Sat phones?

[spitfire1500]

Skype...I keep in touch for about $3.00 a monh

 

[Fedora]

http://www.mobalrental.com/

I use Mobal for all my overseas company calls. I used to buy sim chips from all the various places I went. PITA and expensive, plus I couldn't itemize the calls for reimbursement. I had an unlocked phone and paid just 6.50 USD for the sim from Mobal. No plans, no fees, just charge the calls to my credit card as I use it, print out itemized call listings for my reimbursement. If I don't use it for 2-3 months, NBD, no charge.
It's a UK phone number, which the company doesn't hesitate to use, but friends at home think twice. (I use skype to keep in touch with them - you can even get a local phone number that family and friends can use to call you on Skype - just leave your computer on with Skype running and it will "ring" when you get an incoming call. You can even use a camera on each end for video conferencing with the family back home. Skype has a lot to offer.)
If you want to use a single phone and use it worldwide, I'd go T-mobile vice Singular. Singular will charge you even when you don't pick up the call overseas. (if they leave voicemail message) Most overseas companies, including Mobal, will not charge for incoming calls, hence the posts saying SMS text folks to call you back. I don't know about Yahoo Voice, but I don't have an axe to grind with EBay.
For me, it's Mobal.com for company calls and the occasional family call or emergency contact, plus Skype for family and personal stuff.
Good luck on the new job!
Waldo
BTW - Nice subject post! Good discussion here.