Make and receive calls in over 200 countries! View List

Cellular Abroad has made it simple for anyone with an unlocked GSM phone with the appropriate network to utilize the National Geographic Talk Abroad® Travel SIM Card’s low international rates and free incoming calls in more than 70 countries. The SIM card has two phone numbers, a US based number as well as a UK based number. Both numbers are always active and do not require a monthly fee. Incoming calls on the UK number are free in more than 70 countries. There is a $0.25 surcharge to all calls made to the US number.

You can forward your US or Canadian number to the US number and get the same benefits as roaming without the fees! Or, you can give some of your contacts your new US number and other contacts your UK number. Adding additional talk time is a snap. Either speak to a live rep (toll free) or enter a short sequence on your handset to add call credit.

Whether you are a frequent business traveler or a tourist seeking a reliable yet affordable calling solution, the Talk Abroad International Travel SIM will cover you in over 200 countries. Since this is a prepaid solution, there are no contracts to sign or monthly bills – ever!

• U.K. and U.S. phone numbers
• Unlimited free incoming calls in more than 70 countries
• Low outgoing rates
• Prepaid service – no bills, contracts, or hidden fees
• One phone number in all destinations
• Voice mail, text messaging, and 24/7 , U.S. based customer support
• Auto recharge talk credit from your handset via SMS
• Easy to check your call credit 24/7
• Easy to add talk time
• Uses the same GSM technology that over 200 countries around the world use.

Required:

• An unlocked tri-band or quad-band GSM phone (for most uses outside the U.S.)
• (You can also rent or buy a SIM card/phone package from Cellular Abroad)

Activating Your Service:
Simply make a call in order to activate your Talk Abroad™ International SIM card. Your service is valid for 12 months from the day of activation. Recharging your SIM card (adding talk time), extends the validity for another 12 months from the day you add the credit.  Please note that while the service does work in North America (in areas with GSM coverage), the service is intended for use overseas and therefore, placing a call from your handset in North America is expensive.

Your Phone Number:
You will have U.K. and U.S. phone numbers, regardless of where you are traveling. Your phone numbers are emailed to you the same day you place an order, and will be clearly marked on you invoice.

Checking Your Credit:
You may check your credit at any time by dialing 187 on your handset. This is a free service. You will receive a text message with your current credit. You will also receive an SMS text message after each call notifying you of your current credit.

Adding Talk Time to Your SIM Card:
You can add talk time at any time - together with your purchase as well as prior to and during your trip. You can add $29 to your account at any time, instantly, by dialing a simple 3-digit number. Previous call credit will accumulate with your new call credit.


Making and Receiving Calls:
When you make a call, charges begin only when the other party answers the call or if the call goes to voicemail. Outgoing and incoming call charges, where applicable, are based on 60-second intervals.

Helpful Tips

If you do not have an unlocked tri or quad band GSM phone, please check out our discounted deals for a Talk Abroad International SIM card and GSM phone packages.

Voice mail:
Your voice mail is already activated. You can access your voice mail system from your handset. (It's the cost of a call to the UK.) From your handset, you dial a 3 digit number as per our instructions and follow the prompts to listen to messages. You will receive a text message alerting you of any new voicemails.

SMS:
You can send and receive SMS text messages from your Talk Abroad™ international cell phone. However, we nor any carrier be responsible nor guarantee that you will always be able to send and receive SMS messages in all circumstances and in all countries. SMS text messages are free to receive and are $0.60 to send, regardless of the country.

Other SIM Cards:
If you should choose to buy a Talk Abroad™ Package, you are not "locked" into only using the SIM card that comes with the package. If you would like to use a Country Specific SIM Card in your phone, you may do so. (Obviously, if you have an unlocked GSM phone, the Talk Abroad™ card will not prevent you from using other SIM cards in your phone.)

A Country-Specific SIM Card is usually advantageous if you plan to spend a certain portion of your trip in a specific country (or countries) in order to take advantage of that country's rates, usually including unlimited free incoming calls. Please click here for a list of our Country Specific SIM Cards.

Service Life:
The service life of your Talk Abroad™ SIM card is 12 months from your last call credit addition. You must add one $29 recharge voucher once every 12 months to extend the service life of you SIM card.