The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: October thirtieth, with a basic look at cellular strategies.

Whether you consider cell phones a necessity or an annoyance, they have clearly revolutionized travel. America's major cellular companies tout the breadth of their coverage across the country, but the realities of using your phone elsewhere can be very different.

Questions of safe and considerate use aside, connections are often an issue. Service is generally available in urban areas, though, when roaming charges are involved, the cost of that service can be a significant surprise. Drivers looking for service between cities, however, often encounter major deadspots, especially anywhere the terrain is anything other than flat.

The other reality is that most cell phones won't work much beyond U.S. borders. Though portable, domestic phones are seldom compatible with foreign systems. When their home phones do work elsewhere, users are often astounded by the cost of those calls. It can even be hard to find information about whether your phone will work until you get there. With that in mind, here are options for travelers who want to use a phone elsewhere.

Satellite phones can be used virtually anywhere on the planet, but can cost ten times as much as conventional cellular phones, not even counting steep connection charges. Dual band hand-set phones can be adapted to other systems, if they have an interchangeable Subscriber Identity Module card. Another possibility is to lease a foreign phone, an option offered by several auto rental agencies. For now, travelers who spend much time in two countries may find it easier and cheaper to have a separate phone for each.

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