Sherman's Travel

Last week, I took a look at the U.S. mobile phone landscape and how the major players compared when it comes to international plans. The truth is, however, that even the best of ‘em aren’t specifically set up to offer an affordable, long-term solution for those who frequently cross borders but want to keep their smartphones connected. As the business world shrinks and connectivity is expected even in foreign locales, I’ve found a number of loopholes, workarounds, and small businesses that exist solely to serve the smartphone-equipped business traveler.

The first option sounds pretty simple on the surface: pick up a local SIM upon arrival in a foreign country. Each smartphone that can support international roaming has a SIM card slot – either a full-size SIM, a micro-SIM, or in the case of the iPhone 5, a nano-SIM. Most major international airports now sell local SIM cards that will allow visitors to temporarily connect to a local carrier for voice and data, at rates that beat the pants off of roaming with a U.S. carrier. For example, I was able to get a SIM valid for two weeks in Kuala Lumper International Airport for around $30, and it had 2GB of data on it. That was plenty for keeping tabs on work e-mail, uploading a couple of photos to Instagram, and generally staying connected with what was going on in the world. Read more

In recent weeks, we took a look at Apple’s iPad, and how busy professionals who find themselves constantly on the go could use it as a replacement for a bulky laptop. But the reality is this: while the iPad can be repurposed to handle business duties in some regards, it was never built to be used specifically for that. Microsoft, on the other hand, has a storied history when it comes to productivity, and it’s hard to visit any corporate environment without seeing Office icons on desktops and laptops everywhere.

A couple of weeks ago, the company launched its first tablet ever: Surface with Windows RT. It’s a peculiar name for a tablet, and even the operating system itself takes some explaining. But in many ways, this is the first flagship tablet built primarily for productivity, and it’s worth taking a look at the pros and cons surrounding it. For those hoping to put their Windows laptops aside while picking up something more portable (and longer lasting, in terms of battery life), this particular unit might just be the ticket. Read more