Traveling abroad means being away from your loved ones for an extended period. You can bridge that gap through constant communication using your phone. The default way of doing this is to activate your carrier’s roaming services. However, the high cost of this service is driving people to look for cheaper alternatives. The two most prominent solutions are the global SIM card and the local SIM card. Both have several things going for them. The former can be used in different countries around the world while the latter is tied to a country but can provide cheaper rates. Read on for a deeper comparison of features:
SIM Switching
A person who travels rarely or focuses on a single destination may be better served by a local SIM card. Since there are lots of dual-SIM phones right now, just use the other slot for the local SIM while retaining the original one. Enjoy the low local rates. However, those who are moving from one country to another several time will probably want a global SIM card since one of these is enough to cover all of their destinations. They don’t have to keep buying multiple local cards and switching what’s inside their phones.
Credit Expiry
Another thing to watch out for is the longevity of the prepaid card and its credits. Local cards may expire within a few months. The same is true about the credits. In fact, some prepaid packages can expire within days or weeks. If you are moving to another country, then you will basically forfeit and waste the excess credits that you bought. If using a global SIM, then the credits will continue to stay active no matter where you go. You can budget your usage throughout the whole trip. The card itself will not expire for a long time even if you are not using it. Check the specifics of each card to learn more details.
Fixed Number
A local SIM will provide you with a local number that enables excellent communication if you have contacts within that country. For example, you might be traveling with a group and you want to stay in touch with them in case one gets lost or goes somewhere else. It’s also good for people who depend on local guides and need to use local services. On the other hand, a global SIM will provide a US number that people back home can call without incurring massive charges.
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