Looking for a cell phone plan with 140 country coverage with one (1)
universal number.  Must work in US

NO contracts

Billed only on out-going/incoming calls

Saw an ad for this service using a Nokia phone for  $99 in the Sept
2004 edition of a magazine-- Budget Travel or Conde Nast
Traveller, or Travel and Leisure.

Ad was on the lower left corner, approx 1/4 column height.

Had an active WEB site said it had been in business since the 80's primarily in
Europe,  and recommended by Formmers and ???Rick Steves.

Cannot remember name or find it.

Is the company legimate--no major conplaints.

If not this company, then I am looking for a universal phone with one
number working in US and world with no contracts, and no need to
unlock.

Travel frequently. Very Budget minded small entrepreneur start-up

I am certain that the ad you saw was for Mobal, which has endorsements
from Frommer's and from Rick Steves on this page:

Mobal Rental
http://www.mobalrental.com/testimonials.asp

Here's Mobal's selection of phone models. Please note that not all of
these will work in the United States; you'll want to choose one of the
tri-band phones that operates at 1900 MHz:

Mobal Rental
http://www.mobalrental.com/gsm/handsets.asp

Regarding the legitimacy of the company, I've found nothing negative.
Mobal has been operating since the mid-1980s, and is a division of
Mobell Communications Ltd:

Mobell Communications, Ltd
http://www.mobell.co.uk/about_mobell.asp

"Founded in 1985, Mobal has expanded from its initial roots in
England, to become one of the world's largest providers of
international cell phone rentals, sales, and global roaming solutions.
With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, The Czech Republic, and
Hednesford, England, Mobal provides simple solutions to keep
international travelers in touch worldwide in over 130 countries.
Mobal is able to deliver a service tailored specifically to customers
with a variety of communication needs including short-term
international phone rentals, international phone sales with the
customer's own permanent international number (with No monthly access
charge) for the more seasoned international traveler, and a full line
of satellite phones for coverage in even the most remote regions
around the globe."

Edge Wireless
http://www.edgewireless.com/custservice/news_03_11_4.html

Here's a well-detailed review:

"The Mobal phone service gives you an international SIM that works in
over 140 different countries in the world, complete with an (optional)
phone to use with the SIM.

If you don't already have a suitable international GSM phone, you can
also choose a phone at very discounted prices...

Because the SIM is issued by a UK phone company, it has a British
phone number associated with it.  No matter where you are in the
world, people will always get through to your phone by calling the UK
number assigned to the SIM...

You can also buy the SIM card by itself and use it with any GSM phone
that you might already have.  The SIM card - without a phone - costs
only $19 - less than what a hotel would charge you for even a very
brief international call from the phone in your hotel room.

If you choose to buy the SIM alone, be sure to remember that the GSM
phone you use must not only have compatible frequency bands but also
must be unlocked.  If you're not certain if the phone is unlocked or
not, it will quickly tell you this when you put the Mobal SIM into it.

We tested Mobal's SIM with a range of different Nokia, Sony Ericsson,
Motorola and Siemens phones, and it worked perfectly in all of them.

Buying the SIM by itself is a good strategy if you already have a high
end phone that you'd rather use.  But for the minimal $30 extra cost
to get a nice dual band phone that can be kept as a spare, this might
also be something to consider."

The Travel Insider: Mobal GSM World Phone Service
http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roadwarriorcontent/mobalrental.htm

Google search strategy:

Google Web Search: mobal "world phone"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=mobal+%22world+phone

I hope this is precisely the information you need. If not, please
request clarification; I'll be glad to offer further assistance before
you rate my answer.

Best regards,
pinkfreud

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Request for Answer Clarification by iambrilliant-ga on 20 Sep 2004 10:33 PDT

Terrific---that was the name!

How the hell did you do it?  I spent hours going thru those mazazines.

Did you find any other companies--never used a cell phone---- question
if rates fair.

---

Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 20 Sep 2004 11:19 PDT

Concerning how I did it, although I don't read any of the magazines
you mentioned, I do read "Time," and I had seen a mention of Mobal in
"Time" a few weeks ago. Somehow the name "Mobal" stuck in my memory,
and your description of the service brought it to mind. When I saw
that both Frommer's and Rick Steves were on Mobal's page of
testimonials, that cinched it. (Which reminds me: who the heck is Rick
Steves?)

Frankly, from what I have read, I don't think there is any service
that compares to this one. The rate structure is rather unique, and
the ability to use the phone in 140 nations is remarkable. If you are
concerned about costs, this table may be useful for comparison:

http://www.thetravelinsider.info/info/gsmcosts.htm

~pinkfreud

fantastic--great turnaround--less than an hour