Using Your Phone Abroad: The true cost of roaming in NORTH AMERICA.

The day of your voyage has finally come! You grab your flight ticket, passport and luggage then head out the door, but not before slipping your mobile phone into your pocket. You’ve carefully packed your bags and planned your travel itinerary, but how much attention have you paid to this daily companion you habitually carry with you everywhere?

We’ve all heard of roaming charges and have seen the plethora of advertisements for roaming plans and travel mobile solutions. Perhaps some of us instinctively switch to airplane mode as we set off. For those who cannot afford the luxury of going off the grid, though, being aware of the true cost roaming is crucial whether the trip is for business or pleasure. It is for this reason that we will be bringing you a series of this very topic. This week we will set our sights on the Canada and United States (US). Note that all currency in this blog will be presented in US dollars for simplicity sake.

Using your existing mobile carrier?

The cost of roaming with one’s existing mobile carrier varies depending on the company. Vodafone (UK), for example, offers their customers the option of using their existing plan’s minutes, SMS and data allotment for approx. $8 per day (travel to the US only). Others offer bundles of talk/text/data for travel. Orange Mobile (FR), for example, offers a travel pass for $13/week for unlimited SMS and total 60 minutes of air time, and a data pass for $28/week for 400Mb of data. T- Mobile (DE) offers data packages as well ($3 for 50Mb to be used in 24h, or $16 150Mb for use over 7 days). TIM Mobile (IT) offers 250 outgoing minutes, 250 incoming minutes, 500 SMS and 500Mb for $22 per 10 days.

Without a roaming package, mobile carriers typically have an established fee associated with outgoing and incoming calls, sent text message or SMS (receiving an SMS is often free), and data usage. Our research from major carriers in the UK, France, Germany and Italy (linked above) have revealed the following averages:

Outgoing call: $1.70/minute

Incoming call: $1.15/minute

Sent SMS: $0.50/SMS Data: Without a package, prices can reach $15 per Mb

For Asian travelers, the following costs are typical1:

Local Call: $1.13/min

Incoming Call: $2.13/min Sent SMS: $0.32/SMS

Data: $11.35/30Mb per day

For citizens of the US or Canada roaming within North America, two options exist: purchasing a North American Plan, or purchasing “Roam Like Home” options. T-Mobile (US) offers one plan that enables users to call/text/surf in the Canada, US and Mexico which range from $50-$80/month for unlimited talk and text, and varying amounts of data. Rogers (CAD) allows customers to use their existing allotments in the US for $5/day.

Willing to leave your carrier at home?

Although purchasing a local SIM card is a viable option in other continents, it is not a likely possibility in Canada since carriers typically require proof of residence, Canadian ID and a credit inquiry in order to provide service. At times, not even residents are eligible to access service if they don’t have a strong credit history. Travelers who are willing to put a little more effort into their travel plans, though, are still likely to get a better deal than their home carriers. Purchasing pay-as-you-go roaming SIM cards is one way to do this*. For example, Chinese travelers in Canada can purchase one such SIM and get free incoming calls and pay only $0.10/outgoing call, $0.15/SMS and $0.05-0.13/Mb. French travelers can get these exact rates. When compared to the averages listed above, it is clearly the more cost-effective option.

One final option available is a unique product offered by our own company to travelers coming specifically to Canada. It is a way to get all of the perks of a local plan without needing to provide proof of residence to a Canadian telecommunication company. In short, for $22/day, you can get unlimited local airtime, unlimited global texting, unlimited calling to select countries**, and 750Mb/day. For users that expect to use cellular data as their main source of travel internet (see last week’s blog), this option is by far the most cost-effective. More information on this product is available here.

How to decide on the best option?

• Know your budget and shop around.

• Know your average usage, and save with packages.

• Contact MyPhone2Go here. We’re committed to helping you get the most out of your travel experiences, no matter what your individual needs are.

Stay tuned next week as we discuss the true cost of roaming in EUROPE.

* There are different pay-as-you-go options available on the market. We have provided the rates of

the World Wander SIM which is available here. If you would like more information on World Wander rates for your specific country, please use this tool: http://www.onesimcard.com/cell-phone-rates/.

** Select countries: China/Hong Kong, France, United Kingdom, India, and United States.