Vend a Sim.

I'm always looking for ways to stop the mobile networks imposing their indefensible roaming charges on me. The simplest way was always to carry a second phone that was 'unlocked' and buy a local 'pay as you go' sim-card, then text the new number to anyone who needed to find you.

The hard part about this plan was finding a local mobile store that would sell you a sim-card without local identification or some tedious sign-up process.

Now in the UK at least, travellers can get themselves a sim card from the network of their choice from a vending machine. This photo was taken in Heathrow's Terminal 4, just outside the arrivals gate. It might not last for long. The current paranoia about terrorism might not sit well with the ability to just appear on the mobile grid and disappear again, but in the mean time, it's a great service for travellers.