AT&T's international cell phone service is available for their US customers traveling overseas. AT&T uses CDMA as well GSM in the United States and GSM internationally so while some customer are already capable of using their domestic phones overseas, the vast majority are not. When in doubt, call AT&T and make sure that your cell phone is compatible with the overseas networks (900 and/or 1800 Mhz).

With AT&T's International cellular service your phone bill will appear on your regular monthly statement and you will retain your usual US cell phone number regardless of the country or countries to where you will be traveling. AT&T's international service is quite convoluted and it the rates and can from moderate to very steep so it is helpful to understand their costs well if you have any intention on using their international cellular service. There are no monthly charges or sign up fees but the per minute usage rates can be hefty, especially compared to the alternatives. If you do have an international cell phone through AT&T and do go outside the country without signing up for any of AT&T's optional services, your rates will start at over $3 per minute in and out - and that is for the countries where service is the least expensive. If you are a frequent traveler and it is important for you to retain your US based cell phone number, we recommend that you enroll in AT&T's WorldConnect(r) service. You are better off purchasing a world phone from them or even from another source such as Cellular Abroad. AT&T doesn't rent phones so if you currently do not have a phone that works overseas, you will need to get one. AT&T's WorldConnect(r) service will cost you $36 to sign up plus $7.99 per month. If you also sign up for AT&T's long distance plan for another $5.99 per month, which is recommended, your rates will be anywhere from $0.99 per minute on the low end to $5.66 on the high end depending on where you will travel.

Alternatively, you can rent or purchase an international cellular phone through Cellular Abroad. There are no monthly sign up rates and the calling rates are easy to understand and just fractions of AT&T's rates. Incoming calls are free for most countries and outgoing rates vary depending on where they are too but in sum, the service is affordable enough that virtually anyone traveling overseas wishing to have a phone can do so. For more information please visit www.cellularabroad.com.