Cellular network operator Vodacom has signed an international roaming agreement with American operator Omnipoint, becoming the first South African network to offer subscribers digital roaming facilities in New York State.
Joan Joffe, Vodacom`s group executive (corporate affairs) said, "Vodacom subscribers are now able to make and receive calls on their existing SIM cards (thereby retaining their existing cellphone number) in all five boroughs of New York City and surrounding suburbs as well as other parts of New York State. Coverage also includes New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and much of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Omnipoint is the largest publicly-traded Personal Communications Services company in the United States and is the first true digital PCS provider in the New York Metropolitan area. Its licences cover more than 96,5 million people.
"Vodacom is delighted to have signed a roaming agreement with Omnipoint and this is just the beginning of our relationship," said Ms Joffe.
Ms Joffe advised Vodacom subcribers who intend roaming in New York State to apply for a 1900 mHz cellular handset from their service providers, as handsets in South Africa operate on a different frequency. Their existing SIM card with all its data will then be placed in a 1900 mHz handset.
International roaming offers cellphones users the following benefits:
Subscribers are contactable on their normal Vodacom number.
Subscribers are presented with their international telephone bill on their return to South Africa and don`t have to use foriegn currency for telephone costs.
Subscribers can save substantially on their telephone bills by avoiding the hefty service charges normally incurred when using a hotel phone.
Subscribers who intend roaming have to notify their service providers prior to their departure so that international roaming is enabled on their cellphones. Subscribers also have to request that their service providers unblock international calls on their cellphones.
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