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WIRELESS WORLD TRAVEL MADE SIMPLE 1. Before you travel abroad, check with your provider to see if your mobile phone is going to work where you’re going. Different countries use different types of mobile phone networks, so don’t assume that your phone will work in a foreign country. And even if your phone does work for voice calling, some of its other functions – such as sending and receiving data or text messages – might not work. Check with your provider before you depart. Ask your provider about other available options it may offer. 2. If your mobile phone will work where you’re going, you should also determine before traveling the rates you’ll pay for using it. For most U.S. customers, the service plan that covers domestic usage does not cover usage while traveling abroad. And the rates may be much higher when abroad; because of the additional fees for “roaming” on a foreign mobile phone network. These higher rates may apply to all of your phone’s capabilities, including making or receiving voice calls, receiving or checking voice mail, sending or receiving text messages, and uploading to or downloading from the Internet. Even if you have “unlimited” minutes, texts, or data applying to domestic usage, you may be charged per minute, per text, or per Kb/Mb if you use your phone in a foreign country. Note also that roaming fees may vary depending on which phone network in a foreign country you are roaming on. Check with your provider before you depart to find out the service arrangements that best fit your needs, and all the rates and charges that will apply. Roaming is complicated! Take time to understand all the rules and rates before you travel. Advance preparation can prevent unexpected charges from appearing on your next bill. 3. Even if your mobile phone will work and you have determined all the charges you may incur with your provider, you may want to research other alternatives. Other options are available that may be attractive in certain circumstances. For example, you can avoid roaming charges entirely by purchasing an inexpensive handset in the country you’re visiting. Or, if your own phone is capable, you can buy a “SIM” card for it (the removable card used by some mobile handsets containing subscriber data and the phone’s number) with a local number in the country you’re visiting, effectively turning the handset into a local phone. Another alternative is to rent an inexpensive handset appropriate for the country you’ll be visiting. You can rent it before you leave home or when you get to your destination. Or, you may be able to rely entirely on wireline phones and wireline Internet access, perhaps through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling. If you have a smartphone, uploading/downloading data using a Wi-Fi hotspot rather than a foreign mobile network may allow you to avoid data roaming charges. And, by making mobile VoIP calls with your smartphone, you may avoid voice roaming charges. Quick Tips:
source: fcc.gov |
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