Traveling overseas might not be high on your list of things to do right now. But if you're willing to brave airline security and risk exposure to SARS, it's probably a good idea to take along a mobile phone that works. No ordinary phone will do, however. To stay connected overseas, you need what they call a world phone--a device that conforms to an international standard for worldwide reception. I recently tested two models on a trip to London and Barcelona and found them surprisingly reliable--but expensive to use.
Despite hemorrhaging in the travel industry and continued trouble in the...