I don't know if you have Att as your U.S. carrier.
Mobal rates are much more expensive than what ATT and T-Mobile charge. Check their calling rates back to the US against ATT. Not even close. Especially in some places like Turkey, Egypt, Israel, etc. Mobal was OK a few years ago, but ATT and T-Mobile have dropped rates substantially. If you have a Verizon phone they will lend you a world phone and have similar rates as ATT. As an example:
Mobal is $1.50 vs. ATT 99 cents from Italy
Mobal is $2.95 vs. ATT $1.99 cents from Turkey
Mobal is $1.95 vs. ATT 99 cents from Spain
Mobal is $7,95 vs. ATT $3.99 cents from Russia
Mobal is $3.95 vs. ATT 1.99 cents from Israel
Mobal is $3.95 vs. ATT $1.99 cents from Argentina
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/in...al-roaming.jsp ATT rates
International SIM Card Mobal Rates
But if you get the SIM for free with the phone, I suppose it's fine as a backup.
Also, check the Telestial web site. They have some nice special deals on Ekit's Passport Sim's and phones.