National Geographic -- Engadget Mobile

national geographic posts

Dual-SIM phone launches in the US courtesy of... National Geographic

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 15th 2009 @ 7:27AM

We'd all but forgotten that National Geographic runs a little phone business on the side through a retailer partner, but yeah, it does -- and after a couple years of forgettable hardware, things are starting to get interesting. The idea with these guys has always been to offer SIM cards that offer global roaming at a price that has at least a fighting chance of not bankrupting you, but the problem is that with a traditional phone, you've got to replace your regular SIM card while you're using it; dual-SIM phones exist in bountiful numbers outside the US, but finding a domestic model is nigh impossible. The new Duet D888 option let's you mix up one of Cellular Abroad's roaming SIM along with a second of your own, so theoretically, you could make this your primary phone if you do a lot of traveling and hate breaking your fingernails (or your will to live) every time you want to swap cards between phones. As far as we can tell, the D888 lacks GSM 850 -- so don't expect stellar reception stateside -- but it could be enough to get you by between trips to Madagascar.

[Via CNET]

National Geographic's Talk Abroad phone now on sale

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 10th 2007 @ 9:42AM

So it looks like that so-boring-we-want-to-cry National Geographic Talk Abroad phone we came across a few months back is finally shipping. The specifics are actually pretty complicated -- we recommend going over the pricing with a fine-tooth comb if you think this thing is for you -- but the idea is to offer relatively inexpensive, prepaid world roaming. You can rent the handset (because let's be honest, you don't want a phone this basic in your possession for more than a couple weeks at a time) starting at $70 a week, which includes 30 minutes of talk time in 50 countries, unlimited incoming minutes in 65, and a bunch of adapters for the silly-looking sockets you may encounter in foreign lands. Then again, if you simply must make the Talk Abroad your own, you can scoop it up for $199 and recharge the plan at your leisure, or just buy the SIM (our favorite option) for $79.

National Geographic's Talk Abroad global phone

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 22nd 2007 @ 9:08AM

This phone looks so boring, we can't actually look straight at it -- we kinda have to aim our eyes just right or left of it and take it in with our peripheral vision. Then again, gearheads don't appear to be the target demo sought out by Cellular Abroad with its new National Geographic-branded Talk Abroad candybar; the upshot here is keeping global roaming relatively cheap and simple (as in, prepaid simple) on an equally simple, no-frills handset. For your hard-earned $199, you get the phone (a quadband GSM piece -- we'd expect no less when they're playing up the global angle here), a set of plug adapters for whatever countries the average National Geographic reader might visit, a UK-based phone number, and thirty minutes of outgoing talk time. Best of all, incoming calls are allegedly free of charge in 65 countries, though the countries aren't spelled out. Look for the Talk Abroad handset to ship next month; if you've got it in your heart to accept an exceptionally uninteresting cellphone, that is.

[Via Mobilewhack]