© 2013 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BOB SKIDMORE
CORRESPONDENT
In this wired world,
communicating back to the USA via your smartphone, or laptop is relatively easy
and affordable when you know how. Here are a few tips gleaned from a recent
trip to France, Spain, Amsterdam and Sweden.
Many, but not all,
smartphones now have the ability to work in other countries, something that was
not possible just a few years ago. Most US carriers offer a temporary
discounted add-on international option to your current plan. In my case Sprint
offered a $5.00 monthly charge, pro-rated if less than a month, that links you
with various European carriers at preset prices.
(TIP: You are not charged if you do
not answer the incoming call. Since caller ID displays the caller’s number you
can easily determine if and when to answer a call. You could also opt to call
the caller back from a less expensive or FREE service or respond by email or
text. Voice mail messages do not appear on your phone’s display, but are
accessible by calling your mobile phone number and when answered pressing star
followed by entering your pass code when asked. If you do not already have a
pass code you need to set one up by visiting your carrier’s website. )
Most countries belong to an
alliance that charges $1.99 a minute for incoming/outgoing calls and texting at
5¢ incoming and 50¢ per outgoing text. Non-alliance members, such as Sweden,
charge the same texting rates, but a $2.99 per minute incoming/outgoing phone
charge. Generally, when you cross the boarder from one country to another you
will receive a FREE text indicating the rates in that country.
(TIP: European phone providers cover
different areas of a particular region, so it’s not uncommon to see the
provider’s name change while moving around in the same city or country.)
Data service is not included
and such service should be avoided, as the cost is extremely high. This means
your use of a GPS would not work unless you are willing to pay the high cost of
data.
Data service can easily be
turned off on your smartphone by accessing the system settings function. Turning this service off has no effect on
your smartphone’s ability to connect with wi-fi. You simply go to your settings
and select the wi-fi service that’s available. Your US carrier will walk you
thru the settings process. Be sure not to turn off the CELL SERVICE feature, as
doing so will eliminate phone call reception.
If you subscribe to the VOIP
service for your home that’s offered by Vonage, you have a FREE iPhone App
available to you known as EXTENSIONS. This app allows you to use the Internet
connection on your phone to call worldwide, toll-free. I used this a lot in my
European travels.
Another alternative is FACEBOOK MESSENGER. This feature permits
you to send instant messages that can only be seen by the person that it’s
intended for. Naturally, it does require Internet access and the recipient must
be a Facebook member.
(TIP: There are many hotspots in
Europe that are FREE. The problem I noticed is that most of them want some
information about you before you can connect. The questions are generally in
the language of the country you’re in, so, if you can’t read the language you
could have a problem. Also, you may willingly be subscribing to their junk
emails. Many airports offer FREE wi-fi, or a pay option that provides faster
service. Charles de Gaul Airport, for example, allows you only 15 minutes of
FREE service, after which you must pay. European smartphones also allow tethering,
a feature US providers have banned since they don’t want you to not purchase
their service for other devices such as iPads and laptops. Tethering allows one
phone to act as a hotspot so other phones, iPads and laptops can connect to the
Internet via that phones ability to access the Internet via their mobile
provider. This proved to be a valuable feature while on the road with a
relative, receiving an important text and needing to respond by calling the US.
Apps by PDA and FoxFi are available for Android phones that allow tethering.
Unfortunately, Apple removed them from the Apple store eliminating this
capability. )
Bob Skidmore is a freelance
writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent,
or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his
points of view and not those of the manufacturer. The manufacturer generally
supplies products at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is
received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of
review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior
ratings.
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