Roaming vs. International Plans
April 22, 2015
Our personal communication devices can be a key part of both our work and family life, so we naturally wish to take them when we leave the country on vacation or business trips. You can still find yourself in
for a nasty surprise if you don't take roaming charges into account. If you use your phone or computer as you would when at home, you may be shocked when your next phone bill arrives! Thankfully, international plans are available that offer an affordable and hassle free alternative to this potential nightmare.
What are Roaming Charges?
Roaming charges occur when you use your device outside of the service area designated in your contract. This is a clause that can allow telecom companies to make extra money from uninformed subscribers, and these fees can be substantial. The charges apply to all regular uses of your device: voice calls, texting, and data use are all fair game. Voice roaming typically sets you back as much as one to four dollars per minute, while data roaming can be as high as three to six dollars per megabyte. If you will be gone for some time, rely regularly on communication and social media or even just love watching video clips on YouTube, you can imagine what sort of impact this might have on your wallet!
Affordable Alternatives Exist - Shop Around
Luckily, one can plan ahead and avoid such problems by signing up for international plans offered by companies like iRoam. These have much lower voice and data rates and can also be pre-paid, thus guaranteeing you know exactly what you owe.
No Need for Multiple SIM Cards
One can get around roaming charges by arranging to have a different number and provider in each country visited, but who needs the additional hassle and confusion of having to take these extra steps? International plans allow you to keep a single SIM card. That's just one number to remember and distribute amongst your friends, family and business contacts, ensuring you will never miss an important call, text or e-mail message.
No Additional Contracts or Hidden Fees
The saving benefit for consumers also extends to another important area. Phone providers love to lock users into contacts with hidden fees and monthly minimums. With roaming plans, you need not worry about such tricks and with certain providers. You can use your SIM card for as long as six months without losing any of the minutes you have purchased!
Talk, Text and Browse with Confidence
Between the costs of getting where you wish to go and dealing with everything from airports to customs to accommodations, the last thing contemporary travelers need is another headache! International plans eliminate one of these by offering far more reasonable roaming rates, allowing you to use your device as you always have, and eliminating worry over missing an important call.