I'm planning a month-long trip through China in a few months. I would
like to be able to keep in touch (for emergencies) with the folks back
in the USA. Is there a way that I can rent/buy/obtain a temporary cell
phonefor my use while there?  I don't need a hugh number of minutes,
and I don't plan to use it excpt for emergency contact, or brief "I'm
OK" messages.

dbcassell..

Thanks for your question and I envy you for your trip.  My Father
spent a month in China and loved it.

There are several places you can rent cell phones for international
use. A key issue is if you will be in remote areas without cell
coverage.  Since you didn't specify, I will provide information
regarding cell as well as satellite phone rental.

The first place I checked, Abroad Phone Rental, provides a phone for
use in China that is $89 a month.  Catch is that there is a "minimum
minutes" clause in the agreement of 5 minutes a day for rentals of
more than 7 days.  Their current rate to outbound calls to the US is
$4.75 a minute, which works out to over $20 a day for rental.
http://www.abroad-phone-rental.com/China_cell_phone_rental.htm

They also offer satellite phones for $220 month, 5 minute daily minute
minimum at $3.90 a minute both inbound and outbound
http://www.abroad-phone-rental.com/China_globalstar_satellite_phone_rental.htm

International Cellular Services offers phone rentals for China at
$35.00 a week, or $90 a month with a $4.00 per minute charge for calls
to the US and no minimum usage. It also includes voice mail service.
http://www.internationalcellular.com/rates/services/gsm/main.htm

They also offer satellite phones for $200.00 a month or $99.00 a week
with per minute charge of $3.75
http://www.internationalcellular.com/rates/services/sat/main.htm

As a side note, ICS was rated #1 cellular phone rental company by
American Express Departures Magazine

Cellular Express Phone Rentals will rent you a phone for $49.95 a
month, with a per minute charge of $3.74for calls to the US with a 3
minute per day minimum
http://cellularexpressphonerentals.com/rates.html

They also offer satellite phones for $345.00 a month, $3.95 per minute
with a 5 minute per day minimum

These are only three of several companies I looked at and, in my
opinion, your best bet would be ICS.  You can can find more within the
Google Directory at http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Telecommunications/Wireless/Equipment/Phones/Rentals/?il=1

Thanks again for your question and have a safe, enjoyable trip.  If
you need any further clarification, please let me know.

Regards,

-THV

Search Terms:
international cell phone rental

Exactly the answer I needed.

Hi dbcassell,

There is one simple solution, depending on what country you come from
yourself. China uses the GSM-system and when you take a GSM-based cell
phone from home and you can simply buy a pre-paid card everywhere on
the street here in Shanghai and other cities for 100 Renminbi (US$12)
or less and that should be enough for your usage.
Unfortunately, most cell phones in the US are CDMA-based. China Unicom
is rolling out that system too, but has no national coverage yet.
Have fun in China,

Regards,

Fons