Nextel's walkie-talkie service is unique and useful, but almost all of their Nextel phones, except for their new i930 worldphone model, only work in a small handful of countries. If your travel plans have you going to other locations, then you can buy a second Nextel "international only" phone for $75, or you can buy their Nextel + roaming phone for $350 - $499. The third Nextel option is to rent a phone directly from them.
With the exception of Canada, Nextel's international roaming rates are quite pricey. For all other countries, the "international only" phone they sell makes sense since it is only $75, but the per minute costs will quickly add up. Also, that phone is unusable back in the states, so it becomes a brick when you get back.
If you plan on more than 3 minutes of usage a day, a RangeRoamer SIM will probably come out cheaper. Incoming calls are FREE in lots of places where Nextel charges $1.29 to $5.99 per minute inbound! If you are just going to 1 country, a local SIM might be a nice choice as well. Either way, buying a phone that is usable back in the States, even if you don't have any plans for it now, is always a better choice (just in case it comes in handy some time!)
In almost all cases, RangeRoamer is a more affordable solution than standard Nextel roaming. The more you talk, the more the savings will accumulate.
| NEXTEL vs. RangeRoamer | Nextel International Roaming Plan (WorldWide Service) | Rangeroamer roaming |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming Call Cost | $1.29 to $5.99 per minute, but Canada at $0.20 per minute | FREE in 36 countries, others at much lower rates |
| Outgoing Calls Cost | $1.29 to $5.99 per minute, but Canada at $0.20 per minute | $0.69 per minute from 59 countries, others at subsantial savings |
| Global Phone | $75 phone (just for roaming), or $350 - $499 for a Nextel walkie-talkie phone. | Purchase and re-use, or rent for $39 |
| Roaming SIM & Activation Cost | none | $30, yours to keep for future use |
| Monthly Charge if Ongoing Service | none | $3.99 per month |
Handful of countries where you can use some newer nextel phones are: Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Israel, Singapore, Jordan, South Korea, Guam, and the Philippines.