Portability is one of the big selling points of smartphones and tablets, they're not called mobile devices for nothing, and now they're a vital part of the travelling experience. An android smartphone can be a great boon on holiday – with some fantastic apps available to travelers – but it's important to be mindful of security and cost, particularly when you're travelling abroad.
Roaming Charges
Huge charges for overseas internet use occasionally crop up in the news. Even the mayor of Adelaide in Australia – who is described as "tech savvy" – got into trouble when he left his international data roaming turned on whilst on a trip to Taiwan. The result was an AUS$20,000 bill that might end up being picked up by local taxpayers. In the EU, there are plans for reforms that ban these charges. In the US there doesn't seem to be any plan to do the same, but the T-Mobile network have just announced a package that includes international and data services with no limits.
Photo Credit: Miroslav Krejcirik
Reduce Roaming Costs
Roaming charges are applied when your phone or device picks up and uses another network. That network charges your carrier and they pass the – often very high – charges on to you. If you want to avoid ruinous charges you can take some action. The first thing you should do is make sure you are completely clear on what you will be charged if you use your phone or tablet overseas – if you can't afford it then maybe a holiday from Facebook should be part of your break. Using Wi-Fi when overseas should keep costs down as you are using a local connection rather than a network. Do be sure that you're aware of any charges the Wi-Fi provider might make though. You should be warned of these costs before you log on to a hotspot. Most android devices have something called Airplane Mode which turns off data connections but allows you to access Wi-Fi. Beware of emails, particularly attachments. Looking at an inbox is fine, but downloading attachments quickly builds up the megabytes, and that's the unit of use for which you're charged. Mobile friendly sites use less data, so picking these when you can will help reduce your usage. You are responsible for your phone's settings – to a great extent, as we shall see – and you can simply turn off data roaming on your device. Check your connection or device settings for the off switch. You should also turn off the data sync facility on most android phones, that's the way all your Google data is automatically updated and it means downloading data which is where the big costs are found. However, be warned, some apps will turn these data services back on. Knowing how much data you use is a good idea, so reset your meter before you travel, or get an app to do it for you. It's also possible to make your phone local, although only with some networks, by unlocking it (you may be charged) and switching to a local network for the duration of your trip.
Some Fun Too
That accounts for the warnings, but most travel is about fun, and smartphones and tablets are terrific travel resources. As the experts at Iglu Cruise demonstrate, here are a huge number of travel apps on the market, which can be used from the planning of your trip onwards. Many are free. Expedia has deals that are exclusive to its mobile app. Kayak will help you find and, now, book flights. TripIt turns emailed booking confirmations into a detailed travel plan. FlightView will keep you up to date on flight information. Poynt will give you a guide to your host city and what's going on there during your stay. Wikitude turns your camera into a window on the world with its links to encyclopedic information stores. Let's not forget Google translate; it has its drawbacks, of course, but it's free and still the biggest translating tool around.
Security for Your Phone Abroad
Tourists can be a target for pick pockets and baggage thieves, so it's incumbent on you to prepare to keep your phone safe and to use a little common sense while you're on your trip. Before you travel, make a copy of your phone's serial number and make sure you know how to reach your carrier's helpline from the country you're going to be in – just adding this number to your contacts won't be much help if your phone is stolen. In fact, keep all the numbers you might need in an emergency, your family, insurance company, travel agency, bank, your country's consulate or embassy and so on, written down in hard copy. Act quickly if something does happen and get everything blocked. Back up your phone before you travel, then if it is lost or stolen you won't lose all your contacts. Take sensible precautions with your security. There's no need to flash valuable electronics around if you're not using them, be aware of where you are who's around you, and have fun, but remember that a drunk smartphone owner is more likely to lose their phone than a sober one. Above all, have fun!
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