Communication

With all the technology available today, there are various ways for international students to remain connected to their families and friends at home, as well as with their friends and classmates on campus.

Below is information and a list of resources that you may use to assist you in telephone or cell phone services while you are in the U.S. We do not specifically recommend any services or plans, but we provide this list as a resource. It is your responsibility to research these resources and determine suitability for your needs. Please note that information on this page is subject to change.

 

Provides information on services Wellesley offers and information for making international phone calls from campus phones and mobile phones from the U.S. 

 

If you have a cell phone that is a tri-band phone (a GSM phone that supports three of the four major GSM frequency bands, which work in most parts of the world) you will need to buy a new SIM card from a U.S. cell phone company. A SIM card is a removable card that stores a user‘s service information as well as personal contacts. It allows users to change phones by simply removing the SIM card from one cell phone and replacing it with another.

 

All phone companies in the U.S. offer Contract Plans – this means, you have to sign a contract with the company in which you state that you will be using their service for a pre-determined length (usually two years), paying a monthly fee plus the charges for the services according to your rate-plan. However, this option can be difficult for newly arrived foreign citizens. Companies may require that you have at least a year of credit history on your credit card, which must be obtained in the United States, and a Social Security number. Without one of these, you may be required to pay a one-time fee, between $300-$600 (depending on the company), which will be returned to you upon completion of the contract.

 

A better option may be to apply for a Prepaid Plan, which is offered by most major companies and is also available through electronic retail stores (Best Buy, Radio Shack). A Prepaid Plan means you have to pay a fee (according to your rate-plan) a month in advance. You can terminate the service any time you like. However, you still need at least a debit/ATM card to be able to use this service. The company charges your card automatically, on the same date every month, unless you call to terminate your service. No subscription fee is required; you only pay the sum of your rate-plan.

 

If you want to buy a new cell phone, buying one along with a service plan directly from the company whose service you will use can get you a huge discount. Some phones are offered only together with the service, making them significantly cheaper than their original price. Below is a list of the major cell phone companies and their nearest store listings. Research the companies through their websites or in person before you make a decision.

 

Major cell phone service providers in the US include AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. These companies provide a variety of contract, pre-paid, and no-contract plans. 

 

 

88 Needham Street
Newton, MA 02461
617-303-7773

 

1245 Worcester Street
Natick, MA 01760
508-650-6970

 

1030 Main Street, Ste 6
Waltham, MA 02451
781-647-4400

 

 

 

 

 

Wireless Zone Wellesley (Verizon Authorized Retailer)

165 Linden St
Wellesley, MA 02482
339-230-0020

 

R Wireless Needham (Version Authorized Retailer)
1189 Highland Avenue
Needham, MA 02494
781-444-2801

 

Verizon Company Store

86 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01701
800-880-1077

 

All rooms on-campus have free wireless internet access, which you can connect to from your laptop. You can also access the internet from any one of the many computers on-campus. As a full time Wellesley student, you will have your own Wellesley email account, with a username and password, which allows you access to the Wellesley Portal.

 

You may opt to use one of the many pre-paid international phone cards, which can be purchased at many different locations including grocery stores, drug stores, or on-line. Make sure you compare rates before you buy one of these cards. You may want to check if there is any fee just to connect. International Student offers phone cards with no hidden charges.