Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Local SIM vs Global SIM card- Which is more cost- effective?

You have your “unlocked” phone and your clothes packed, you know you’re all set to travel. And you don’t want to pay very expensive roaming charges from your phone provider. The next thing you have in mind is whether to get a local SIM card or purchase one of the global/international SIM cards. Now, I’ll break it down for you, the features and benefits they both offer, so it would be easier for you to decide.

If your answer is YES to the following questions, then you’re better off with the local SIM card.

1. Is this your first and last travel?

2. Will you be away for just two weeks or less?

3. Do you have no one, meaning no family member or no friends at all who are planning to travel?

If you answer NO to those questions, well it’s more beneficial for you to get a Global SIM card/International SIM card instead. If you think that global SIM card costs more, well read more and you can think again.

Global SIM cards like Matrix Global SIM have a lot of advantages. If you’re a frequent traveler whether for business or leisure, or you go out of the country at least twice a year, then you should get one Global SIM card/International SIM card. You can use this is in more than 30 countries around the globe. Also, friends and family can contact you on, one international number. You also have an option to get a dedicated country based number (International SIM card). Can you imagine going from one place to another and buying one local SIM card in each country you’re visiting? Or going through all the hassles of calling your family or friends back home to tell them you have a new contact number? Aside from that, local SIM cards have instructions written in language of that country you got it from. Also, if you encounter any problem, you’re likely to speak to a customer service who speaks the language of the country your visiting.

You may choose to receive the Matrix SIM card prior to your departure so you can try it out first and you can give your numbers to your loved ones, once you reach. In situations like your flight is delayed or you had road emergency, you can be sure that you can keep in touch with them unlike getting a SIM when you reach your destination.

Please visit www.matrix.in for more details.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Fringe Benefits by Matrix – A lot more than you expected

Matrix international SIM cards, one of the world's most preferred communication partners, does not only offer great savings and fantastic network coverage. There are also a host of benefits, thanks to the widespread affiliate network across various domains.

To begin with, Matrix is now a reward partner with American Express, and all American Express card holders now have the option of redeeming their points for a Matrix gift voucher worth Rs. 5000. Another benefit is in the form of travellers cheques from American Express, as a person issuing the same can get a rental free SIM card with 15 minutes of talk time for calls to India. In the USA, the same entails 200 minutes of local talk time, while a person in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand gets free value worth Rs. 400. Also, if a person is in China, then he/she can get a permanent SIM card with Rs. 999 if he/she goes for a China Matrix connection. There is also an offer for Lufthansa Miles and More members, who can earn 10,000 award miles upon purchase of a Matrix connection. Further, every Rs. 100 spent on a Matrix connection gives a person double the mile, i.e., 10 miles instead of 5. One can also earn 1000 miles by signing up for the Rs. 1999 Germany annual plan, and 500 miles for the Rs. 999 Germany or UK annual plans.

Also, Miles and More Senators, along with Lufthansa First and Business Class travellers can get a free talk time credit of €100 for Germany/Europe, and free local minutes in the US, with Matrix SIM cards. Economy travellers will get a rental free SIM card for the UK and Europe, along with 10 anytime minutes absolutely free of cost. Members of Miles and More will also get an additional 5 miles for every Rs. 100 spent on the Matrix connection or recharge. Lufthansa also has some special offers for students, the first one of them being free talk time worth $50 upon subscribing to the Matrix US student connection. Also, there is free talk time worth Rs. 1250 for students availing Matrix UK annual student contracts, while the Matrix German student 3 month contract gives Rs. 500 worth of free talk time. Coming to other airlines, one can get up to 8 Partner King Miles for every Rs. 100 spent on a Matrix connection. In case of long term deals and student plans, 3 Partner King miles will be credited for every Rs. 100 spent.

If one is a Deutsche Bank credit card member, there are special offers on Matrix international SIM card for the US and UK (in case of DB Platinum card) and for the US, UK, Germany and France (for DB M&M). All in all, there is a whole lot of things one can look forward to, along with great network coverage and savings up to 80% on every international call from major destinations across the world, making it the best communication partner in every sense of the word.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Austria: unravel the enigma

The country of Austria is enigma personified in every sense of the word. Be it the fascination of the jewel box palaces and Mozart's melodious music in Vienna, the beauty of the Alps, or for that matter many of the lesser known virtues; indeed, it is a destination that heralds a new tomorrow for the explorer tired of the known. Experiences like backpacking through the lunar landscape of Tennengebirge, enjoying a cider drink in the Mostviertel orchards, bathing in the lakes of Salzkammergut and catapulting through Harakiri in Mayrhofen are things that one would not normally do on a vacation, and that's exactly what makes Austria such a special destination. The spa town of Bad Ischl is also worth a visit, even though it is not much talked about. Vienna, for instance, also has the enchanting Habsburg palaces, while Salzburg’s baroque splendour gives way to Stone Age settlements, in conjunciton with Roman archaeological sites located at Carnuntum. Culture runs in the veins of this country.

Bregenzerwald: A rather silent town compared to the rest of Austria, the only sounds one would most often hear when he/she is out and about is the shaking of cow bells and the swoosh of the skis, in their respective seasons, of course! The city's landscape is interspersed with picturesque villages, sprawling green pastures and limestone peaks. After one has had a fill of the fresh air and awesome cheese in the alpine dairies, one could not want anything more than to just stick his feet up and relax by the fires.

Salzburg: Also known as a shrine to Mozart's ever-lasting melodies, Salzburg can also be described as being the perfect sojourn for tourists wanting to see something unique, and is extremely 'theatrical' with snow-capped mountains and a mammoth fortress. The Festung Hohensalzburg on top of Mönchsberg and the spires that seemingly touch the sky at more places than one give even more reasons to visit. The Schloss Mirabell paves the way for thousands every day to walk into the world of Mozart with his symphonies being played, mesmerizing one and all. Searching for lederhosen during a shopping sojourn on Getreidegasse or going for a horse-drawn carriage ride passing the cobbled streets, although rather normal for tourists in any part of the world, is surprisingly more enjoyable, owing to the atmosphere of this great destination. Also, in case one has had an overdose of the classical music scene, the unknown contours of Museum der Moderne have bars lined up across the right bank, besides the pleasant loneliness of Kapuzinerberg. The fast flowing Salzach provides a splendid view of the sun setting over Salzburg, and one is forced to wonder, whether the city really misses Amadeus or not!

While in this splendid country, keeping in touch with friends and family to share the numerous experiences is something one would most certainly desire to indulge in. By subscribing to Matrix international sim cards, lower calling rates and fantastic network coverage is assured, so that there are no concerns regarding long bills and dropped calls.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The wonder island: Hong Kong

At the first glance, Hong Kong can be a bit of a domineering force, with the jam-packed pedestrian sidewalks and multitude of signages, canteens brimming with steam and a perpetual rush hour during most of the day. However, once a person has 'overcome' this, the destination is a one of a kind experience that will be cherished for many years to come. Not only is it among the safest places in the world, it is also among the most organised. The country has the penchant for dragging a person out of his/her comfort zone, albeit it also rewards the endeavour handsomely. Some exotic examples of this are the shredded jellyfish and the beancurd, the dawn tai chi, and the incessant crowds at the horse-racing circuit. Even on the outskirts, watching the sun rise from a mountain peak or exploring remote locations. Also, for those who like undiluted pampering, money gets all its worth, but that does not mean that the simple pleasures of life get nudged out, for the local population has a tendency to enjoy the latter as much as the former.

Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple: In simple terms, the temple is a colourful kaleidoscope of brilliant hues on the roofs & pillars, along with flowers, incense and lattice work. Everyone, from the elite businessmen to the pensioners, and old parents to youngsters, visit this temple on a regular basis. Some of them come for offering prayers, while others offer the chim (bamboo 'fortune sticks') that are shaken out of a box for a fortune-teller to read after they fall on the ground. The temple complex was built in 1973 for honouring the god after whom it is named. At the age of 15, an immortal taught Wong Tai Sin the procedure to prepare a herbal potion to cure people of their illness. Since that day, he was worshipped by people around him, and is the favourite god of businesspeople. His image present in the temple was brought to Hong Kong from the Guangdong province in 1915 to be installed in a temple in Wan Chai, before being moved to the present location in 1921.

Temple Street Night Market: This place is easily the most populated night market in Hong Kong. The Temple Street stretches from the Man Ming Lane towards to north to the Nanking Street in the south, intersected by the Tin Hau temple complex. To be honest, there are better bargains in New Kowloon as well as over the border in Shenzen, but the atmosphere at the Temple Street Night Market is something that makes shopping here worthwhile! The street food from the dai pai dong (open air street stall) adds to the magic, as hordes of people shop for all kinds of clothes, music, footwear, cookware and things of everyday use.

Going to a country as exotic as Hong Kong is an experience worth sharing at every point in time, and that is possible only for those who have subscribed to Matrix international sim cards, for they offer as much as 80% savings on every call to ensure that one does not have to worry about the bills.

For more information related to international SIM card, International communication, international travelling sim cards please visit: - http://www.matrix.in

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Types Of Phone Sim Cards

A SIM card or Subscriber Identity Module is a portable memory chip used in mobile phones. The SIM card makes it easy to switch to a new phone by simply sliding the SIM out of the old phone into the new one. A SIM card contains its unique serial number, internationally unique number of the mobile user or the service-subscriber key (IMSI), security authentication and ciphering information, temporary information related to the local network, a list of the services the user has access to and two passwords (PIN for usual use and PUK for unlocking). In simple terms, it holds personal identity information, cell phone number, phone book, text messages and other data. It can be regarded as a mini hard disk that automatically activates the phone into which it is inserted.

SIM cards are generally used with carriers that operate on the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network. The competing network is Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a technology created by U.S. Company, Qualcomm. The first SIM card was created in 1991, with Munich-based smart card maker Giesecke & Devrient selling the first 300 SIM cards to Finnish wireless network operator Radiolinja.

SIM cards are available in three standard sizes. The first and the oldest are in the size of a credit card also known as full-size card (85.60 mm 53.98 mm x 0.76 mm). The development of physically smaller mobile devices prompted the development of a smaller SIM card, the mini-SIM card. It has the same thickness as the full-size cards, but a length of 25 mm and a width of 15 mm, and has one of its corners truncated (chamfered) to prevent misinsertion. The mini-SIM card has the same contact arrangement as the full-size SIM card and they are normally supplied within a full-size card carrier, attached by a number of linking pieces. This arrangement (defined in ISO/IEC 7810 as ID-1/000) allows for such a card to be used in a device requiring a full-size card, or to be used in a device requiring a mini-SIM card after cleanly breaking the scorings manufactured in the outline of a mini-SIM card.

The newest SIM card is known as the 3FF or micro-SIM, which has dimensions of 15 mm 12 mm. Most cards of the two smaller sizes are supplied as a full-sized card with the smaller card held in place by a few plastic links; it can easily be broken off to be used in a device that uses the smaller SIM. The specifications for the 3FF card or micro-SIM also include additional functionality beyond the physical card size.

Travel Calling Cards for travelling abroad

Travel Calling Cards have gained popularity as one of the easiest and preferred methods of communications for people who travel abroad frequently. These cards are the best medium for communication, whether you want to stay in touch with your loved ones or business acquaintances. Geographical boundaries no longer keep you away from calling up your family and friends back home. Calling up home has become cheaper and affordable. These cards are easily available at airports, shops, supermarkets and travel agencies. You can also get them using the internet. In addition, Travel Calling Cards facilitate an individual form of communication that is a big help when you find yourself alone in an unfamiliar land.

There are primarily two types of Travel Calling Cards available in the market, prepaid and postpaid. These cards have their own pros and cons. In prepaid card, you have to pay in advance for the network usage and you can get your card recharged with the desired amount. Prepaid calling cards are more in use these days. These cards can be disposable or refillable. Disposable cards are discarded when these cards get expired or their balance comes to zero. Refillable cards are recharged whenever required. On the other hand, in postpaid calling card, you get a bill at the end of the month for the network usage. This card is activated through a PIN Code that has to be inserted. Once you have dialed the access number and the destination number received via email, you are ready to make calls. But the biggest disadvantage of Travel Calling Cards is that it only allows one-way communication and you require a landline/2nd phone to make an outgoing call, which is time-consuming & inconvenient. If someone wants to reach you, it will not be possible as you will not be reachable on a phone.

International SIM cards provider supplies postpaid SIM cards for over 30 countries across the world. We offer country specific SIM cards for Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Holland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, U.A.E., U.S.A. and U.K. Postpaid SIM cards are user friendly, and are more handy to use than Travel Calling Cards. Services providers has always strived to give the most convenient, economical and comfortable solution to your mounting roaming bills, poor connectivity and unwanted calls from telemarketers while travelling overseas. And we endeavor continuously to add to this list of benefits.

So many services providers have been in the business of providing cost effective and convenient mobile services for international travelers, cutting down communication cost while roaming by up to 85%.

How can you make an effective call from the US

Soaked in history and controversy, virtue and brilliance, class and elegance, natural splendor and power, United States is certainly one of the most fascinating places to visit on the earth. The country has plenty of mesmerizing attractions for the tourists from all over the world. Every year millions of tourists visit USA to witness some of the most astonishing places like the elegant White House, Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, Hollywood, the world renowned Statue of Liberty, kid's favorite Disneyland and the famous Niagara Falls. United States with its diverse exquisiteness offers a plethora of splendor and a travelling experience you will never forget. Moreover, many people travel USA for research purposes, higher studies and better paying jobs. To enjoy the US trip and share your lifetime experience with your friends and family back home in India, it is important for you to buy a SIM Card for USA that enables you to Call India from US at an affordable price.

If you wish to Call India from US, you are likely interested in finding ways to make it cheaper. People, who have to make international calls quite often, know what it is like to have to end a conversation in the middle of a story because they have just realized that the call is getting extremely expensive. So many telecom companies provides low coast calling facilities to Indians travelling in the USA. They offer a range of personalized tariff plans with low call and text charges and free incoming calls in most countries. Now you don’t have to worry about the call rates. They ensure you a long talk without spending a good fortune. They also offer excellent voice transmission with total noise reduction and crystal clear conversation. By using our postpaid SIM card for USA, you can call to your loved ones for a long time without fearing about the long service charge or hidden charges. Save your valuable money by using international SIM card and Call India from US at surprisingly lower rates.

There are so many international SIM cards providers in the market. They provide nonstop service, crystal clear voice clarity, noise free conversation and instant connectivity. They offer special rates for calling back home as well as unlimited free incoming calls. By using our SIM Card for USA, you will get a local telephone number of the country, with free incoming calls and local rates for all outgoing calls. Your phone number for USA will be given to you immediately after you buy a SIM Card for USA from us. It means that you can now circulate this number to your contacts and stay connected with your family, friends and business associates during your stay.

Mobile Telecommunication Service Providers in India

In September 2004, the numbers of mobile phone connections have crossed fixed-line connections. Major Mobile Telecommunication Service Providers in India are Airtel, Reliance Infocomm, Vodafone, Idea cellular and BSNL/MTNL.

Today two types of mobile phone service providers operate in the Indian market:

* Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

* Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

Three types of service providers exist in the Indian telecommunication sector:

* State owned companies like - Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL)

* Private Indian owned companies like - Reliance Infocomm and Tata Teleservices

* Foreign invested companies like - Vodafone Essar, Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, BPL Mobile, Spice Communications etc.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is popularly known as BSNL. It operates under the guardianship of the Ministry of Communication, and Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. BSNL is world's seventh largest telecommunications company, with a huge bouquet of telecommunications services. The services offered by BSNL includes wireline, CDMA mobile, GSM Mobile, Internet, broadband, carrier service, MPLS-VPN, VSAT, VoIP services, IN Services etc.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)

MTNL is an India-based telecommunication service providing company. MTNL was established in 1986. It started its operations by providing landline telephony. MTNL launched GSM Cellular Mobile Service in the two metro cities of Delhi and Mumbai under the brand name ‘Dolphin’ in 2001. MTNL provides various value added services like voice mail service, short message service, cell broadcast service, call hold, multi-party conference, closed user group, call divert and call waiting, MMS, GPRS, WAP etc.

Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel is one of the topmost companies in the telecom sector in India and is under the Bharti Enterprises Group. Airtel was ranked as the best performance company in the whole world by the Business Week magazine in 2007. It is India’s largest private telecom service provider and has presence in all the 23 telecom circles. Its operations are based upon GSM technology and it has also forayed into broadband and fixed line telephone services.

Vodafone Essar

Vodafone Essar started its operations in India in 1994 and is under the Vodafone Group. The company Vodafone Essar Limited has become one of the leading companies in the telecom sector in India due to its high standard of services that it provides to its customers. Vodafone is world’s leading telecom company and has operations in several countries.

Reliance Communications

Reliance Communications started its operations in 1999 and is under the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group of companies. It was formerly known as Reliance Infocomm and commenced its operation on December 28, 2002. The company has been set up with the aim of providing communication and information to people at affordable price.

International Mobile Wireless Telecom Service Providers

Advancement in information and communications technology has transformed the world telecom sector into a booming industry. Mobile wireless has become an instant hit because of the fact that it simplifies and revolutionises communication. The reach of mobile wireless is increasing by leaps and bounds. The success of wireless communications lies in the capability to offer instant connectivity anytime, anywhere and the ability to provide high-speed data services to the user. The mobile technology has come a long way and is ever evolving. It has truly made the world a global village.

Here are some of the best International Mobile Wireless Telecom Service Providers:

Vodafone

Vodafone is a British multinational mobile network operator offering telecommunication services in 31 countries. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunication network company, based on revenue. Based on subscribers, it is the world's second largest mobile phone operator behind China Mobile. The name Vodafone comes from voice data fone, chosen by the company to reflect the provision of voice and data services over mobile phones.

China Mobile

China Mobile provides mobile voice and multimedia services through its nationwide mobile telecommunications network, the largest of its kind in the world. It is also the most valuable mobile telecommunications company in the world and a state-owned enterprise. It is listed on both the NYSE and the Hong Kong stock exchange. Moreover, it is the world's largest mobile phone operator, with over 508 million customers, the largest Chinese company listed overseas and the largest telecom in Asia.

Orange

Orange is the brand used by France Telecom for its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries. It is the fifth largest telecom operator in the world, with over 189 million customers as of 2009. The brand was created in 1994 for Hutchison Telecom's UK mobile phone network, which was acquired by France Telecom in August 2000. Orange is now the unique commercial facade of almost all France Telecom services.

Telenor

Telenor is a telecommunications company in Norway, with headquarters located at Fornebu. Today, Telenor Group is mostly an international wireless carrier with operations in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia, working predominantly under the Telenor brand. It is currently ranked as the sixth largest mobile phone operator in the world, with more than 172 million subscribers. In addition, it has extensive broadband and TV distribution operations in four Nordic Countries.

Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel is an Indian company offering telecommunication services in 18 countries. Bharti Airtel was ranked as the best performance company in the whole world by the Business Week magazine in 2007. It is the largest cellular service provider in India. Moreover, Bharti Airtel is the world's third largest, single-country mobile operator and fifth largest telecom operator in the world in terms of subscriber base. Its operations are based upon GSM technology and it has also forayed into broadband and fixed line telephone services.

So many introduced the concept of local connectivity in India, by offering country-specific international SIM cards. We ensure that you stay in touch without paying huge mobile bills. Moreover, since the cellular phone/data connections are local to the country you are travelling to, you enjoy better coverage and connectivity.

Cheap Calling Cards

As soon as the cheap calling cards were introduced, many people started to use them as they put an end to the costly international calls. A calling card is a telecommunication product that allows you to buy talk-time in advance (in case of prepaid) for making long distance phone calls. Calling cards enables you to make cheap domestic as well as international telephone calls. It's often much cheaper than making phone calls from your own home or even using your cell phone.

Advantages

Calling cards are of two types, the first one is prepaid calling card. In this type, you are supposed to pay in advance to make any call or to use other services. You pay a certain amount for the calling card and receive cheap per minute calls. And another type is postpaid card, in which you have to pay your phone bills at the end of the month and in the mean time you can enjoy endless credit with it. Both the cards are reasonably priced and beneficial for you. One more advantage of cheap calling cards is that you are not bound to sign any sort of contract for any given period of time. These cards also come with auto-recharge facility and thereby reducing your headache that whether you are having the balance or not.

Disadvantages

Prepaid calling card involves the hassle to search for a landline or a mobile phone with local connection to make calls. It is an inconvenient way to stay in touch while travelling abroad. Moreover, prepaid calling cards only allow one-way communication. Your loved ones would not be able to contact you anytime, anywhere. Prepaid calling cards are a hassle as it expires when the credit limit is over and you will have to go around trying to buy another one. This can cause trouble during emergency situations or to a traveller who wishes not to have any interruptions while on the move. With a prepaid calling card, you will also have to pay additional service charges.

Where to Find & How to Use

You can buy cheap calling cards from retail stores as well as online. To make a call using your prepaid calling card, you need to enter an access number or an authorisation code. Call charges are deducted from your prepaid account balance. There are certain things that you should keep in mind before purchasing:

What are the calling rates?
What is the expiry date?
Is there any hidden cost?

Going Abroad- Don’t Forget to Get an International Roaming SIM

In this global communication era where people usually travel from one place to another, remaining connected is the main necessity of each one of us. Millions of people from around the world travel each year for various purposes such as business, leisure, recreational or educational. If you are planning to move overseas for any of these purposes, you need to stay in touch with your family and friends. Calling is certainly one of the most comfortable mediums of being in touch with each other. If you use your home mobile phone abroad, you will end up spending a fortune as international roaming charges are very expensive. So if you are going abroad, don’t forget to get an international roaming SIM card which is also known as global roaming SIM card.

Earlier, people making a trip abroad were never able to make international calls so easily. Hefty amount associated with international calls always avoided the people to make calls to their near and dear ones. If they were making any international call, the duration of the call was always kept in mind to get rid of excessive expenses. Now the time has changed. You can make use of global roaming SIM cards to make calls at reasonable rates to your loved ones. These cards have proved to be the most appreciated way of communication and that too at affordable rates. There are number of offers provided by different service providers on these global SIM cards so that you can have fun while making international calls.

International roaming cards are the cost effective media for the people moving in a foreign country. It is definitely one of the best means of efficient communication universally. Global SIM cards are dynamic and compelling means of communication. It serves according to your need. If you are travelling to more than one country, you can avoid excessive roaming charges with International roaming SIM cards. You get the opportunity to stay in touch whilst you travel without spending a fortune in roaming charges. An international roaming SIM card is inexpensive as compared to other options available for international calling. This card will not cost you much upfront and, once you have one, you will save up to 60% on your mobile bill. I am pretty confident that you would love to keep your money in your own pocket.

By using a global roaming SIM card, you can keep track of your expenditure. Most International SIM cards are prepaid so you know exactly how much money you are spending. If you take an international SIM card, you won't get a nasty global roaming phone bill when you get home. Moreover, an international SIM card makes it easy and convenient to keep in touch with those back home. It is not always easy to get a calling card or access to a landline whilst you are travelling abroad. A global roaming SIM card is undoubtedly an economical and trouble-free way to stay connected with your friends, family and colleagues.

International Roaming Rates

Communication is a primary and universal activity that serves to connect all. With the advent of communication technologies, the world has transformed into a global village and much of the credit goes to cell phones which assure easy and hassle free communication. Calling is certainly one of the most effective modes of connecting people, but it is not always feasible to use this medium as it is expensive mainly when it comes to international calls. Tourists while in a foreign country face a lot of problems because of International Roaming Rates.

When overseas travelers make calls to their home or any other destination, they have to pay dearly for the calls that include costly International Roaming Rates. Moreover, they have to pay the roaming charges even when they receive a call. Living overseas and checking all important mails on home phones can also cost you in excessive. To chuck out global roaming charges, international SIM cards are available. An international roaming SIM card is a small chip that connects your mobile phone with a local wireless carrier in the country you are travelling. International roaming card came as a great advancement for communications, particularly for long distance calling.

Matrix Cellular offers cost-effective international roaming SIM cards for over 30 countries including USA, UK, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Being a leading worldwide SIM card provider, we offer cheap International Roaming Rates with great service. We do not provide prepaid international calling cards or postpaid international calling cards. Instead, we provide postpaid SIM cards for Indians going abroad. Choose your best international SIM card with us and reduce your calling costs whilst you are travelling. You can shun enormous roaming charges with an International SIM card and keep in touch with people back home without worrying about coming home to a huge mobile bill. With an international SIM card you can save up to 60 % of your roaming bill with tariff plans designed to suit your travel plans.

Stay connected with family, friends, business associates without spending the world on it. Buy a Matrix roaming SIM card and avoid 'bill shock' while on the move. Matrix Cellular’s global and country specific SIM cards are tailored to meet individual's needs. Global SIM card from Matrix enables you to automatically make and receive calls, send and receive data, or access other services when travelling abroad. With Matrix international roaming SIM card, you will only pay for incoming calls in some countries and in many countries you will not pay anything to receive calls. These SIM cards offer you huge savings particularly if you need to communicate regularly.

Benefits offered by Matrix in a nutshell
* Cheap International Roaming Rates
* Free incoming calls
* All outgoing calls at local rate
* No roaming charge for international calls
* International roaming in over 30 countries
* A phone number which you can carry through any part of the world
* Free incoming SMS
* Voicemail
* Save up to 60 % on international roaming

Don't Forget to have Mobile Phone Accessories while Travelling

Our life is strewn with gadgets these days but some of the flashiest ones have been mobiles and along with that comes their accessories. One can not think of a mobile handset without a battery, a phone charger, hands free, a mobile cover or a Bluetooth headset (being the latest addition). A good and useful accessory compatible to the handset helps in increasing the utility of the set. There are various local and international brands available in the market with different price tags to suit different pocket sizes. Although there is a variety of accessories vying for consumer’s attention but some of the most popular ones are those that have a daily utility.

Mobile phone charger: generally available with the purchase of a new handset but if it is lost or becomes non-functional then replacements are also available. Apart from the AC chargers traveling chargers for those who are frequently on move are also there.

Battery: they are the heart and soul of a handset and if a battery gets dysfunctional by chance then a ready replacement is not far away.

Bluetooth head set and hands free: They have become a synonym to modernity and are useful to the core. They leave the user free to work, drive and walk along with communicating on the phone. Hands free or an earphone also double up as a handy tool for mobiles that are dedicated to music as a good quality earphone, which drowns out the outside noise, is much in demand by music lovers.

Mobile covers: They provide protection to the handset from most of the physical damages and scratches. Again a wide range of mobile covers both local and branded are flooding the market. Branded and expensive leather covers, holsters, cases which can be carried otherwise tucked in the belt have become a lifestyle statement. Designer mobile pouches made with an eye on the women consumers have also made their mark. Apart from leather, manufacturers are also providing other eco-friendly options such as fabric and jute which are mostly handmade.

Back covers: Trendy back- covers in various colors help in changing the outside look of a phone if one gets bored by them. If back cover gets broken due to rough handling then too one need not worry as replacements are easily available.

Data cables: These cables can be attached to one’s system and data can be easily transferred from the system to the phone or vice-versa. This takes a very less time as compare to Bluetooth transfer or infrared transfer. It comes normally as a free addition with purchase of almost all mobile phones. An average user uses this to transfer music, videos and photographs.

Memory cards: Today mobiles come with an in-built memory with an option of expanding it to many GBs. With the increased use of phones as an mp3 player, camera and video recorder high amount of memory is much in demand. Various brands such as Sandisk, Kingston, Sony, Lexar provide options of memory cards starting form 512kb up to many GBs.

Accessories provide fun based utility and gives a new look to even an old phone. But one should be aware of the compatibility of an accessory with one’s phone before shopping for it.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Factors to consider before deciding to study abroad

Owing to the expanding vistas in education and the relative ease of gaining admission to foreign universities, many students are considering studying abroad to improve their chances of a better career ahead. However, before taking this step, there are many things that need to be considered. Following is the list of the main areas of concern:

· Do the courses offered fit into the course of study? It is a very unfortunate situation if a student is forced to graduate one or two semesters late just because the course taken abroad does not fit into the planned curriculum. To avoid this, the moment a student realizes that the course offered at a particular institution is not as per his/her requirements, or does not give the required amount of credit for the courses it is offering, it's best to send emails to check for alternatives.

· Language: Often undermined by many as a very minute point of consideration, language does, in fact, play a big role, since the student not only has to study abroad, but also live, interact and socialize with people, things that can not be avoided. A majority of Indians prefer going to the USA, UK and Australia not only because these countries offer the highest quality of education, but because English is a known language in India, and one does not have to undergo training for the same.

· Social surroundings: Something that is seen as a welcome gesture of openness can easily be taken as an offence in another country, where the culture might be totally different. In a similar manner, something that is seen in India as socially unacceptable might be the order of the day in another country. So, before deciding where to pursue studies, it's best to study a bit about details like the night-life, social customs, gender dynamics, etc., since it might be the case that the city sleeps too early, or the culture is too open for one's liking. As mentioned above, the student does not only have to study there, but LIVE abroad as well.

· Food: Similar to the language factor, the kind of food available too, plays a vital role in deciding whether that the person will be able to survive in the country being considered or not. Many people are allergic to certain substances, which might be basic ingredients in all dishes at the new destination,while some might just not like the dishes being cooked in a particular cuisine. All in all, this factor also needs to be considered.

· Communication: Owing to the difference in the exchange rates, and the fact that calling rates in foreign countries are much more expensive compared to India only makes the situation all the more complicated. However, now there is a solution to allow students to keep in touch with family and friends without having to spend a fortune. Matrix international sim cards give as much as 80% concession compared to regular calling charges, and deliver fantastic voice clarity and network coverage.