Using Your Mobile Devices Abroad
NOTE - All travellers flying into or out of the United States and the United Kingdom must make sure that their mobile devices - Iphones, tablets, laptops - are fully charged in order that they can be turned on by airport officials if asked to do so.
This procedure is now an integral part of air travel so passengers must become familiar with this procedure.
MOBILE PHONES
Mobile phones can work out very expensive to use abroad due to roaming charges. Roaming is when your phone picks up the various foreign mobile phone networks which your phone will need in order for you to be able to use it. To cut down on these roaming charges whilst travelling here are a few tips -
Purchase a network add - on from your service provider.
Purchase a pre-paid international sim card.
Purchase a local sim card at your destination.
Keep your phone turned off until you need to use it.
Disable your voice mail.
Texts are free to receive but not to send.
In general all emergency phone calls from a mobile phone are free.
Internet usage by mobile phone is prohibitively expensive, therefore It is cheaper to stay in touch with friends and family back home by way of e-mail, Facebook or Twitter from either a laptop, tablet or smart phone.
LAPTOPS, TABLETS & SMART PHONES
The cheapest way of using the internet is by way of a wi-fi connection from a smart phone, laptop or tablet.
Free wi-fi hot spots can be found in various locations around the world particularly in public libraries. Many bars, restaurants, hotels, airports, railway stations, supermarkets and even ferries and aircraft may also provide free wi-fi by way of a specific password or by downloading an app.
There are various international, high street businesses which provide free wi-fi for their customers, a list of which can be found below, but do bear in mind that some of these outlets may only provide a restricted or limited service -
Apple Store, Burger King, Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee, Dunkin Donuts, EAT, Hooters, Krispy Kreme, McDonalds, O'Neill's, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Pret A Manger, Staples, Starbucks, Subway,Taco Bell and Wetherspoons.
AREAS WITH LIMITED OR NO MOBILE ACCESS
North Korea has no mobile phone connection what so ever.
Thirteen countries around the world have none or only restricted internet access, they are Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The countries with the most heavily monitored internet systems are China, Iran, Russia, Singapore and Syria, so be careful what you say online when visiting any of these countries.
Some of the world’s poorer countries still provide internet cafes or computer terminals located in public libraries and hotel foyers.
India does not allow the use of wi-fi on board any of it's national airlines.
In areas where internet and mobile phone access is very poor, such as the Australian outback or an ocean going liner for example, satellite phones can be used, but do be aware that these are a very expensive service.
To find international emergency telephone numbers used around the world visit our page -
Emergency telephone numbers around the world.
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