Reviewed by Los Angeles Times

Smart phones can be a costly travel companion

“ a German traveler who got a 46,000 euro bill (about $69,000) for downloading a TV program in France is an excellent reminder of the kind of trouble an international traveler can get into with a smart phone. … some tips:  Rent or buy a global phone. Companies such as Telestial … often have the better rates. And Telestial offers voice and data SIM cards. Such alternatives can let you pay in advance so you don't get blindsided later.”

Reviewed by Chicago Tribune

"High-Tech" Wireless Phone Sometimes "Too High Tech"

“we … recommend an even better way to keep costs down: Unlock your phone, remove the AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card, and replace it with one or more European SIM cards for your trip. … if you prefer a single card that works around Europe, calling with a multicountry European SIM card costs a bit more than with one-country cards, but still a lot less than "roaming" charges with your U.S. card. You can buy overseas SIM cards before you leave home from … Telestial.”

Reviewed by PC World

Using a Mobile Phone Overseas

“You don't have to wait until you arrive overseas to buy a SIM card for another country, however. Example: In advance of … [my] UK trip, I purchased the Passport US SIM Card ($29; includes $10 of airtime) from Telestial.  With Telestial's Passport US SIM Card, I get both a U.S. and UK phone number. If someone dials the U.S. number and I answer in the UK, the caller pays only U.S. long distance charges (or none, depending upon their phone plan). I'm charged $0.19 per minute to receive those calls--a lot less than the $0.99 or $1.29 per minute I'd pay AT&T, my wireless carrier, for international roaming with my Apple iPhone.

Also, incoming calls made to my UK number are free for me regardless of where the call originates; they're free or low-cost to callers in the UK. Calls I make from within the UK to landlines, regardless of the country they're in, are $0.49 per minute.”

Reviewed by MSNBC.com

Roaming rip-off.  5 secrets for avoiding sky-high cell phone bills on the road

A recent Harris Interactive survey found international roaming fees cost U.S. businesses an average of $693 per trip per traveler. In Europe, the typical wireless company generates between 3 percent and 10 percent of their revenue — an annual total of 5 billion euro a year — through roaming fees, according to the GSM Association.  … Why? Because they can, says Ken Grunski, President of wireless company Telestial. "When you roam, you are using your phone on another company's network, not the network of your own wireless company," he says. "These other companies generally charge high wholesale charges to your company for using their network."

Reviewed by New York Times, Gadgetwise

Being Smart About Your Smartphone Abroad

“If you have an unlocked GSM phone, you can buy a prepaid SIM card for the country in which you’re traveling, … : Telestial, an American company that sells overseas SIM cards, offers data plans that are as low as $5 [now $2.5] a MB for Britain”

Reviewed by CNET.com

FAQ: Swapping SIMs to save big on calls abroad

“SIM cards bought for a specific country often have high roaming rates when these SIM cards are used outside that country. Telestial, which offers low-cost roaming in over 130 [now 150] countries, offers a unique international roaming SIM that offers users two numbers: one from the U.K. and one from the U.S. Users will receive calls and text messages when people call either number. Calling rates start as low as 29 cents a minute. The SIM card itself costs $29 and comes with $10 of airtime preloaded.”

Reviewed on Clark Howard National Radio Show

Avoid heavy charges for using your cell phone overseas

“Recently, Clark heard from a listener who took an iPhone to Europe and got hit with more than $5,000 in fees for overseas use.... But realize that there is a much better alternative. Get a pre-paid SIM chip to use in an unlocked world phone. Clark … recommends Telestial.com. Whatever you do, don't trust a stateside cell carrier with your wallet while overseas!”

Reviewed on CNNMoney.com

Staying connected to your business from overseas

“For better savings, consider using two phones - one for data, the other for talking. Telestial offers cheap calls via a SIM card - called the Passport - that can be inserted into unlocked GSM phones. The card costs $39 [now $29] and works in 110 [now 150] countries around the world, primarily in Europe, where outgoing calls are $0.49 per minute, while received calls are free.”

Reviewed by the New York Times

Navigating the New World of Cellphones, as the Options Pile Up

“Travelers too lazy or too enthralled by their journeys to keep comprehensive journals … (can) outsource the job to their cellphones. Telestial, an international cellphone network ... tracks your travels and posts (to your private Web page) stock photos of everywhere you’ve been. Then while you’re sitting on the runway waiting for takeoff, you can post entries on your online travel journal via text message. The service is included in the price of Telestial’s international phone packages or SIM cards.”

Reviewed by the Dallas Morning News

Call for help before you need to phone home from overseas

“Another option is to go with a company such as Telestial, which offers SIM cards that allow users to make international calls without paying outrageous roaming fees. Customers pay $49 [now $29] for an international SIM card that comes with $10 of talk time, and the SIM card enables the phone to work in more than 90 [now 150] destinations worldwide. Outgoing calls to the U.S. start at as little as 49 cents a minute.”

Reviewed by CNet News

New service creates travel journal by tracking cell phone.

“Online travel communications retailer Telestial has just launched Travel Journal, an online service that automatically creates an online trip journal based on the location of the user's phone. Using a special SIM card that triangulates the user's location using cell phone towers, Travel Journal automatically updates in more than 100 countries. T rip data is displayed on a Google map and a journal is created with images of locations visited by the traveler, local weather, and a record of recent communications. Users can manually update their journal by sending text messages or photos to the Travel Journal site. … This service …(is) fun for people planning road trips or international travel. … (they can) enjoy their travel, instead on focusing on chronicling it.”

Reviewed by CBS

Carry On! The Best Travel Gadgets

"Telestial SIM CARD/GSM PHONE, $100 [now $89]. The GSM phone available through Telestial also works overseas; you insert a SIM card that will work with a local number and a local rate, so you can forget the exorbitant fees. There is free incoming calls in 40 [now 60] countries in the world. No contract is necessary."

"Unlike phone rental options, Telestial eliminates problems associated with incompatible cellular networks abroad or being tied to a U.S. network that charges huge overseas rates. Telestial works with international providers, and their customers can get the same low local call rates that international residents would pay, plus the convenience of having an enabled phone prior to arriving in an international destination."

Reviewed by

Another phone menu: how to call home from abroad

"A Telestial GSM 900/1800 international cell phone starts at $99 [now $39], while a smaller phone with more features begins at $179 [now $119]. SIM cards cost $17-$79, but Telestial says they pay for themselves within 30 minutes of use when comparing the costs with international roaming rates. With Telestial's $49 [now $29] Passport SIM card, for instance, that call from Spain would cost 49 cents a minute. Using a $59 Explorer SIM card, a call from Russia would be 45 cents a minute. Both cards allow free incoming calls from the United States."

Reviewed by

Calling From Abroad at Reasonable Rates

“Telestial's customers are billed only when they use the service, so it's a good backup option for any traveler to have…”

Reviewed by

A Celestial deal from Telestial

“You’ll get the lowest possible per-minute rates.”
“Telestial holds you hand every step of the way.…”

Reviewed by

The best travel technology product awards

“...an essential convenience for anyone traveling out of the US. No matter where they are, a single phone number reaches the traveler, affordably and easily.”

Reviewed by

Staying Connected

"If you want to save money, get a GSM phone from an independent supplier like Telestial.”