The HTC Desire is one of the hottest phones currently on the market and its popularity has led to shortages in stock levels. If you are planning to pick up a Desire with the intention of taking it abroad, then its roaming abilities should not disappoint. The Desire is compatible with the majority of international networking standards and its quad band compatibility means that it will operate well in both Europe and the USA. Selecting a network by hand or allowing the Desire to choose an appropriate foreign provider is open to preference and its simple, intuitive menu system with touch sensitive interactions should further simplify things.
The Samsung Tocco Lite is a popular entry-level smartphone that lacks the high end hardware of its more expensive peers, but still has the necessary software and connectivity tools to make it well equipped for use overseas. You will not have to alter any of its core settings for use when roaming, because by default it is set to seek out an appropriate foreign carrier when it is taken overseas. However, you can use its touch screen interface to make your own manual selection of a network, which may be useful if you know that your domestic provider has a roaming deal with a specific partner in your destination.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is not only an excellent smartphone powered by the Android platform, but it is also a suitably versatile travelling companion thanks to its quad band network connectivity and its ability to download at high speeds via HSDPA and 3G networks. The Xperia X10 has received critical appreciation for its roaming capabilities and you can set the phone to automatically choose a suitable alternative to your standard network provider if service is unavailable or you are out of the country with your phone. Alternatively you can use the wireless controls menu to manually select from a list of available providers.
The BlackBerry 8520 Curve is a smartphone specifically designed for the business user with fairly serious messaging requirements. Its full QWERTY keypad simplifies typing longer messages and it is optimised for email. Because the target audience will be expected to travel to different regions, the 8520 is a quad band compatible handset, which means that most international destinations will offer networks to which it can connect. The 8520 also boasts integrated wireless connectivity, which uses the universal Wi-Fi b and g standards, so internet connectivity for messaging, web browsing and email access is also possible no matter where you go.
The Nokia X6 is one of the Finnish manufacturer’s flagship smartphones and its generous 16GB of on-board memory means that it is a traveller’s dream. You can fill it with hours of music and video, allowing it to act as a multimedia hub for your time away. The X6’s touch screen display and intuitive menu system are coupled with the powerful Symbian operating system. As with all good smartphones, it is compatible with multiple network types, including 3G. It should be easy to automatically search for a partner network associated with your provider and to access most of the services that you can enjoy whilst at home.