PicCell Wireless

Giving the Gift of a Good Education

2011-12-22T01:25:00.000-08:00

In the words of B.B. King, ‘the beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.’

That’s why this season, PicCell Wireless has chosen The Hilde Back Education Fund (HBEF) to receive our 2011 holiday donation. The HBEF is a charitable community-based organization that assists children from disadvantaged communities to access secondary school education in Kenya.

Making it count

For every call made on a PicCell phone this December 25th, PicCell is giving $0.10 towards scholarships for these Kenyan students!

We are proud to contribute to this noble effort and everyone to make a donation this year. Click here to make an HBEF donation and make a difference in a young student’s life. Thank you.

Happy Holidays from PicCell Wireless!

Proposed Cell Phone Ban for American Roads

2011-12-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

The National Transportation Safety Board recommended a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones while driving. The ban would apply to all hands-free and hand-held phones, but devices installed by the manufacturer would be allowed. If adopted by states, the NTSB ban would apply to all non-emergency calls and texts by any driver on the road. Passengers cell phone use would not be affected. Read more.

Cell Phones Fights Isolation and Poverty in Remote Areas

2011-10-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

In Jeffery Sach’s book, The End of Poverty, he states "The cell phone is the single most transformative technology for development," This observation was made after he toured sub-Saharan Africa in 2005 and studied the poor conditions, noting a lack of cellular technology in more isolated regions that also had poor drinking water, feast-and-famine crop cycles and rampant malaria infections. "Poverty is almost equated with isolation in many places of the world”, Sach’s states in his book. Years later, cell phone service is widespread and ownership is reaching as high as 30% in some previously isolated areas. As this technology grows, it makes it easier for those in remote areas to call for medical assistance, operate a small business or manage personal banking and savings.

Check out Jeffery Sach’s book, The End of Poverty

Blackberry Service Outage

2011-10-10T23:33:00.000-07:00

Millions of Blackberry users were without data our messenger service across much of Europe, the Middle East and Africa today. Research In Motion, the company that brings the Blackberry products and services to the public, apologized to the affected users and stated they are looking in to it. The BlackBerry is growing in popular throughout Europe and the Middle East, where many international business users prize the phones for their vaunted security features. In July, BlackBerry reported it had added 1 million customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa market in less than three weeks.

Mobile Phone Access Varies Widely in Sub-Saharan Africa

2011-09-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

According to Gallup.com, fifty-seven percent of the adult population -- or more than an estimated 151 million people -- have mobile phones across the 17 countries Gallup surveyed in sub-Saharan Africa in 2010. The percentage of adults with mobile phones ranges from a high of 84% in South Africa to a low of 16% in Central African Republic, signaling the potential for tremendous growth in the industry on the sub-continent.

Mobile phone access in sub-Saharan Africa ranges widely by country. At the same time, men, those with higher education levels, urban residents, and those with higher per capita household income generally are more likely to have mobile phones. The challenge for the mobile phone industry is to expand from this base to rural and poorer areas, where cost will likely remain an obstacle to growth.

See the details.

Night Rider Turbo-Boosts into an $8,000 AT&T Bill

2011-09-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Watch the Hoff go off on AT&T for his $8,000 dollar cellular phone bill. It sounds like he could use a better deal on international phone service. If his talking car, ‘Kit’, hasn’t already, we would like to recommend Hasselhoff turn the hassle off with AT&T and contact PicCell Wireless for a much better deal on international roaming.

See Hoff Go Off

PicCell Wireless Average Customer Care Hold Time Less Than 30 Seconds

2011-08-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Who likes to wait on hold? We at PicCell Wireless sure don’t and we strive to minimize our customer’s hold times when they call us for help. So, how are we doing? According to a new survey from J.D. Power and Associates, the average hold time for clients contacting their American mobile providers is 4.5 minutes. PicCell is proud to boast hold times of less than 30 seconds! The average hold time from January 2011 – July 2011 for calls from PicCell clients was 23.5 seconds, with monthly averages ranging from 14 to 32 seconds. Read more.

FDA to Regulate Medical Smartphone Apps

2011-07-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

According to the Associated Press there are over 17,000 apps related to health and medicine available for smartphone users. This month, the FDA announced that it will begin regulating a portion of these apps, specifically those that work with medical devices that are already regulated by the FDA, such as heart monitors.

It has been a busy year for three-letter US regulatory agencies and the wireless industry, with the FCC asserting new regulations on Phone Data and Net Neutrality, but this is the first foray into wireless world for the FDA. As smartphone technology progresses, experts anticipate smartphones and medical apps to replace many stand-alone medical devices, pushing them into obsolescence much like trends in GPS and MP3 players.

Cell Phone & Shack Banking Helps Reach Africans

2011-06-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

In just one year, Standard Bank of South Africa has opened over 8,000 “bank shops”, thanks to the use of cell phones to enable remote banking. With the use of cell phones, banks can avoid the high cost of brick and mortar bank branches or auto-teller machines, utilizing existing street-side convenience stores or tents. The cell phone based banking model is poised to open banking to some of the estimated 15,000,000 South Africans that do not have a bank account, but do have the means to save and spend. Read more

PicCell Wireless at the 2011 NAFSA Conference

2011-06-08T19:26:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the 2011 NAFSA conference in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Thank you to all who stopped by our booth and said hello to the PicCell/Platform3000 team and to our honored guest Streck Gubben.

(Click image to view all Streck Gubben photos from NAFSA 2011)

The conference brought together more than 8,000 education abroad and international student advisers, exchange program developers, university administrators and faculty members, service providers, and others for five packed days of training workshops, educational sessions, networking opportunities, and special events.

Find out more about Streck Gubben

Cell Phones Vital New Tool For Health In Africa

2011-04-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought ten years ago that cell phones would help to save lives! This is exactly what is happening in Africa. In order to boost health by targeting the continent's 624 million mobile phone subscribers, some African countries are using cell phones to send a health-related text messages to the clients or to call for health related emergencies. The free texts from South Africa's largest HIV treatment site, Praekelt Foundation are an example, where patients use cell phones to remind themselves to make appointments and pick up a fresh batch of anti-AIDS drugs. The txtAlert reminder costs only 14 US cents per patient per month, making it financially viable, with roughly 10,000 subscribers. As a result, missed appointments at the centre fell from 15% in mid-2007, to just 4% today.

In West Africa, 2,200 doctors in Ghana and 143 doctors in Liberia have signed on to anti-poverty group Africa Aid's MDNet network, allowing them to call or text other physicians for free. In Ghana, a national directory helps find the number to call. Already more than 2.5 million calls have been made so far on the network. Africa is poor in landlines and hospital beds but rich in cell phones. For this reason, from Rwanda to Uganda to Senegal, cell phones are now being used as a tool to solve many problems of daily life. While cell phones are being used for applications from quizzes promoting good behavior in Uganda, they are being used to coordinate health workers in Senegal, and solve problems such as a lack of specialists and specialized services in rural areas in Rwanda.

"I wish it could be duplicated in every African country. If only they could hook up every single health worker -- nurse, midwife -- onto the system," said Ghanaian pediatrician Frank Serebour. Seeing the massive positive impact of cell phones in Africa and how they can enrich peoples' lives, we wish that too.

-Nisha Noor

Source: Google News

Helping Japan in the wake of the Earthquake and Tsunami

2011-03-30T10:33:00.001-07:00

PicCell Wireless loves Japan. We are very sorry to hear about the disaster and send our best wishes and hope that all of our clients and their families are safe. In the aftermath of this disaster, we at PicCell have chosen to give aid to Japan. Our goal was to maximize the positive effect of our donation by selecting an aid organization that was not only reputable, but also highly efficient in delivering aid, without high administrative costs.

We found interaction.org to present many worthy options for giving. Among the potential NGOs, we selected Giving Children Hope to receive the PicCell donation and we encourage you to find a worthy organization and help Japan in this time of need. Thank you!

Cell Phone Use May Increase Brain Activity

2011-02-28T14:03:00.001-08:00

Although the affects of cell phone use on the human body is not altogether known, a recent government funded study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association suggests that cell phones can actually stimulate an increase in brain activity.

The study mapped how electromagnetic radiation from cell phones raises glucose metabolism in the mind, a telltale sign of brain activity. Subjects exposed to cell phone use for 50 minutes showed significant signs of increased glucose metabolism.

This news follows a 2010 study, coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which included subjects using cell phones for ten years or longer, and found that 'overall, no increase in risk was observed with the use of mobile phones.'

More Info

Where Will You Take Your Valentine?

2011-02-09T17:24:00.000-08:00

Whether you and your special someone are headed to London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome or any other romantic destination around the globe, PicCell Wireless has you covered, with world-class mobile phone solutions. Happy St. Valentines Day from all of us at PicCell Wireless!

PicCell Clients Vote Partners In Health For Holiday Gift Recipient

2011-02-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Partners In Health!

During the 2010 holiday season, PicCell Wireless pledged a donation for every call made on the 25th of December, 2010. Six charitable organizations were nominated to receive the PicCell holiday gift and the final decision was left to PicCell clients in an open pole on our Blog. See voting story here.

Thanks to Partners In Health and to every PicCell Wireless client that made one of the over 5,000 phone calls on December 25th, that made this donation possible.

Partners In Health, or PIH, works to improve the health of poor communities through grassroots partnerships and collaboration with other organizations. PIH projects include fighting Tuberculosis and HIV. Pih.org

Global Skype Outage Halts Communications

2010-12-22T21:51:00.000-08:00

Skype, the internet based messaging and telephony service giant, went down this morning and has been down all day. Skype's CEO, Tony Bates, issued an apology, saying that the matter was being taken very seriously and was being thoroughly investigated. He had said that malicious attack was not being ruled out as a problem cause and he put his estimate of the foregone calls at about 10 million.

Your Vote Helps Decide PicCell’s Holiday Gift Recipient

2010-12-21T13:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays,

In the spirit of giving, PicCell Wireless will give $0.10 for every call made with PicCell service on the 25th of December, 2010 as a donation to one of the great charitable organizations listed below.

Please take a moment to review these organizations and vote in the polling bar on the right. Thank you!

1. Pih.org Partnering with poor communities to combat disease and poverty

2. Kiva.org Micro-loans to fund entrepreneurship in the developing world

3. Fistulafoundation.org Working to treat the over 2 million women suffering from Fistula in the developing world

4. Oxfam.org Creating long-term, grassroots solutions to global poverty and advocating justice

5. Borgenproject.org Fighting global poverty by advocating crucial US legislation, educating and mobilizing people

6. Vittana.org Micro-loans to fund education for students in the developing world

Green Travel Trends for 2011

2010-12-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

Trends noted by the delegates of Europe’s first eco-tourism conference suggest that zero carbon hotels, voluntourism, slow travel and the local travel movement will be gaining popularity in 2011. Green conscious travelers are creating demand for positive-impact hotels and travel that compliments local traditions, culture and the natural environment. Read more.

Study Abroad Students tend not to Teetotal

2010-10-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

A recent study by the University of Washington finds that study abroad students may temporarily increase or even double their alcohol intake while they are away. Students who traveled to South American universities were found to have higher than pre-trip drinking habits after returning. Increases were most significant at universities in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The majority of students surveyed returned to their average drinking habits after returning.

Blackberry Data Service Now Available In Italy

2010-09-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

PicCell Wireless now offers Blackberry's data service for clients destined for Italy. While in Italy, PicCell client's can e-mail, message and surf the web on their Blackberry phone. The plan provides a great solution for those who want to stay connected by using Blackberry Messenger for instant messaging. Surfing the web is super fast and emailing is made easy with this valuable new service.

PicCell Wireless Matches 10 Percent of Client's Donations to Vittana

2010-01-21T14:02:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, PicCell Wireless invited clients to make a micro-loan to help fund education for students in the developing world through the organization Vittana. An additional 10% of each loan made was matched by PicCell to help support this great cause.

Thank you to everyone who participated and happy holidays!

EasyJet Unveils EasyHotel

2009-02-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

EasyJet has entered the hotel business and the rooms are small, orange and very affordable. Learn more.

Photo of the Week

2009-02-02T04:31:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Most Beautiful Castles

2009-01-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

1. Bamburgh Castle (England)
2. Leeds Castle (England)
3. Eilean Donan (Scotland)
4. Beaumaris (Wales)
5. Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany)
6. Kronborg Castle (Denmark)
7. Château de Castelnaud (France)
8. Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle (France)
9. Bran Castle (Romania)
10. Château de Chillon (Switzerland)

ABROAD - a Study Abroad Documentary

2009-01-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

U.S. to Out-drink Italy

2009-01-28T04:27:00.000-08:00

Italy is the biggest consumer of wine in the world, but the United States is expected to be out drinking Italy by 2012. Together we can achieve this goal. :) Read more.

UN Fights Poverty with Wireless

2009-01-27T04:07:00.000-08:00

The United Nations is using wireless to help fight poverty in remote areas. The initial plan will bring wireless to 80 African tribes and improve health and education in those regions.

Photo of the Week

2009-01-26T04:30:00.000-08:00

Volunteering Abroad? Try Fly for Good

2009-01-23T05:57:00.000-08:00

Fly for Good is a do-gooder company that provides discounted airfare for people volunteering overseas. Get the low down here.

Can you Hear me Now Guys do Exist

2009-01-22T06:41:00.000-08:00

Global Wireless Solutions is in the business of testing wireless signals and the company's experts have driven 3.5 million miles to test connections... That's the equivalent of 7 round trips between the earth and moon. The experts have placed tens of millions of calls from specially equipped vans. Read more.

Oh... Phuket

2009-01-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

The name of this Thailand paradise may catch your attention, but the land of Phucket is a major destination for tourist. Read more at the New York Times.

Happy New President Day!

2009-01-20T04:36:00.000-08:00

Photo of the Week

2009-01-19T05:28:00.000-08:00

Take a New Kids on the Block Cruise... or Not

2009-01-16T04:15:00.000-08:00

You can now go on a cruise with the 80's boy band, New Kids on the Block. Read more.

Travel Tip: Noise Reducing Headphones

2009-01-15T04:43:00.000-08:00

The background noise of airplane engines is one of the greatest factors causing fatigue on long flights. Noise reducing headphones are useful for blocking out the noise and keeping you refreshed. They don't come cheap however, the top headphones can cost over $300.
View CNET reviews of headphones.

Volunteer Abroad Card

2009-01-14T05:47:00.000-08:00

With the International Volunteer Card, people volunteering overseas can receive receive 24/7 assistance, travel insurance and discounts on airfare.

Photo of the Week

2009-01-13T05:26:00.000-08:00

Watch for Hidden Airline Fees

2009-01-12T06:07:00.000-08:00

Among the hidden fees some airlines may charge:
- Extra baggage check
- Frequent-flier award redemption
- Booking by phone
- Meals

Read Travel Blogs

2009-01-09T05:09:00.000-08:00

Destination books are... Destination books. If you want the low down on any country in the world visit travelblog.org to read blogs written by fellow travelers living in and visiting those countries. The service also allows you to write your own travel blog.

Travel Gadgets: GPS Navigation Unit

2009-01-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

For $100 you can travel the world and never get lost. Learn how pocket-sized GPS works.

IES Grants $2 Million to Study Abroad Students

2009-01-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

In support of its goal of helping as many students study abroad as possible, IES awarded over $2 million last year in scholarships and aid to students studying abroad. Apply for an IES scholarship.

Photo of the Week

2009-01-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

The World's Worst Taxi Rides

2009-01-06T04:35:00.000-08:00

View photos of the world's worst taxi rides.

Study Abroad Power Colleges

2009-01-05T16:12:00.000-08:00

The 18 universities who send 80 percent of their students abroad:

Arcadia University, Austin College, Bates College, Centre College, Colorado College, Earlham College, Elon University, Goshen College, Goucher College, Hartwick College, Kalamazoo College, Lee University, Rhodes College, Saint Olaf College, University of Dallas, University of Minnesota – Morris, University of Saint Thomas, and Wofford College.

60 Minutes Examines Airport Screening

2009-01-03T06:16:00.000-08:00

United Airlines First to Charge for Food on Transatlantic Flights

2009-01-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

United Airlines recently became the first major carrier to charge passengers for food on transatlantic flights. The airline is experimenting with the new charge on flights between Washington Dulles and Europe. Making the airline even more unpopular... No hot meals. It's food boxes for you. On a happy note, many foreign carriers are still very generous with free hot meals and alcohol.

Photo of the Week

2009-01-01T06:43:00.000-08:00

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Happy New Years!!!

2008-12-31T05:52:00.000-08:00

Bike Sharing Hits Milan

2008-12-30T05:24:00.000-08:00

Milan is joining the growing list of European cities who are encouraging citizens to start riding bikes. People in Milan will be able to rent bikes for $36 a year, $9 a week and $4 a day. The bikes are strategically located throughout the city and rentals can be purchased online or at "ATM Points." Read more.

Top 10 - Study Abroad Destinations

2008-12-29T06:30:00.000-08:00

The top study abroad destinations of U.S. students.

U.K.
Italy
Spain
France
China
Australia
Mexico
Germany
Ireland
Costa Rica

PicCell Gives Partners the Gift of Rebuilding a War-Torn School

2008-12-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

This year PicCell Wireless decided to give study abroad partners a gift that will have a lasting impact. In honor of our partners, PicCell Wireless is sponsoring efforts to rebuild a primary school in a war-torn country. The sponsorship is being done through the relief agency Oxfam.

Interning Abroad - What's a CV?

2008-12-27T12:26:00.000-08:00

When applying for a job overseas most companies ask for a CV or curriculum vitae. CV is simply another term for resumes. There are many sites that list openings for internships abroad.
http://www.studyabroad.com/internabroad/
http://www.internabroad.com/search.cfm

Happy Holiday's from PicCell Wireless!

2008-12-25T11:15:00.001-08:00

Top 5 Majors of International Students in the U.S.

2008-12-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

Business & Managment
Engineering
Physical & Life Sciences
Social Sciences
Math & Computer Science

How Long U.S. Students Study Abroad

2008-12-22T05:48:00.000-08:00

55.4% - Short-term (summer, 8 weeks or less)
41.7% - Mid-length (one or two quarters, or one semester)
5.5 % - Long-term (academic or calendar year)

2009 = Year of the Travel Deal

2008-12-19T04:25:00.000-08:00

Associated Press - The value of the U.S. dollar is surging, gas prices are at their lowest levels in four years, and hotel rates are softening. If you can afford a vacation, 2009 will be "the year of travel deals."

Dollar Continues to Rise

2008-12-18T05:19:00.000-08:00

April: It cost $1.60 to buy a euro.
Now: It cost $1.36 to buy a euro.
Translation? You dollar now goes 20 percent further in Europe.

Traveling Green Can Save You Green

2008-12-17T05:50:00.000-08:00

The Union of Concerned Scientist have unveiled simple ways you can reduce your carbon footprint while traveling. Among the tips:
- Take the Train: Passenger trains emit 0.43 pound of global warming pollution per passenger mile compared with 1.08 pounds for a typical car carrying a single person.
- Fly Coach: One more reason to despise those people in first class. The extra space of first class means that the average first class passenger is responsible for twice as much global warming pollution.
Read the full report.

Twice as Many Women Study Abroad

2008-12-16T05:31:00.000-08:00

Everyone is buzzing about a new report showing that twice as many women study abroad as men. The theories on why this is range from men are cheap to women want to travel before they have kids.
Read More.

Top 10 - Homeland of International Students

2008-12-15T12:01:00.000-08:00

Leading countries of origin for internationals students in the U.S.

India
China
South Korea
Japan
Canada
Taiwan
Mexico
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Thailand

U.S. Study Abroad Trends

2008-12-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

Number of U.S. students studying abroad.

Grameenphone Transforms Bangladesh

2008-12-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Grameenphone is a for-profit wireless initiative that is helping poor people in Bangladesh. The company is associated with the Grameen Bank. Before GrameenPhone came into existence, there was only one phone for every 500 people in Bangladesh. Phone ownership is expected to reach one phone per every three people before the end of 2007. Read more.

Top 10 Study Abroad Myths

2008-12-12T06:16:00.000-08:00

Read the Top 10 Study Abroad myths from U.S. News and World Report. Hint... If you can afford a semester of college, you can probably afford study abroad.

Poor Economy May Boost Wireless

2008-12-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Do you keep the landline or do you keep the cell phone? Duh! With the economy down, more people are ditching their landlines for wireless service. By the end of the year one in five households will be wireless only.
Read More.

Happy 30th Country!!!

2008-12-10T07:28:00.000-08:00

We're growing fast and with the addition of Thailand PicCell Wireless is now available in 30 countries.

Local service in 30 countries.
Roaming capabilities in 180 countries.

Hello Thailand

2008-12-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

PicCell Wireless is now available in one of the most exotic countries on earth. We're pleased to announce that we're offering local wireless service in Thailand.

University of Internationalville

2008-12-08T11:40:00.000-08:00

U.S. Universities with the largest number of international students.

USC
NYU
Columbia
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Purdue
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
UCLA
University of Texas - Austin
Harvard
Boston University

Miley Cyrus Plans to Study Abroad

2008-12-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

Miley Cyrus, the star of Hannah Montana, plans to study abroad. Cyrus is planning to study in London. Read more.

Random Travel Fact

2008-12-05T06:36:00.000-08:00

$4.06 - Cost of a two-liter Coca-Cola in Germany.
$0.78 - Cost of the exact same bottle in South Africa.

Hello Indonesia

2008-12-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

Over 17,000 islands on the equator (1/3 are uninhabited) and jungles full of monkey's, leopards and orangutans, Indonesia is the latest tropical paradise that PicCell Wireless is offering local service in.

Cell Phones Helping Africa's Poor

2008-12-03T05:46:00.000-08:00

Throughout Africa, cell phones are helping to reduce poverty. According to Africa Resource, a cell phone can dramatically improve living standards by saving wasted trips, providing information about crop prices, summoning medical help, and even serving as a conduit to banking services. "The cell phone is the single most transformative technology for development," says Columbia University economist and emerging markets expert Jeffrey Sachs. Read more.

Factoid: In 2001, only 500,000 people in Nigeria had telephone lines. Today, there are over 30 million cellular subscribers in Nigeria.

Wireless World

2008-12-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

According to Nokia, 2/3 of people on earth will have mobile phones by 2015. Today, there are over 3 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide.

Study Abroad = Nobel Prize

2008-12-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

Thirty-nine Nobel Prize winners studied abroad through the Fulbright Program. Among them, Muhammad Yunus, who won the Nobel Prize in 2006 for his efforts to combat global poverty.

Got Goli?

2008-11-28T12:59:00.000-08:00

Meet Goli Ameri. Goli is the Assistant Secretary of State of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). That's government lingo for "person in charge of study abroad." Goli leads efforts to foster a mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other nations. If you're studying abroad, Goli and ECA probably played a role in making that possible. Over 250 current and former heads of state from around the world are alumni of ECA programs. Learn more.

We Remember a True Hero

2008-11-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

Last week marked two years since the passing of an amazing man. He was known by many names and professions. The kids he fought so passionately to defend called him “Faza” or “Fr. D’Ag”.

Fr. Angelo D’Agostino, SJ died on the 20^th of November in 2006. He was a Renaissance man in the truest sense. He was a physician, psychiatrist, Catholic Priest, and outspoken advocate for the orphans of sub-Saharan Africa plagued by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

On September 8, 1992, Father Angelo opened the first home for children with HIV in Kenya. He spearheaded the creation of Nyumbani (“home” in Swahili)- a facility to provide shelter, food, education, antiretroviral therapy, and much more to nearly 100 children, from newborns to those in their early twenties.

Ten years ago, Nyumbani began the ambitious outreach project, the aim of which was to provide pivotal services needed by families of children living with HIV. It is called Lea Toto meaning “to raise the child” and in 1999, it became a full community-based care program.

D’Agostino’s last initiative in Kenya, Nyumbani Village, addressed the fact that the middle generation, who would normally care for both their children and their parents, had been almost wiped out by AIDS. Nyumbani received a donation of 1,000 acres of agricultural land on which grandchildren and grandparents now live together.

Learn more about the Nyumbani Village in this report from Voice of America News:

In July of 2005, PicCell made a contribution of $5,000 to help those who Nyumbani serves. We were pleased that Fr. D’Agostino was there to receive the check. He may be gone now but his legacy is as important as it ever was. To help Nyumbani in their mission to help those affected by AIDS in East Africa, please visit: http://www.nyumbani.org/help_donate.htm

Top 5 New Study Abroad Hotspots

2008-11-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

1. South Africa: up 28%
2. China: up 25%
3. Argentina: up 26%
4. Ecuador: up 29%
5. India: up 24%

Hello South Korea 한국 헬로우

2008-11-24T10:40:00.001-08:00

Welcome to one of the most wired countries on the planet! South Korea is paradise for the tech savvy and a natural fit for a company that's helping people stay wireless as they travel the world. PicCell Wireless is excited to announce that we now offer local service in South Korea!

Look, Bruno stopped by!

2008-11-24T10:37:00.000-08:00

An old friend of PicCell recently popped in at our Seattle office. The man wearing slightly tattered paint-stained clothing was carrying nearly everything he owned in a backpack slung over one shoulder. He had just returned from a trip to the Gaza Strip where he volunteered teaching art to young Palestinians.

Bruno Segatta has likely logged hundreds of thousands of miles over his years working in student life and as an art instructor and working artist. As anyone who has met him can attest, Bruno is one-of-a-kind. He always seems to cultivate the quality of selflessness in the lives of those around him (no matter what continent he may be on at the time).

It was great catch up with “Da Brunz” and chat about his trip to Kenya and Tanzania back in 2005. We remembered that, like so many times before, he was taking a group of students and their families on safari and to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. He had made it a tradition to take the group to an AIDS orphanage just outside Nairobi called Nyumbani.

He told our management what the place was all about. He said “Nyumbani” means “home” in Swahili and that is exactly what the organization provides to close to 100 HIV infected children. He said the most amazing thing at Nyumbani is that, though most people may think their futures are grim, the children seem to have almost permanent smiles on their faces.

We were so impressed by what Bruno reported was happening there that PicCell wrote them a $5,000 check for him to personally deliver. We were moved to help Nyumbani in their mission of providing HIV+ children in Kenya with the best nutritional, medical, academic and spiritual care available. This includes anti-retroviral therapy which gives them a hope to one day leave Nyumbani as healthy, self-reliant adults.

To take a closer look at Nyumbani or for information on how to contribute, please visit http://www.nyumbani.org/

10% of Study Abroad Students Using PicCell

2008-11-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

More and more students are going abroad and taking PicCell with them. Of the record 241,000 students studying abroad last year, nearly 10 percent of them used PicCell Wireless. Overseas cell phones have quickly joined Passports, backpacks and travel guides as essential tools for enhancing the travel experience.

Record Number of Students Studying Abroad

2008-11-18T00:27:00.000-08:00

A new report finds that there are more students studying abroad than any other time in history. Over 241,000 students went abroad, 150% more than a decade ago. Read more.

Another gadget bites the dust

2008-11-17T16:44:00.000-08:00

Some once-valued gadgets are meeting their demise at the hands cell phones. Take a look at their obits, written by Charlie Sorrel of Wired.com, brought on by the evolution of handsets into handheld computers ...

Cell Phones Bring Fair Elections to Africa

2008-11-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

According to election experts, cell phones are drastically improving democracy in Africa. "With communication and cell phones, this is where it is difficult to cheat in elections now. You are announced at the district level and cell phones go wild so by the time you go to the capital, if you have changed the figures, they will know," said Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Read more at CNN.

The Buck is Back

2008-11-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

The dollar is oh so strong right now. In October alone, the dollar gained 11 percent against the Euro. Travel, Travel, Travel! Read the Wall Street Journal article.

Glimpse of Our Seattle Crib

2008-11-06T16:09:00.000-08:00

That's so Seattle! PicCell's Seattle office is in a historic, brick building with old timber floors. The building is a few blocks from bars where Pearl Jam and Nirvana played before making it big. Ray Charles and Quincy Jones also performed in our neighborhood early in their careers.

Yes, there are dozens of coffee shops within walking distance of our office and Starbucks headquarters is a mile down the street. This is the proud home of our most "wired" wireless customer care agents.

Stay tuned for glimpses of our other offices.

PicCell Recognized by The Borgen Project

2008-11-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

PicCell Wireless has been recognized by The Borgen Project for contributing to the nonprofit's commitment to reducing global poverty.

New Technology Makes Customer Care Calls Free in Most Countries!

2008-07-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

As of August 1st, 2008 calls to our numerous, local PicCell Wireless customer care numbers are FREE when dialing from your PicCell handset in your home service country! PicCell offers local customer care lines throughout Europe and around the world, with more coming soon. As always, calls to our toll free number in the USA are free from any domestic phone line.

Find the customer contact number in your country.

Meet the Team

2008-03-05T15:22:00.000-08:00

Name: Sarah (right).
PicCell Role: A little bit of everything.
Favorite Country: Thailand.
Place you'd most like to go: Peru.
Favorite Travel Experience: Climbing Mount Kinabalu [kin-uh-buh-loo] in Borneo and making it to the peak just in time for the sunrise.

Send Us Your Stories

2008-03-04T14:43:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine going overseas without a cell phone? PicCell Wireless has evolved along with the international travel experience. We want to hear about your personal adventures. Let us know about your time abroad and we'll publish the top stories on our website. Send your story and photos to my_time@piccellwireless.com.

Happy 27th Country!!!

2008-03-04T11:39:00.001-08:00

In 2002, PicCell Wireless began with service to a single country. Needless to say, we are growing fast and with the addition of Sweden PicCell Wireless is now available in 27 countries. Here's where we stand today:

Local service in 27 countries.
Roaming capabilities in 180 countries.
On average PicCell Wireless has expanded into 5 countries a year.

Hej Sverige, Hello Sweden!

2008-03-04T10:08:00.001-08:00

Ahhhhh, Sweden. We're happy to announce PicCell Wireless is now available to people traveling to Sweden and amazingly every man working for PicCell has generously offered to travel there on behalf of the company... Thanks guys!

PicCell Premiers Local Mobile Network Access in Sweden

February 22, 2008 marked a momentous event for PicCell Wireless, many of their present contract holders, and the international GSM rental market as a whole. After much anticipation, PicCell Wireless is proud to offer local service in the Kingdom of Sweden.

In cooperation with the TeliaSonera Mobile Networks AB Sweden, the largest Scandinavian mobile network operator, PicCell can now pass on lower rates to its valued customers. This collaboration also provides better reception to PicCell clients while in Sweden (or Sverige). TeliaSonera boasts the most expansive coverage area in the country. This is especially true in Norrland (northern regions like Lappland) where other networks like Tele 2 and Telenor Sverige fall far short of the quality coverage offered by TeliaSonera.

The 2002 merger between the Swedish Telia with Finland’s Sonera has led to the company’s reaching the largest customer base of any Swedish wireless provider. These facts made PicCell’s choice for quality service to pass on to their customers an easy one.

A PicCell Wireless spokesperson said, “This is an outstanding collaboration. TeliaSonera’s vast network and our top-notch Customer Care is a great recipe for quality service in Scandinavia."

PicCell Donates to The Borgen Project

2008-02-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

Finally an organization that is getting political leaders to do right by the world's poor. We like what The Borgen Project is accomplishing, so we decided to sponsor the organization's efforts to pass the Global Poverty Act in Congress.

Top 5 Majors of U.S. Study Abroad Students

2008-01-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

1. Social Sciences
2. Business & Management
3. Humanities
4. Fine or Applied Arts
5. Physical/Life Sciences

Our Story

2008-01-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

Our humble beginnings date back to the year 2000. The company started with a simple and practical concept of compiling an English-language guidebook aimed at linking students with useful local businesses and services in Florence, Italy. Our scope broadened when mobile phone operations began in 2002 with a single network provider. We have evolved to now offer local service in over 30 countries tackling the challenge of providing flexible, short term contracts for impermanent residents. Consider us a conduit between the foreign national networks and our individual clients delivering clear billing and customer care that you come to expect from an American wireless company. Today, PicCell proudly offers its services to over 300 North American university programs abroad and more than 600 institutions on five continents. We work closely with them in customizing services to meet their specific needs. Providing exceptional customer care has always been our primary goal, giving travelers and students peace of mind during their time away.

Hello South Africa!!!

2007-09-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

As a company whose philanthropy is focused on Africa, we're excited to be offering our services to people traveling to the continent. Travelers to South Africa can now take a PicCell phone with them and enjoy wireless service throughout the country. South Africa is the 25th country PicCell has expanded service to.

PicCell Service in

South Africa

In cooperation with the Cell C Limited, an up-and-coming, genuine South African mobile network operator, PicCell Wireless introduces service on the African continent.

Since its 2001 launch, Cell C’s goal has always been to set itself apart from its multi-national competitors. They are “South African and proud of it.”

PicCell Wireless is proud of them and their company’s mission. Ever since the rewriting of the Republic of South Africa’s Constitution, black people in that country have been making incredible socio-economic advances.

Cell C captures that spirit of commitment and perseverance by creating jobs for those individuals who were previously disadvantaged. Over 89% of their employees and 55% of their Senior Management are previously disadvantaged individuals.

PicCell Wireless seeks out partnerships with companies such as Cell C, whose missions encompass poverty reduction in the developing world. PicCell supports Cell C as they provide excellent local wireless coverage and great jobs for South Africans.