How to Save Money on Data Roaming?

Modern phones offer a wide choice of services, requiring mobile internet connection. WAP, GPRS, 3G and so on can be included in your PLAN, you even can have unlimited data transfer, but it doesn't work while you are in roaming! While using your phone abroad you are serviced by the local mobile operator, so the charges are different.

A megabyte of mobile internet in roaming can be very, very expensive, and the bad thing here is that operators often charge minimum 1 megabyte every time you connect to the internet from your headset.

Even the modern mobile phones can't detect if you are using it in roaming or in the country you live in, so you better prevent the phone to connect to the internet while it is on international roaming to avoid high data-roaming charges.

How to lower your data transfer while using your phone abroad?


Tip 1: Try to Connect to a Wi-Fi Network

WiFi hotspots is the most practical way one can stay connected to the internet while travelling, anywhere you go. WiFi hotspots operate in areas and the radius of the area depends on the strength of the signal. Nowadays a lot of devices can connect to WiFi networks. However, be sure, when you try to connect, that your phone is set to use WiFi instead of the network, because if not, you will be charged for traffic you use.

WiFi offers good speed of download with no traffic counting. Your operator won't bill you when you download data over Wi-Fi. The only possible way to get charged is if the particular Wi-Fi hotspot charges for access, but in large number of cases you will be informed via a message, either be it a system message or a message from the browser you use.

Free WiFi access point are very easy to find in public places, bars, restaurants, hotels and so on. Tip - look for the WiFi sign on the doors.


Tip 2: Careful With the E-mail APP!

As long as you don't download attachments from your email through your phone you are okay. A text letter could be not more then few kilobytes, but a photo attached to the letter can be 1-3 megabytes. Downloading such a photo will cost you a lot. However, there is another thing, when you open a letter your phone downloads the text to display it, which would mean the longer the letter is the more it will cost you, at least more than you'd expect.



Tip 3: Check Your Data Transfer Settings!
When going abroad, many users suffer, due to the high roaming charges their mobile operators inculcate, when ever they use data tranfer. Apple gave that fact some thought and they came up with the idea to switch off data roaming as a default. Meaning that all applications in iPhone, that use data, won't use data connection while abroad. That ensures that iPhone customers won't incur data costs unintentionally. Other smartphones are not always able to prevent the applications to access the internet. Whenever you leave your motherland make sure you turn off your data roaming or cellular data!



Tip 4: Buy an International Data Plan
Mobile operators are familiar that data roaming rates are high, which is why they offer special international data plans. That way users can easily avoid additional charges to their bill and set proper traffic plan, which benefits them the most. here you can compare the data roaming plans charges by different operators.


Tip 5: Is There a Mobile Version?
When you are opening a web site through your phone you are downloading data from the site's server, bytes, kilobytes and in some cases even megabytes - graphics, animations, adverts and design element, which are completely useless on the small screen. That would be quite costly if you are using data roaming, because you are practically billed for each byte you download. For that reason there are sites, which are specifically optimised for mobile phones, to make the megabytes less. For instance, BBC News has a phone version website, so does the PC Advisor website. Also webmasters make light changes in the address to keep the trademark of the URL. For example, try replacing "www" with "m" or "mobile", also try to replace the name extension ".co.uk" or ".com" with ".mobi".


Tip 6: Turn OFF the 3G Network!
Another way to connect to the Internet, with your phone, is through 3G network and thus you will incur roaming charges, because you will be using your network providers roaming partner's network. Some phones have this function as a default and each time some application attempts to connect to the Internet it will do it through the 3G network. Generally this isn't a bad thing, if you're using your operator's network not their roaming partners network. Its good to turn off your phone Internet connectivity whenever you go abroad to escape roaming charges for data. Depending on your operating system and handset there are numerous ways to do this.

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Compare data roaming charges here!

If you are not sure about your phone's data transfer settings it makes sense to turn off the internet functions completely.
How to turn off the internet on:

Android:
Select Wireless and Networks tab from the main setting menu, from there select Mobile Networks Settings, Network Settings and select Data roaming to off. There is a shorter way, again go to Wireless and Networks tab the same way, from there simply select "Airplane Mode", it will practically disable all wireless connections.

iPhone:
Select the settings icon, the general tab, networks, data roaming off.

Blackberry:
Go to the main menu, manage connections (somewhere below), afterwards select mobile network options - data services off.

Palm:
From the call icon select the network tab in the top left hand corner, preferences, go down to the bottom of the screen and select disable Data Roaming.

Bada:
Main menu, settings, connectivity, data roaming and switch it off.

Windows Mobile:
Go to the main menu with the Windows button, select wireless controls, data connection to off.

*Note that some applications, which connect to the Internet will turn your connectivity back on. You can download a free app that will keep these switched off from http://www.pocketpc-live.com/pocket-pc/turn-off-data-connections-while-roaming.html

Brew:
After you unlock the handset go to settings, select network settings, from there turn off data roaming.

*Note, your handset has to be set up to be used abroad. The alternative is to contact your network provider to disable your phone connectivity whist abroad. This is a good solutions for users who are worried about incurring charges, mostly Symbian users.

iPad 3G offers you to stay online while travelling across the world using a SIM card to access the internet. Buy an iPad data roaming sim card and you can save money on calls and SMS while abroad, just staying online all the time. Skype, E-mail and so on can reduce calls and help you continue controlling your business. Most carriers give prepaid 3G data plans, where you can choose for a exact number of megabytes.

Click here to find more about using iPad data roaming sim cards.