The National Geographic WP World Phone enables low cost
phone calls
National Geographic launching low-cost mobile phone for
international travellers.
26 February 2007
To cut the high cost of using a mobile phone while
travelling overseas, the National Geographic Society,
founded in 1888 and one of the world’s largest non-profit
scientific and educational organisations, has, in
partnership with Cellular Abroad, is launching the National
Geographic Talk Abroad Travel Phone.
This inexpensive solution for travellers will work in over
100 countries, from Aruba to Yemen.
The new mobile phone, to hit the markets in March 2007, will
cost $199 and will require no contracts. Instead, it will
come with 30 minutes of free outgoing calls.
Users pre-purchase time at a rate that starts at $29 for 30
minutes. Incoming calls will be free and unlimited in 65
countries.
The handset of the GSM mobile phone, branded WP World Phone
WP-188t, does not offer any exceptional features, but it
does include speakerphone, SMS messaging and a monochrome
screen.
The Talk Abroad Travel Phone will also feature National
Geographic-themed wallpaper and ringtones, such as a lion
wallpaper with a roar as the ringtone.
The ‘candy bar’ mobile phone also allows one to have a
United Kingdom phone number that one can use wherever one
goes, so there is no need to memorise and give out a
different number for each country while travelling.
GSM cell phone technology experts at Cellular Abroad, Playa
del Rey, California, the United States, collaborated with
the National Geographic in a licensing partnership to
provide this service that works seamlessly across
international borders, picking up local cellular networks
and providing consumers with the best coverage available.
As an added benefit, the National Geographic Talk Abroad
Travel Phone features a dedicated toll-free number to reach
Cellular Abroad’s 24/7 customer support service.
“Staying in touch while overseas has proved difficult for
travelers; the majority of overseas travelers have not been
able to afford the security and convenience of a cell
phone,” Sebastian Harrison, president of Cellular Abroad,
said. “With expensive rates and little or no technical
support, international cellular service has excluded the
general public. Now, it is at their fingertips.”
According to John Dumbacher, senior vice-president of
licensing for National Geographic, “the National Geographic
is excited to offer the Talk Abroad Travel Phone to all
international travelers. Students, vacationers, business
travelers and our own explorers and photographers can now
stay connected with this affordable travel phone and SIM
card, while they seek to understand and experience our
world.”
The National Geographic Talk Abroad Travel phone will be
available at www.Cellularabroad.com/travelphone.
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