Are "international" SIMS becoming obsolete?

[DRNewcomb]

Originally Posted by snidely

I have a question: Wouldn't some 'smart" phones that can load and use Skype do the same sort of thing? How about users of Google Voice?

I have an E61 with Fring. Given WiFi access I can talk on Skype, Google Voice, ICQ or Windows Messenger.

With wifi around the world becoming more ubiquitous, and more and more people using smart phones, it would seem this is what roamers will do more and more.

It's not all that ubiquitous. Maybe in your hotel room and some restaurants. What has changed is that people now look at cellular roaming more as a way to be contacted, receive SMS, etc. When you need to talk you wait until you have WiFi access and make calls for cheap.

This makes me remember something. Who else remembers going to an "International Call Center" to call home when traveling? If you never did this, you went to this office where there were a number of phone booths a cashier. You gave the cashier the number you wanted to call and were then assigned to a booth. After your call you paid the cashier. I actually did this as recently as 2003 but those were special circumstances.

Today we all expect to be able to call the other side of the globe for free. The world has gotten very small.