Traveling to Europe for first time, current cell phone won't work there.  My carrier offers an international phone that they will provide but read some negative reviews on their overseas reliability.  My personal number would be used, don't think I want unexpected calls and messages to be received at the international rates.  I didn't want to be without just in case of emergency so this looked like a great deal. I figured that Telestial would be better choice for reliable service while in Europe, and per minute rate was less as well.