Passport Plus Service

If you are a looking for the lowest rate to call home, then the Passport Plus service is for you.

You get one phone number that works in over 130 countries and you save up to 90% on international roaming costs!

Benefits:

  • Includes bonus call credit
  • Use in over 130 countries
  • Rates from USD 29c per minute to call home from Australia, Spain, United Kingdom and others
  • FREE for family and friends to call you (USD 39c per minute surcharge applies)
  • FREE to receive text messages
  • Prepaid Data services
  • Connection fee of USD 25c
  • Easy to use voicemail and call-forwarding
  • 24/7 Customer service
  • Send international text messages from USD 69c each
  • Recharge minutes anytime via the phone or web, or enable auto-recharge
  • It is prepaid, so no contracts, no credit checks and no monthly fees
  • View call records and receipts online
  • Receive a United Kingdom +44 phone number


User guide | Rates | Coverage | Features | Prepaid Data | Getting started | Making calls | Receiving calls | Recharge | Customer service | Service life | Handset compatibility | Tips

User guide

Download a print-friendly version of the user guide.

User guide - for US residents (66kb PDF file)
User guide - for UK residents (66kb PDF file)
User guide - for Australian residents (66kb PDF file)

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Rates

Calling from
Key countries
Per minute rate to call a landline*
Per minute rate to call a mobile*
Per minute rate to receive a call
Send
text message
Receive a text message
Recharge using the self service phone menu
Per minute rate to call Customer Service and listen to voicemail
Zone 1aAustralia, Italy, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ireland, Israel, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom$0.29$0.69$0.29$0.69FREEFREEFREE
Zone 1bAustria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, South Africa, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland$0.39$0.79$0.39$0.69FREEFREE$0.10
Zone 2Aruba, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong$0.79$1.19$0.59$0.69FREEFREE$0.30
Zone 3China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Russia, Thailand$1.39$1.79$1.39$0.69FREEFREE$1.00
Zone 4Bahamas, Canada^, Mexico, United States^, US Virgin Islands$2.39$2.79$2.39$0.79FREEFREE$2.00
Zone 5Cuba, India$3.49$3.89$3.49$0.99FREEFREE$3.20

Determine the zone for the country you are traveling to and use the table above to find the applicable rate. A per minute surcharge applies to call some non-key countries. View applicable countries

For example:
- The cost of a call from the United Kingdom (zone 1a) to a landline in any other country is $0.29 per minute.
- The cost to receive a call when you are in Spain (zone 1a) is $0.29 per minute.

All rates quoted in US dollars. You are billed in 1 minute increments. A $0. 25c USD connection fee applies to each call made (from all Zones) or received (outside Zone 1).
^ The cost of calling a mobile phone in the United States and Canada is the same as calling a landline.
- This service does not support sending text messages to CDMA phones. Text messages to United States can be sent to AT&T, Cingular and T-Mobile numbers only.

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Coverage

Make calls from over 130 countries

Cruise ship coverage (select ships only and coverage on 1900MHz GSM frequency band only)

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Features

Voicemail
Voicemail is automatically enabled. An inbound caller will be directed to voicemail if the call is not answered within 30 seconds, if the phone is switched off or if there is no coverage. A text message will be sent to notify you of a new voicemail.

To listen to voicemail, dial 121 from your phone and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
The messages will be played in order of last received. No charge applies in zone 1a or zone 1b.

To change your greeting message, dial 732 from your phone and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen). No charge applies.

To disable voicemail, dial 866 from your phone and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To enable voicemail, dial 869 from your phone and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).

Balance inquiry
Dial 187 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen). The account balance will be sent in a text message.
No charge applies.

Recharge minutes
Dial 191 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
You will be connected to the Self service recharge menu. Have your credit card handy.
No charge applies.

Customer Service
Dial 154 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
You will be connected to 24/7 Customer Service.
No charge applies in zone 1a countries.

Toll-free calling
This feature can be used to let your family and friends call you at no charge to themselves, saving them an international call. To call you, they just need to dial a toll-free number, provided by you, and enter your phone number. You will be charged a USD$0.39 per minute surcharge to receive the call, in addition to the incoming per minute call rate for the country where you are.

To enable, dial 373 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To disable, dial 282 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
Please note a call is not made. You will receive a message saying Toll-free calling is either enabled or disabled.

Auto-recharge
Auto-recharge automatically recharges your account with USD$30 when your balance falls below USD$5. The automatic recharge is instantaneous and you receive a text message when it occurs.

Enable or disable Auto-recharge at any time by signing into your account online or by calling Customer service. You can also change the minimum balance and the charge amount.

To enable, dial 171 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To disable, dial 393 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
Please note a call is not made. You will receive a message saying Auto Recharge is either enabled or disabled.

Call forwarding
Calls to your phone number may be forwarded to any other number. You will be charged the standard rate for zone 1 landline or mobile, depending on whether the call is forwarded to a landline or mobile phone.

To enable, dial 102+ followed by the country code and number you wish to forward to, then press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To disable, dial 103 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).

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Prepaid Data services

Prepaid Data is available for customers with applicable phones who wish to read and send emails and access the Internet using their mobile phone while traveling. Find out more

Prepaid Data is enabled for all existing and new customers.

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Getting Started

Your Passport Plus service SIM card is already active for you. Your phone number and PIN are printed on the enclosed letter. Please read it carefully and keep in a safe place. When you receive your package, you should:

  1. Check that the SIM card is correctly inserted and secure.
    * The SIM card is already inserted into your phone if you ordered one. The SIM card is the small chip card located in the back of the phone. It allows you to connect to the network.
  2. Attach the fully charged battery to the phone.
  3. Turn the phone on.
    * Refer to your handset user guide on how to turn it on.
  4. Enter the 4-digit PIN found in your enclosed letter and press OK.
    * Your PIN code is a four digit code printed on the enclosed letter.
    * Please enter the PIN correctly. The service will be blocked if the PIN is entered incorrectly 3 times. If your SIM is blocked you will have to contact Customer service to unblock it. When the phone registers with an available network (30-120 seconds) it is ready for use.

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Making calls

Using the Passport Plus service is a little different from normal calling but so easy!

Important:

  • Always dial the full international phone number
  • After dialing, you will be briefly disconnected and receive a call back. Answer normally like when receiving a call and wait for your call to be connected.

How to make a call

  1. Enter + (Hold down the + key until you see a + on your screen).
    Entering '+' replaces the need to dial the international dialing code for the country you are in.
  2. Enter the country code (1 for the US, 61 for Australia, 44 for the UK, etc), area code (without the leading 0) and phone number.
    Example: To call (213)337-5555 in the US, you would dial 12133375555; to call 03-9010-0225 in Australia, you would dial 61390100225, etc.
  3. Press the call key or similar and wait for the call back.
    Ignore any messages shown on your screen. You will be disconnected for 10-30 seconds then your phone will call back.
  4. Answer the call normally.
    Your call will be connected after a few seconds.
  5. Hang up normally once you finish the call.

Prefix dialing (how to make a call when call back does not occur)

If the call back does not occur, or if you hear a message saying the call cannot be completed, your handset may not be fully compatible. To resolve this problem, all you need to do is enter the number you wish to call prefixed with *126* followed by country code, area code (without the leading 0), phone number and #.

Example 1: if you wish to call 03 9010 0225 in Australia, you would dial *126*61390100225#
Example 2: if you wish to call 0207-943-2772 in the UK, you would dial *126*442079432772#
Example 3: if you wish to call 213-337-5555 in the US, you would dial *126*12133375555#

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Receiving calls

How to receive a call

Just like at home…when your phone rings simply answer the call.

Family and friends can call you for free (Toll-free calling)

You're about to travel, but your family and friends think that since you are traveling the world it will be too hard and too expensive to call you. Toll-free calling is the answer! Toll-free calling makes it easy for family and friends to call you at no charge to them.

Here's what to do:

  1. Give your family and friends your Passport Plus service phone number.
  2. They dial our toll free numbers from a landline or payphone

    US & Canada - 1-866-305-6462
    Australia - 1-800-261-038
    France - 0805-101-177
    Germany - 0800-000-6485
    United Kingdom - 0800-376-5637

  3. They listen to the prompts and enter your number.
  4. Your phone will ring and you're chatting away - at no cost to your family or friends. And if you don't answer, they can leave you a voicemail.

Your family or friends will not be charged. You will be charged a USD$0.39 per minute surcharge to receive the call, in addition to the incoming per minute call rate for the country where you are.

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Recharging your account

Buying more calling time is simple. Use your American Express, Mastercard or VISA card to add USD $30, $50, $100, $150 or $200 to your mobile account.

There are five easy ways to recharge your account.

Using the website

Recharge online now!

Using a landline, hotel or payphone (toll free call)

  1. Dial the toll free access number for the country you are in.
  2. Enter your phone number then press the hash key.
  3. Press 1 to recharge using the Self-service phone menu.
  4. Follow the voice prompts to recharge your account.

Note: a per minute rate applies to call a toll-free access number from your mobile phone.

Using your Passport Plus service phone - (no charge)

  1. Dial 191 from your phone
  2. Press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen), and wait for the call back.
  3. Answer the call normally.
    After 10-15 seconds your call will be connected.
  4. Follow the voice prompts to recharge your account.

Via 24/7 Customer Service (No charge applies in zone 1a)

  1. Dial 154 from your phone
  2. Press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen), and wait for the call back.
  3. Answer the call normally.
    After 10-15 seconds your call will be connected.
  4. Follow the voice prompts to speak with Customer Service.

Using Auto-Recharge

Auto-recharge automatically recharges your account with USD $30 when your balance falls below USD $5.

Enable or disable Auto-recharge at any time by signing into your account online, by calling Customer Service or by dialing a short number on your phone (refer to Features). You can also change the minimum balance and the charge amount.

The automatic recharge is instantaneous and you receive a text message when it occurs.

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Contacting Customer service

From landlines, hotels and payphones:

  1. Dial the access number for the country you are in.
  2. Press 0# to speak to Customer Service.
    Press 0 for English
    Press 1 for French
    Press 2 for German
    Press 3 for Portuguese
    Press 4 for Spanish
    Press 5 for Japanese
    Press 6 for Italian

Note: a per minute rate applies to call a toll-free access number from your mobile phone.

From your mobile phone (charges apply):

  1. Dial 154 from your phone
  2. Press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen), and wait for the call back.
  3. Answer the call normally.
    After 10-15 seconds your call will be connected.
  4. Follow the voice prompts to speak with Customer Service

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Service life

You must use a charged service (such as making a call, or sending a text message), or recharge within any 6 month period, otherwise your remaining credit will expire. You can restore the expired credit by contacting Customer Service and recharging your account by a minimum of USD$30.

You must recharge at least once every 15 months to keep the SIM card active.

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Handset compatibility

This service works with virtually all handsets. If you have difficulty using the service in your handset, please see our Buying Tips for information on handset frequencies and how to unlock your handset.

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Tips

Making calls

  • Before you go, enter all your phone numbers into the address book of your new mobile handset for quick and easy dialing when you are traveling.
  • Enter all phone numbers in the international format, starting with the country code (1 for the US), area code (without the leading 0) and phone number.
    For example 12133375555, if the number is(213)337-5555 in the US; 61390100225 if the number is 03-9010-0225 in Australia; etc.
  • If you are using Prefix dialing, make sure you enter # at the end of the number.
    For example to call 0207-943-2772 in the UK, you would dial *126*442079432772#.

Messaging

  • This service does not support Multimedia Messaging (MMS). So if you have a camera phone you will need to use the USB cable to download to a computer and send them via email.
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