Using Your Cell Phone Abroad
E.T., the extraterrestrial, isn’t the only
one who needs to phone home while
in a foreign land. With modern cell
phone technology, calling should be
a lot simpler now than it was back in
1982. But what about using your cell
phone when traveling abroad? Stories
of phone bills in the thousands scare
us into leaving phones off or at home.
But there are certain ways to reduce
the costs of using your phone abroad.
You just need to be prepared with
these cell phone tricks and facts.
Know Your Service
Provider
All of the major wireless providers
in the United States allow for inter-
national roaming and calling, but
certain companies have more exten-
sive networks. AT&T and T-Mobile
use the worldwide Global System for
Mobile Communication (GSM), so
their phones are more likely to work
in foreign countries. Verizon and
Sprint also have some global services,
88 ▶ summer 2013
but they require either purchasing a
data plan or having an international-
capable phone.
Turn Roaming Off and
Manual On
Data charges are actually one of
the more expensive parts of cell use
abroad. So consider turning on auto-
matic smartphone functions, like
checking email, only when there’s a
free wireless connection.
Use a Skype To Go™
Number
If you want to make low-cost inter-
national calls, Skype allows calls to
be forwarded, which can help you
save on roaming charges. Simply
enter the international number you
want to call, and Skype will give you a
new number to dial that will get you
through to the same line. Since no
Internet connection or data plan is
needed to make calls with Skype To
Go, it’s perfect for talking while in a
foreign country.
Switch the SIM Card
If you want to avoid renting an inter-
national cell phone, which can cost
up to three dollars a day, you have
two options for SIM cards: local or
international. A local card is specific
to your destination and is the cheaper
option if you’re not a regular traveler.
More frequent flyers may want to use
an international SIM card because it
needs to be purchased only once and
can be used in multiple countries.
Be like Eliot and E.T. and get cre-
ative with your phoning home. With
these tips, you don’t have to be afraid
of using your cell phone while you’re
abroad.
▶ www.moneysavingexpert.com/
Photo by Gonzala Baeza
phones/cheap-roaming-calls
▶ www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/05/27/
cell.phones.overseas/index.html
—Kevin Haws