Mobile Phones & TravelingA Traveler’s Guide to Mobile Phones Before Flying off

• Lifeline for keeping in touch with the world, wherever you may be.• Used in case of emergencies, contacting family &

friends, posting your adventures online, checking e-mails, Google searching, etc..

Questions to ask your provider before you fly off…

• Will my phone work abroad?

-Can choose to deactivate roaming services to save on costs.

Questions to ask your provider before you fly off…

• How much will I be charged for roaming?

-If yes for roaming, enquire about the costs to make calls (international and local), to use the Internet, etc…

Questions to ask your provider before you fly off…• Is my phone locked?

-There are carriers that do lock phones when a new SIM card is inserted, causing the phone to not work.

-If yes, enquire to unlock your phone or use an R-sim.

Tips: Taking Your Phone Overseas• Turn off everything needing cellular data

-There are apps that automatically access the Internet.

-Save costs on data by utilizing your phone’s ’Airplane Mode’ feature or deactivating the data on your SIM.

Tips: Taking Your Phone Overseas• Rely only on Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet

-Depending on your travel destination, most hotels, restaurants, and other facilities have free Wi-Fi.

-As a backup, download offline travel apps and interactive maps before you embark on your travels.

Tips: Taking Your Phone Overseas• Maximize using apps to communicate

-Skype, WhatsApp, Messenger, and etc. are great tools for communicating with your loved ones on your travels.

-Apps that rely on the Internet, which you can access via Wi-Fi to save costs.

Tips: Taking Your Phone Overseas• Buy a disposable SIM card abroad

-Local service, enable cellular data, make calls (locally and internationally) and send texts.

-Many countries have affordable prepaid plans designed for tourists.

Precautions• Be extra careful when taking out your

phone.Pickpockets, thieves and swindlers often target unassuming tourists.

• Never ever let anyone carry your phone or never let it out of your sight.

• You will lose your contacts and information, and can incur up to hundreds of dollars’ worth of mobile charges due to unauthorized use.

• Download phone locating apps for just in case as it’ll help trace your stolen/ lost phone and remotely wipe all information in it.

• Check your mobile insurance policies to see if lost or unauthorized phone usage is covered.

Precautions

Stolen Phone? Yikes.• Contact your service provider immediately to deactivate

the service, to block anyone using your phone by blocking its IMEI (International Mobile Station Equipment Identity).

• Find out what your phone’s IMEI is by dialing #60# or look for it behind your phone’s battery beforehand.

• Also take note of your phone’s model number.

• Spare yourself from any trouble or complications by taking the necessary steps before and during your travels.

• Adapted from an article written by iPrice SG with a selection of pictures from Pixabay.