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.

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.

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.

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

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.