THE ROVING EYE.

COME August, international travelers arriving at LAX can forget the expensive roaming charges they incur on their cell phones.

This summer, visitors arriving at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at the Los Angeles International Airport will be able to rent a cell phone for $5 a day plus any incurred air charges.

The idea was inspired by several requests from business travelers and tourists who arrived in Los Angeles and wanted to keep in touch with relatives, colleagues and friends during their stay in Southern California. The phones are being marketed primarily to overseas visitors whose cell phone networks are often not compatible with the U.S. cell networks.

"It is something we've been working on for the past few months," said Ramon Olivares, chief of the airport's concessions management division. "There seems to be a market, especially in international locations."

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners last month approved a sub-concession agreement between ICE Currency Services USA and Triptel in San Francisco to provide the rental phones.

Travelers will be able to pick up the phones next to the ICE Currency Services facility located on the arrival level of the international terminal. The phones can then be dropped off at the airport or shipped back via Federal Express for an additional $12 to $15 fee.

LAX isn't exactly on the cutting edge with this new service. For some time now, passengers have been able to rent cell phones at other airports around the country, including San Francisco International Airport and Dulles International in Washington, D.C.

LAX is the latest air facility to get connected.