A Mobile phone without roaming charges?

Filed in archive Technology on April 3, 2006

A reader recently suggested me to take a look at this interesting start-up - United Mobile.

Imagine you equip your mobile phone with a magic SIM card that lets you roam and receive calls for free irrespective of where your next flight takes you. Sounds preposterous?

" United Mobile is a licensed Mobile Virtual Network Operator and provides worldwide mobile communications services with its own network infrastructure and SIM cards.

United Mobile has developed a revolutionary technology, eliminating expensive roaming costs. United Mobile offers free incoming calls in 80 countries and international outgoing calls at worldwide low rates. "

The company is around for some time and ships SIM cards with a Liechtenstein number. Depending on where you are and where you are calling to different outbound call rates apply. The system is based on call back but should switch to a native calling soon. Also the company might plan to have local numbers instead of the rather weird Liechtenstein number too (you simply to not feel comfortable calling such a number from outside Europe).

However this is certainly a tool for budget conscious word travellers - like myself. What do you think - is that a viable alternative?