Mobile Phones

All major U.S. cellular networks work fine on the Front Range, but things quickly get spotty outside the urban cores. If you’re not from the U.S., you’ll be appalled at the poor reach of the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) wireless network, which is used by much of the rest of the world. Your phone will probably work in most major U.S. cities; it definitely won’t work in many rural areas. To see where GSM phones work in the U.S., check out www.t-mobile.com/coverage. And you may or may not be able to send SMS (text messaging) home.

Internet & E-Mail

With Your Own Computer -- Wi-Fi is readily available at hotels, cafes, and some public places in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, including Denver’s 16th Street Mall. For specific spots, check out the website www.jiwire.com. 

Without Your Own Computer -- Most major airports have Internet kiosks that provide basic Web access for a per-minute fee that’s usually higher than cybercafe prices. Check out copy shops such as FedEx Office (http://www.fedex.com/us/customersupport/officeprint/faq/general.html), which offers computer stations with fully loaded software.

Newspapers & Magazines

After the Rocky Mountain News shut down in 2009, the Denver Post became Denver's sole daily newspaper. The Gazette is Colorado Springs' daily and the Boulder Daily Camera serves Boulder. The alt-weeklies are Westword (Denver), the Colorado Springs Independent, and the Boulder Weekly. The most prominent local magazine in Denver (and along the entire Front Range) is 5280, but you'll find many more publications focusing on local arts, dining, and business in all three cities. You can find newspapers in newspaper boxes in the street; most supermarkets and convenience stores stock both newspapers and local magazines.

Telephones

The area codes for Denver and Boulder are 303 and 720. In Colorado Springs, it’s 719. In Denver and Boulder, the full 10-digit phone number is required to make local calls, whereas the area code is not necessary in Colorado Springs. Most convenience stores and supermarkets carry calling cards for national and international calls. Pay phones still exist in the area, but their numbers have been on the decline in recent years. However, they are readily available in the downtowns of all three cities.

Many convenience groceries and packaging services sell prepaid calling cards in denominations up to $50. Many public pay phones at airports now accept American Express, MasterCard, and Visa. Local calls made from most pay phones cost either 25¢ or 35¢. Most long-distance and international calls can be dialed directly from any phone. To make calls within the United States and to Canada, dial 1 followed by the area code and the seven-digit number. For other international calls, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and the number you are calling.

Calls to area codes 800, 888, 877, and 866 are toll-free. However, calls to area codes 700 and 900 (chat lines, bulletin boards, “dating” services, and so on) can be expensive--charges of 95¢ to $3 or more per minute. Some numbers have minimum charges that can run $15 or more.

For reversed-charge or collect calls, and for person-to-person calls, dial the number 0 then the area code and number; an operator will come on the line, and you should specify whether you are calling collect, person-to-person, or both. If your operator-assisted call is international, ask for the overseas operator.

For directory assistance (“Information”), dial 411 for local numbers and national numbers in the U.S. and Canada. For dedicated long-distance information, dial 1, then the appropriate area code plus 555-1212.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.