I hope this post won't get moved to Member's Only, cause I need some SOUND advice (no offense).

As many of you know, I am moving to Shanghai, China this fall, and I need to keep a US phone number so that my customers won't have to make an international call to contact me.

I know that I can use a tri-band mobile phone (like my Motorola V.66) with someone like Cingular, but international roaming has got to be pretty damn expensive...

Is there any kind of messaging service using a RIM-Blackberry or Motorola Accompli 009 that would work in China?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated


[Modified by kengs, 5:17 PM 4/23/2002]

 

Wow...Shanghai. I spent 2 years working there between 1996 to 1998. I was there again last month. Fun city...lots of girls. Business wise, very difficult. As far as I know for the US phone number, I don't think it's worth it. Simply too expensive. I would say you just let your customers know your email there. Much easier and cheaper.

 

i should've asked this last night, but is using an answering service out of the question?

yshi - who just throws out an idea

 

Get a 1-800 number maybe?

 

Hmm, if you train me I can be a part-time operator.

 

Any ideas on where to find a decent one?

 

How about using a US based phone number that forwards the call to an international phone number? You might want to check with the phone company to see if that can be done, and how the billing would work out.
Austin