Traveling Abroad This Holiday Season? Cingular Survey Finds American Travelers Want Their U.S. Wireless Service

Traveling Abroad This Holiday Season? Cingular Survey Finds American Travelers Want Their U.S. Wireless Service

Many Americans will hit the roads, the waves and the sky this holiday season to spend time with loved ones or simply to enjoy a nice vacation break. For those travelers looking for an international holiday getaway, Cingular Wireless knows that the wireless phone is the top communication choice for Americans who need (or want) to stay connected when traveling abroad.

More than one in four Americans use their cell phone service when traveling abroad and half said they are likely to use their cell phone when making their next international trip, according to a Cingular survey on international travel conducted by ICR (International Communications Research). Sixty-four percent of traveling respondents prefer traditional wireless service as their top choice of communication because of its ease and convenience, easy access for others and peace of mind in case of emergency. Although the majority of Cingular survey respondents preferred communicating via wireless phone over other choices in the survey such as stationary, postcards or using a laptop computer, many still did not know how to use their wireless service abroad.

“More and more consumers want to stay connected when they are vacationing near home or abroad,” said William Hague, executive vice president, International Roaming Operations for Cingular Wireless. “Many travelers don’t realize just how easy it is to use their U.S. wireless service out of the country. Because Cingular operates on a GSM network, the most commonly used wireless platform worldwide, our customers benefit from the ease of use and seamless transition when traveling from one country to the next.”

Read the complete Press Release