With the proliferation of smartphones in the last few years, more consumers are using data services such as e-mail, streaming video, web surfing, or other activities that require access to data through a mobile network from smartphones. Consumers are accustomed to the “all you can eat” data plans that can be used everywhere, which enhance productivity and support the interaction with information in new ways.
Those who travel abroad with data-enabled smartphones are used to higher roaming rates per minute for telephone calls and seek cheaper alternatives for overseas voice calls. However, data roaming is an entirely different beast. Many smartphones will silently ping various data services for updates on new information, which ranges from e-mail and instant-messaging applications to GPS-enabled street maps. All of this traffic requires data plans, which on overseas jaunts can add up to big bucks.
For example, AT&T charges $0.0195 (about 2 cents) per kilobyte; downloading a 1-megabyte file could cost about $20. For a consumer who uses about 50 megabytes of data on a phone the cost would be $975 if AT&T roaming rates were applied.
How do you prevent getting hit by international data roaming rates? Most smartphones come with a feature to disable data while roaming. The placement of this feature varies with each smartphone, so check the instruction manual or talk with your mobile representative. By turning this feature on, in most cases it will prevent phones from using data while roaming. However, this also means that the ability to use e-mail and surf the web will be disabled. (One disclaimer: Some phones have built-in Wi-Fi. If you have the “prevent data roaming” feature enabled, in most cases Wi-Fi will still work once you find a hotspot.)
Another option to avoid high data-roaming rates is to check with your mobile provider. Some offer international data packages that provide a pool of data for consumers to pull from. If this option is chosen, when the allotted international data for the month is expended, the consumer then pays a set fee per kilobyte. In addition, these types of plans often require committing to a one- or two-year contract, which could get expensive for those only traveling abroad one week per year.
The best advice is to disable data roaming on your phone. If you really need to use data while abroad, check with your mobile provider to see what solutions are offered. Happy traveling.
