FACE it: many business travellers are utterly dependent on their smartphones. But taking a smartphone on an international business trip can get complicated—and expensive. If you don't have a company phone that's already set up for international travel, or you simply want to bring your personal phone with you when you travel abroad, it helps to know a few things. (I took my smartphone on a business trip to Africa last year and didn't regret it for a minute.) Here's a rundown of how to use your smartphone abroad without paying a fortune:
- There are two major standards for cell phone service providers: GSM and CDMA. If you are travelling abroad often, especially to places with spotty cell service, you want a phone that is GSM compatible. Make sure you have one that is. (Almost all phones sold in Europe are GSM-compatible.)
- Now, make sure your phone is unlocked—i.e., that you're not tied to a specific cellular service provider. This is less of a problem for Gulliver readers who live in Europe. But in America, the land of long-term cell contracts, it's important to make sure your phone will work with another network when you're travelling abroad. Talk to your carrier about unlocking. If you don't unlock your phone before you travel, you'll have either to pay international roaming fees (which can be immense, especially for data) or buy an international roaming plan from your carrier, which will be cheaper than paying roaming fees, but still more expensive than the option I'll outline below.
- You can save a few bucks by calling your carrier and suspending your service for the time you'll be abroad. But it's not necessary.
- Before you travel, research cellular carriers in the country you're visiting. Ask friends who live there what services they use. Dealing directly with local carriers will be almost invariably cheaper than taking your existing service with you. Depending on the country, your friends might even be able to pick up what you need: a subscriber identity module, popularly known as a SIM card, tied to a local carrier. Different phones take different-sized SIM cards, so make sure you know which size your phone takes.
- When you arrive at your destination, simply buy a local SIM card at the airport or a convenience store. In most countries, you'll just need your passport. (In a few, you'll need to order a SIM card in advance; do your research.) Make sure it supports data for your smartphone. Since you did your research beforehand, you're sure to get a good price. Pop the SIM card into your phone (it usually goes under the battery), and save your normal one to pop back in when you get home. Activate your service (instructions should come with the card) and you're good to go.
- Use an app such as WhatsApp or Google Hangouts for texting (instead of paying for SMS messages) and connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible to save even more money.