also have a Fujitsu p7120 ultra-portable notebook (for when I’m traveling light). Luckily (since there was no time to transfer files from one PC to another) all of my working files and programs were now on my MojoPac, and all I had to do to keep working (for the duration of that hellish 10 hour journey) was to grab my little p120 notebook, my mobile phone (with Bluetooth), and my MojoPac. (Yes, my passport too. Sheesh.) And by the time the mini-bus reached the first ferry off the island from where I’m based, I had already made the Web file change with Dreamweaver, created a new jpeg image (with Fireworks), uploaded the revisions to my customer’s web server, and logged the working time in Excel. Afterwards, I downloaded new emails and replied to them (via Outlook), and then read BBCNews.com and NYTimes.com before calling that spur-of-the-moment workday complete.

A few matters of concern:

I loaded the trial version (free for 30 days) MojoPac onto a 60GB, USB 2.0, external hard drive. Although I found little resistance in applying programs to it (involving the same procedures as loading applications to any PC), I noticed a couple of minor issues. One was “power twitches”. This blinking on and off of the MojoPac working environment was due to the fact that USB offers far less power than when working directly from a host PC. Secondly, I found that MojoPac would not allow me to load my Norton Anti-Virus. RingCube’s (the makers of MojoPac) tech people recommended that one uses a “USB power cable” or a “dual-headed” cable that attaches to 2 USB ports—one for data, the other for power. I experienced a little less twitching when experimenting with the later option. My external HDD does not provide for a power cable. The twitching, however, was simply a minor annoyance than anything else. As for protecting your MojoPac against viruses, MojoPac offers a list of other security product options that work (including TrendMicro) and have assured me that their next version of MojoPac (due out soon) will allow for Norton Anti-Virus. I did, however, notice (between toggling back and forth between the host and MojoPac view) that the Norton Anti-Virus on my host was already filtering out my emails for me on the MojoPac. And though this makes me question whether there is any sharing of programs or files going on between the host PC and MojoPac, the people at RingCube state that “no, nothing” is shared between host and MojoPac.

As for technical support,

Posted at 03:00 PM in Products for the Nomad, Ricardo, Stuff You Need, Tech Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

In this last post on cell/mobile basics let's look at choices for those of you wanting alternatives to mobile phone communication while you galavant around the globe.

Return Call Service (also called Call Back Service) offers an alternative way for international travelers using mobile phones to avoid the high international rates for outgoing calls on their phone. In some cases, Return Call Rates may be better than local SIM cards with GSM unlocked phones. Here is how it works. First, you obtain a unique telephone number in your home country (these can be obtained from sellers such as Telestial or China Mobile. When you are traveling, you call the unique number using any phone (your mobile, your hotel, it doesn't matter). Upon the first ring you hang up. This prevents you from being charged for an international call. The Return Call Service records your number and calls you back a few moments later (China Mobile numbers offer a feature where you can record a message for this return call instructing hotel personnel to connect the call to your room). Once you receive the call back you are then within the Return Call automated system where you can dial the number of the person you wish to reach. Most cell phones do not charge for incoming calls and some SIM cards also offer free incoming international calls. Thus, you do not pay for the incoming call, you only pay the per minute fee of the Return Call service. I found fees to be around .14 cents per minute for U.S./France calls and .20 cents per minute for U.S./Thailand calls.

A word of caution for Return Call Service users: Be aware that certain Global Roaming SIM cards do not allow for use of this service. However, you should be alright with local prepaid SIM cards.

A couple of benefits of choosing Return Call Service:

* No set up fee
* Pay as you go
* No need for special equipment. In fact, you could call from any phone and really have no need to travel with a mobile.
* No need to ask clients to call you.

Our second alternative to a mobile phone will appeal to those most adventurous folks who travel beyond the boundaries of mobile phone services. The satellite phone will allow you to shoot the breeze with mom and dad while you're planting your flag on the North Pole. Satellite phones come with all the features of most mobile phones without any of the boundaries. However, you will pay the price. Satellite phones can range from $700-$2000 U.S.. You can also choose to rent if you don't wish to own. Rental prices from Telestial range from $7 per day to $19 per day depending on duration.

A word of caution for satellite phone users: In addition to your cost for purchase or rental of a satellite phone be prepared for rates around $1.70 U.S. per minute, as well as set up fees. Also, be aware that not all satellite phones reach to the far corners of the earth. Some of the less pricey brands have more limited ranges of service. Buyer beware.

Benefits of choosing a satellite phone:
* with the right phone you can get service on 100% of the globe.

Finally, we have Skype". If you'd like to do away with the phones altogether and travel only with your trusty laptop, consider Skyping. At this point in time many people are Skype pros and yet the technology is still new enough that there are plenty of folks who have never heard of it. Skype allows you to open an account on their web site with name and password. By attaching a headset to your laptop you can then "Skype Out" or place a "Skype to Skype" call to anyone anywhere. Skyping out allows you to call any telephone in the world from your laptop. Placing a Skype to Skype call refers to a call from your laptop to the computer of another individual with a Skype" account. The beauty of the Skype to Skype call is that it is completely free! However, even Skyping Out rates are extremely reasonable and better than any phone rate you can probably find. In addition, Skype accounts come with voice mail features just as your phone would.

A word of caution to potential Skype users: be sure that you will have access to a good high speed connection if you intend to use Skype for important conversations such as coaching calls to clients, or teleconferences. Without a good connection you may experience substantial noise. However, with a good connection, calls are as clear as with any other telephone.

Benefits of using Skype":
* Probably the best rates overall of any audio communication device.
* Ability to communicate without a telephone and from any place with high speed internet.
* Possibility of free communication in a Skype to Skype scenario.

If you read my first entry on mobile phone basics you may remember we left with tips on purchasing a mobile phone for international travel. They were as follows:

- ask for a GSM phone
- ask if the phone is locked. If so, how can it be unlocked?
- ask what frequency the phone uses (most countries use 900/1800 MHZ)

So, let's understand better why GSM technology is important for international travel and how it works. First, as I stated before, most of the world (over 200 countries) use GSM technology, so you will get greatest mobility with this choice. Secondly, a GSM phone is not tied to any particular service provider. In the U.S. most mobile phones are tied to a particular provider and will not work in areas the provider doesn't cover. With an unlocked GSM phone, you are able to purchase SIM cards (which stands for Subscriber Information Module) to allow you to access particular providers in the country you are visiting.

In other words, imagine I am taking a tour of 4 Mediterranean countries. I can purchase 4 pre-paid SIM cards for Italy, Greece, Spain, and France. As I move from country to country I change SIM cards and my GSM phone continues to work throughout the trip. SIM cards vary depending on the amount of minutes you are pre-purchasing. Expect $30-$60 US on average. These may come with features such as free incoming calls (including international incoming calls) or credits for outgoing minutes. Per minute rates with SIM cards should be significantly cheaper than global roaming rates.

Some people choose to purchase GSM phones from their U.S. mobile phone service and to request that the global roaming feature be activated. If you make this choice, be sure to find out what the cost per minute will be for calls from the countries you will be visiting. Costs can range up to $6.00 US per minute. Don't get slammed with a huge bill on your return. However, if you only want the ability to call out in case of emergency and don't plan on using your phone otherwise, this may be a good option.

Maybe you are convinced now that a GSM phone is essential to your voyage. Now there is another choice point. Should you rent or purchase? In my online search I found prices for unlocked international GSM phones to range from $100 to $700 US depending on features (take a look at Telestial). Rental rates average about $50 US per month with an average $20 US delivery charge (found at Cellular Express).

In terms of making the buy/rent decision you'll most likely want to consider:
1) How long will I be away?
2) How often do I travel?

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series. I'll be discussing alternative phone communications!

When you’re planning to work and travel internationally a telephone will probably be one of your essential pieces of equipment. Experienced nomads not only use their mobile phones for voice communication but often as the interface between their laptop and that country's dial up internet service (if supported by Bluetooth). Most of us are used to the mobility of cell/mobile phones these days and wouldn’t want to be dependent upon hotel phones or finding a pay phone in a remote location. So when it comes to mobile phone technology once you leave your motherland how does it all work? What are the choices and ramifications of each choice? Understanding the many variations can be mind boggling but not doing your homework can result in unexpected gigantic bills at the end of the month.

This is the first in a series of articles I’ll be writing on mobile phones and travel. So, let’s start with the basics:

Basic #1 We Are Not All the Same – GSM, CDMA, IDEN…?
It is first important to understand that different countries use different types of phone service technology. The most common is GSM service. This technology was developed so that people could move freely from country to country with one phone, simply buying what are called SIM cards to use with their phone in order to gain access to specific country services as they moved. While over 200 countries worldwide use GSM service, the U.S. does not. The U.S. uses a variety of other technology such as CDMA and IDEN among others. In the U.S. most mobile phones only work with their particular service provider technology.
Therefore, a mobile phone purchased in the U.S. will likely not work in other countries. While some mobile phone providers (TMobile, Cingular) will sell GSM phones, be aware that the Global Roaming feature must be enabled by the provider and that roaming charges will be accrued should you place a call while traveling. In addition, a U.S. GSM phone may not work on the correct frequency for the country you are visiting and therefore be useless to you when you arrive. This brings us to Basic #2.

Basic #2 We Dance to Different Drummers – Frequency Issues
Just as you will find different services in various countries you may visit, you may also find that mobile phones are running on a different frequency. The U.S. uses 850 and 1900 MHZ bands while most other countries use a combination of 900 and 1800 MHZ. Mobile phones can only make and receive calls if they are using the same frequency bands as the country you are standing in. So – as stated above – a GSM phone purchased in the U.S. that works in U.S. frequency bands will not work abroad in most countries. It is possible to find some phones that are tri-band or quad-band but they are uncommon and expensive. Check on the frequencies used in your destination country before you purchase a phone. For a comprehensive list of frequencies for various countries visit: GSM World

Basic #3 Don’t Get Locked Out – Unlocking Mobile Phones
You may be getting the feeling that that U.S. is a pain in the butt when it comes to playing mobile phone games with other countries. You’re right. Here’s another U.S. issue. The mobile phone you buy in the U.S. is most likely “locked”. This means it has been made to only work with the provider you bought it from. In other words, the phone you get from the Sprint counter will only work as long as you pay for Sprint service. If you buy a GSM phone and wish to use it abroad by purchasing another country’s SIM card (to be discussed) you will need to get your phone “unlocked”. This can be done on some phones by perusing the internet for the unlocking code for your make and model. However, certain phones will require a visit to the provider to be unlocked.

O.K., so there are the bare bones basics to how the mobile phone world works. In a nutshell, many travelers find that purchasing an unlocked GSM phone that runs on frequencies for the countries they are visiting (most likely 900/1800 MHZ) and then purchasing a SIM card for the particular country is the most cost effective way to go. SIM cards can be purchased in most countries at convenience stores, book stores, gas stations, etc. The rates are usually very reasonable and many include incentives such as a certain number of free minutes. If you don’t wish to worry about purchasing a SIM card when you arrive in your destination, you might like to purchase one before your departure. SIM cards for many countries can be purchased through Telestial and delivered to you before your flight.

Quick Tips for mobile phone decision making:
- ask for a GSM phone
- ask if the phone is locked. If so, how can it be unlocked?
- ask what frequency the phone uses (most countries use 900/1800 MHZ)
Note: If you’re traveling to Japan, it is one of the few non-U.S, countries that does not use GSM.

Cell/Mobile Phone Basics for Travelers Part 3: Beyond the Mobile Phone

In this last post on cell/mobile basics let's look at choices for those of you wanting alternatives to mobile phone communication while you galavant around the globe.

Return Call Service (also called Call Back Service) offers an alternative way for international travelers using mobile phones to avoid the high international rates for outgoing calls on their phone. In some cases, Return Call Rates may be better than local SIM cards with GSM unlocked phones. Here is how it works. First, you obtain a unique telephone number in your home country (these can be obtained from sellers such as Telestial or China Mobile. When you are traveling, you call the unique number using any phone (your mobile, your hotel, it doesn't matter). Upon the first ring you hang up. This prevents you from being charged for an international call. The Return Call Service records your number and calls you back a few moments later (China Mobile numbers offer a feature where you can record a message for this return call instructing hotel personnel to connect the call to your room). Once you receive the call back you are then within the Return Call automated system where you can dial the number of the person you wish to reach. Most cell phones do not charge for incoming calls and some SIM cards also offer free incoming international calls. Thus, you do not pay for the incoming call, you only pay the per minute fee of the Return Call service. I found fees to be around .14 cents per minute for U.S./France calls and .20 cents per minute for U.S./Thailand calls.

A word of caution for Return Call Service users: Be aware that certain Global Roaming SIM cards do not allow for use of this service. However, you should be alright with local prepaid SIM cards.

A couple of benefits of choosing Return Call Service:

* No set up fee
* Pay as you go
* No need for special equipment. In fact, you could call from any phone and really have no need to travel with a mobile.
* No need to ask clients to call you.

Our second alternative to a mobile phone will appeal to those most adventurous folks who travel beyond the boundaries of mobile phone services. The satellite phone will allow you to shoot the breeze with mom and dad while you're planting your flag on the North Pole. Satellite phones come with all the features of most mobile phones without any of the boundaries. However, you will pay the price. Satellite phones can range from $700-$2000 U.S.. You can also choose to rent if you don't wish to own. Rental prices from Telestial range from $7 per day to $19 per day depending on duration.

A word of caution for satellite phone users: In addition to your cost for purchase or rental of a satellite phone be prepared for rates around $1.70 U.S. per minute, as well as set up fees. Also, be aware that not all satellite phones reach to the far corners of the earth. Some of the less pricey brands have more limited ranges of service. Buyer beware.

Benefits of choosing a satellite phone:
* with the right phone you can get service on 100% of the globe.

Finally, we have Skype". If you'd like to do away with the phones altogether and travel only with your trusty laptop, consider Skyping. At this point in time many people are Skype pros and yet the technology is still new enough that there are plenty of folks who have never heard of it. Skype allows you to open an account on their web site with name and password. By attaching a headset to your laptop you can then "Skype Out" or place a "Skype to Skype" call to anyone anywhere. Skyping out allows you to call any telephone in the world from your laptop. Placing a Skype to Skype call refers to a call from your laptop to the computer of another individual with a Skype" account. The beauty of the Skype to Skype call is that it is completely free! However, even Skyping Out rates are extremely reasonable and better than any phone rate you can probably find. In addition, Skype accounts come with voice mail features just as your phone would.

A word of caution to potential Skype users: be sure that you will have access to a good high speed connection if you intend to use Skype for important conversations such as coaching calls to clients, or teleconferences. Without a good connection you may experience substantial noise. However, with a good connection, calls are as clear as with any other telephone.

Benefits of using Skype":
* Probably the best rates overall of any audio communication device.
* Ability to communicate without a telephone and from any place with high speed internet.
* Possibility of free communication in a Skype to Skype scenario.

Cell/Mobile Phone Basics for Travelers Part 2 - Why GSM?

If you read my first entry on mobile phone basics you may remember we left with tips on purchasing a mobile phone for international travel. They were as follows:

- ask for a GSM phone
- ask if the phone is locked. If so, how can it be unlocked?
- ask what frequency the phone uses (most countries use 900/1800 MHZ)

So, let's understand better why GSM technology is important for international travel and how it works. First, as I stated before, most of the world (over 200 countries) use GSM technology, so you will get greatest mobility with this choice. Secondly, a GSM phone is not tied to any particular service provider. In the U.S. most mobile phones are tied to a particular provider and will not work in areas the provider doesn't cover. With an unlocked GSM phone, you are able to purchase SIM cards (which stands for Subscriber Information Module) to allow you to access particular providers in the country you are visiting.

In other words, imagine I am taking a tour of 4 Mediterranean countries. I can purchase 4 pre-paid SIM cards for Italy, Greece, Spain, and France. As I move from country to country I change SIM cards and my GSM phone continues to work throughout the trip. SIM cards vary depending on the amount of minutes you are pre-purchasing. Expect $30-$60 US on average. These may come with features such as free incoming calls (including international incoming calls) or credits for outgoing minutes. Per minute rates with SIM cards should be significantly cheaper than global roaming rates.

Some people choose to purchase GSM phones from their U.S. mobile phone service and to request that the global roaming feature be activated. If you make this choice, be sure to find out what the cost per minute will be for calls from the countries you will be visiting. Costs can range up to $6.00 US per minute. Don't get slammed with a huge bill on your return. However, if you only want the ability to call out in case of emergency and don't plan on using your phone otherwise, this may be a good option.

Maybe you are convinced now that a GSM phone is essential to your voyage. Now there is another choice point. Should you rent or purchase? In my online search I found prices for unlocked international GSM phones to range from $100 to $700 US depending on features (take a look at Telestial). Rental rates average about $50 US per month with an average $20 US delivery charge (found at Cellular Express).

In terms of making the buy/rent decision you'll most likely want to consider:
1) How long will I be away?
2) How often do I travel?

Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series. I'll be discussing alternative phone communications!

Cell/Mobile Phone Basics for Travelers

When you’re planning to work and travel internationally a telephone will probably be one of your essential pieces of equipment. Experienced nomads not only use their mobile phones for voice communication but often as the interface between their laptop and that country's dial up internet service (if supported by Bluetooth). Most of us are used to the mobility of cell/mobile phones these days and wouldn’t want to be dependent upon hotel phones or finding a pay phone in a remote location. So when it comes to mobile phone technology once you leave your motherland how does it all work? What are the choices and ramifications of each choice? Understanding the many variations can be mind boggling but not doing your homework can result in unexpected gigantic bills at the end of the month.

This is the first in a series of articles I’ll be writing on mobile phones and travel. So, let’s start with the basics:

Basic #1 We Are Not All the Same – GSM, CDMA, IDEN…?
It is first important to understand that different countries use different types of phone service technology. The most common is GSM service. This technology was developed so that people could move freely from country to country with one phone, simply buying what are called SIM cards to use with their phone in order to gain access to specific country services as they moved. While over 200 countries worldwide use GSM service, the U.S. does not. The U.S. uses a variety of other technology such as CDMA and IDEN among others. In the U.S. most mobile phones only work with their particular service provider technology.
Therefore, a mobile phone purchased in the U.S. will likely not work in other countries. While some mobile phone providers (TMobile, Cingular) will sell GSM phones, be aware that the Global Roaming feature must be enabled by the provider and that roaming charges will be accrued should you place a call while traveling. In addition, a U.S. GSM phone may not work on the correct frequency for the country you are visiting and therefore be useless to you when you arrive. This brings us to Basic #2.

Basic #2 We Dance to Different Drummers – Frequency Issues
Just as you will find different services in various countries you may visit, you may also find that mobile phones are running on a different frequency. The U.S. uses 850 and 1900 MHZ bands while most other countries use a combination of 900 and 1800 MHZ. Mobile phones can only make and receive calls if they are using the same frequency bands as the country you are standing in. So – as stated above – a GSM phone purchased in the U.S. that works in U.S. frequency bands will not work abroad in most countries. It is possible to find some phones that are tri-band or quad-band but they are uncommon and expensive. Check on the frequencies used in your destination country before you purchase a phone. For a comprehensive list of frequencies for various countries visit: GSM World

Basic #3 Don’t Get Locked Out – Unlocking Mobile Phones
You may be getting the feeling that that U.S. is a pain in the butt when it comes to playing mobile phone games with other countries. You’re right. Here’s another U.S. issue. The mobile phone you buy in the U.S. is most likely “locked”. This means it has been made to only work with the provider you bought it from. In other words, the phone you get from the Sprint counter will only work as long as you pay for Sprint service. If you buy a GSM phone and wish to use it abroad by purchasing another country’s SIM card (to be discussed) you will need to get your phone “unlocked”. This can be done on some phones by perusing the internet for the unlocking code for your make and model. However, certain phones will require a visit to the provider to be unlocked.

O.K., so there are the bare bones basics to how the mobile phone world works. In a nutshell, many travelers find that purchasing an unlocked GSM phone that runs on frequencies for the countries they are visiting (most likely 900/1800 MHZ) and then purchasing a SIM card for the particular country is the most cost effective way to go. SIM cards can be purchased in most countries at convenience stores, book stores, gas stations, etc. The rates are usually very reasonable and many include incentives such as a certain number of free minutes. If you don’t wish to worry about purchasing a SIM card when you arrive in your destination, you might like to purchase one before your departure. SIM cards for many countries can be purchased through Telestial and delivered to you before your flight.

Quick Tips for mobile phone decision making:
- ask for a GSM phone
- ask if the phone is locked. If so, how can it be unlocked?
- ask what frequency the phone uses (most countries use 900/1800 MHZ)
Note: If you’re traveling to Japan, it is one of the few non-U.S, countries that does not use GSM.