WorldCell Supplies Global Mobile Phones to U.S. Students Planning International Excursions

SILVER SPRING, MD --September 08, 2003-- Each school year, WorldCell, Inc. equips more and more globe-trekking students with wireless world phones. Students participating in international class trips or taking entire semesters abroad are renting or buying world phones from WorldCell to better stay in touch with family and emergency services while overseas.

"Initially, WorldCell rented world phones almost exclusively to business travelers, but in the last few years we have seen a rise in the number of students who opt to take a mobile phone with them on international trips," said Greg Buckman, VP of Sales and Marketing for WorldCell, Inc. "It is a personal safety precaution, and it also reflects how second nature it has become for many young people to have a mobile phone available at all times. So when students go abroad, they expect the same level of availability, convenience, comfort, and security they get from their domestic mobile service."

Very few U.S. wireless subscribers possess handsets or service plans that make international roaming possible. U.S. travelers with CDMA or TDMA based phones can't use them outside the Americas. Even if U.S. travelers have a wireless phone that operates on the GSM standard used worldwide, the GSM networks in the U.S. use a different frequency than GSM networks in Europe and elsewhere. Some U.S. wireless carriers do offer international service plans for subscribers with world phones, but travelers can run into problems if their carrier fails to register their phones with foreign operators.

"Although a significant number of U.S. travelers use international phone services, they still only represent a small percentage of U.S. operators' total business, so ensuring completely reliable global phone service isn't necessarily a high priority for them," said Buckman. "But supplying world travelers with global communications is WorldCell's core business, and as a result we focus entirely on making the service reliable and hassle-free."

Once a student supplies WorldCell with destination information and travel dates, WorldCell ships them an international mobile phone pre-programmed to work in the locations where the student is traveling. In addition, students receive two batteries, a car charger, a global charger, and an adapter for each travel destination, simplified billing, and 24-7 expert, English-speaking customer service 365 days of the year. No domestic carrier takes this many steps to ensure reliable communications while abroad.

Some students choose to replace their phones' U.S. SIM cards with pre-paid SIM cards purchased in the country in which they are traveling. This approach can reduce airtime rates, but it also has its drawbacks. A new SIM card will usually be required for each new country visited, and a new phone number is supplied for each new card. Swapping cards and programming phones does not normally come with the help of customer service, and finding English-speaking support is difficult.

"Swapping SIM cards is an option, but when you are traveling you really don't want to spend time dealing with your phone. There are enough other hassles to contend with on a trip, and everyone would rather be taking in the sights and relaxing than hunting down SIM cards and programming phones," added Buckman.

WorldCell offers special student discounts, and offers alerts for parents of students whose airtime charges approach agreed upon limits, so bills don't reach astronomical levels.

About WorldCell
WorldCell, Inc. (www.worldcell.com) is a wireless services company providing global voice and data mobile communications for professionals, leisure travelers, students, corporations, and government agencies. Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, WorldCell offers mobile phones and satellite phones with coverage in over 220 countries and territories worldwide. WorldCell's unique combination of low airtime rates, global coverage, and courteous 24-7-365 customer care, makes the company a leader in the travel communications industry and the choice of many businesses, government agencies, and individual travelers.

Contact:
WorldCell, Inc.
Fayth Kayser
fkayser@worldcell.com
301.960.0060 ext. 609