If you're making a trip to India in the future -- and in particular, if your trip sees you on the subcontinent for several weeks or months -- one way to save money is to purchase an Indian cell phone for making local phone calls, rather than using your U.S. cell phone and being subject to high roaming charges. There are dozens of Indian cell phone companies, the vast majority of which offer pay-as-you-go service options. In some cases, it's possible to use your U.S. cell phone with an Indian SIM card.
Instructions
1. Visit a cell phone provider in the city where you begin your trip in India. Popular cell phone companies in major Indian cities include Airtell, Reliance and IDEA Cellular.
2. Ask the representative to test your existing cell phone and see if it's been "unlocked" to use with any SIM card. This saves you the money and hassle of buying a new cell phone and also of carrying two cell phones with you.
3. Inquire as to whether rates increase when you leave the city or state you're in, or whether prices are nationally-based. If you travel around India, it's important to have service that permits you to call at a low rate no matter where you are.
4. Confirm with the representative the means by which you refill your credit. In most cases, doing this in India is a simple affair -- you purchase a refill card at a gas station or convenience store and text a code to a number.
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