Using Your Phone The Right Way

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Everyone worries about the expense of cell phone calls while they are traveling. There are simple, easy things you can do to eliminate some of your concern.

Remember:

Text Messaging

  • Text messaging is cheap! Sending and receiving text messages is much much less expensive than phoning.
  • Condense those text messages to make them shorter.
  • Text messages with addresses and phone numbers are common sense. The receiver doesn't need a pen and paper to record them.

Saving Money on Your Trip

  • If your incoming calls are free, ask family members or colleagues to phone you.
  • Check your rates for calling home ahead of time so you know what the minutes cost.

Voicemail

  • If you are using the international roaming feature from your contract provider, switch voicemail off on your trip. Often you are charged for the minutes when the call is left as well as when you listen to it. Calling voice mail isn't free internationally.
  • Keep your phone on and just answer calls. Provided you don't have long conversations, it is the most cost effective plan.
  • Re-record your voicemail message. Make it brief and ask those leaving messages to be brief as well.

Network Selection

  • If you are using your home provider's international roaming, do check to make sure that the network they are automatically connecting you to is the least expensive one for calls. Use our comparison tool prior to departure and the make the selection manually in your settings. It behooves the carrier to give you the most expensive option but you aren't limited to using it.

Happy travels with your cell phone. By thinking and planning ahead, there are no nasty billing surprises when you get back home.