subject: Be aware using your mobile abroad [print this page] Be aware using your mobile abroad Be aware using your mobile abroad
We are all used to the convenience of having our mobiles with us when we are away, and can't imagine life without regular phone calls and 24/7 access to our emails and the internet. As we all know this comes at a price, and it is important to be aware of the potential costs for using our devices when we are away.
Inside the EU the rates for voice and data are capped but if you go outside the Euro zone you will find call rates are often significantly higher.
You can find lots of helpful information and advice on using your phone abroad on our website by clicking here.
Every year a number of clients contact us regarding the cost of roamed calls and data. The hotspots are the US, Far East and Turkey (many people are under the impression that Turkey is in the EU). This year I am expecting more queries regarding data usage. If you have an iPhone or a smartphone of any kind you will need to be careful how you use it while you are away.
So here are some tips that I've put together for you.
Voice calls
If you are abroad on business and expect to have your normal calling pattern, you will be able to pre-buy the required number of minutes for your average usage upfront from Vodafone with a roaming bundle, details of which can be found on our website using the link above. We can advise on this if you email us with the destination and duration of your trip along with the mobile number. We will check the average usage from the last tariff analysis and suggest a package for you.
Another option would be to look at alternative operators. I would suggest you look at Skype or Truphone. These companies offer VoIP calling which you can access via the web at an internet caf or using SIM cards which give you lower call rates back to the UK.
Also, when using a wireless connection I always switch my phone onto flight mode so I can't accidentally make a call on the mobile network while I am using a wireless data connection.
Data usage
Data can be very expensive when used abroad. We have all heard stories of people downloading big files or watching TV programmes using iPlayer etc. If you are a BlackBerry user your email will continue to flow in as usual while you are away. The data is heavily compressed before it is sent to you and the devices are designed to reduce the file sizes to the minimum.
All other PDAs tend to have higher data demands while abroad. The iPhone in particular tends to use a lot too.
You should be able to change the settings on your device to ensure only headers are downloaded, so when the email comes in, you can choose whether to download the whole thing or not. You can also stop email coming to your device if you are going to use a wireless connection when you are abroad.
Hopefully this is some help. Feel free to contact us if you need any further advice, and have a nice trip!
