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Intending On Travelling With Your Mobile Phone... |
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| When travelling with your mobile phone first of all make sure you contact your Network provider to ask and check the following, so you get a good deal on calls: |
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- Arrange for your Network provider to enable your mobile phone for 'International roaming' so your phone will actually work abroad. And do so at least 14 days before travel as it can take up to two weeks to do so.
- Will your handset work in the Country you're going to? In the USA you'll need to have a tri-band handset to make and receive calls.
- Find out how much International roaming calls will cost you to see if it will effect how many times you actually use your phone. It's also worth, if having first checked way before your departure date, if they have gone up as all charges are subject to change.
- See if there are any deals that relate either specifically to the Country or Continent you are travelling to, rather than just World-wide as it could be a waste and you could get a cheaper deal by limiting your network coverage to say, just Europe if travelling to France.
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| Here, helpfully, are the numbers of the UK Network providers' customer services departments: |
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UK Network Providers |
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O2 |
0870 225 7879 |
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Orange |
0800 079 0006 |
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T-Mobile |
0845 412 5000 |
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Three |
08707 330 333 |
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Virgin |
0845 6000 789 |
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Vodafone |
08700 700 191 |
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Tesco Mobile |
0845 301 44 55 |
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Using Your Mobile Phone Abroad... |
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| Do check, if you're either travelling a lot this year, or staying away for a long period of time, if there is a tariff you can swap to that includes overseas calls at a lower, discounted rate. Also ask how long you'll be tied into any contracts for. |
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Also look into using an International SIM card in your mobile as this can sometimes be cheaper if you aren't able to swap to a tariff including discounted calls.
These SIM cards are used for the period you are travelling with your mobile phone abroad, and can be bought from most
airports and selected retailers. Do check if your SIM card is due to expire after a certain date. |
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| You'll still need an electrical adapter for your phone charger when travelling with your mobile phone. |
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Activating Your Phone Abroad ... |
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Once you've landed, you don't need to do anything 'fancy' to activate your phone. Just turn it on, it will then search for the local transmitter and you'll be able to make and receive calls.
However, be warned. The reason calls cost so much is because even though your phone has been set up for International roaming your mobile phone still thinks it's in the UK. This is why calls can cost so much from abroad - for example, you're in France on your holidays. So is your friend and you call them to arrange meeting up. Rather than your phone simply going across France it goes back to the UK and then back to France so around 1,800 miles!
What's more, cheekily, your friend receiving the call will also be paying to receive your call.
This is why we give the above advice so you fully understand how and why it costs so much to take your mobile phone on holiday. Look into your best option carefully and wisely. |
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Emergency Contact Numbers... |
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| In the event of any emergencies when travelling put the following numbers into your mobile phone memory: |
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- Telephone number of your Hotel / Tour Operator
- Telephone number of the nearest British Embassy to where you are going to be staying
- Your travel insurance provider's contact numbers
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Important Numbers - Government Offices and Agencies |
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Foreign & Commonwealth Office Enquiries |
+44 (0) 207 008 1500 |
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Services for Briton’s overseas |
+44 (0) 207 008 0210 |
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Travel Advice |
+44 (0) 845 850 2829 |
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Mobile Phone Security Tips Abroad ... |
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When travelling with your mobile phone take a note your mobile's serial number, also known as the IMEI number. On the same piece of paper write down your phone's number and the number of your Network provider's customer services (see the sections above) and store them somewhere else from your actual mobile. Also any passwords or pin numbers that you normally have to give when dealing with your Network provider.
This way, if you lose your mobile phone, or if it's stolen, you can arrange with your Network provider to cancel the phone/SIM card straight away. |
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When choosing your travel insurance bear in mind that most do not automatically include cover for mobile phones on holiday.
Visit our Travel Insurance Page for more unofficial information,. |
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European mobile broadband roaming charges still too high |
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You’re still paying too much for mobile broadband if you’re travelling in Europe and making use of a roaming service. Unless you check your tariff and do your research you could be stung for very high charges.
The last two years have seen a reduction of roughly fifty per cent in mobile broadband pricing, but users could still be in for a shock if they make use of their mobile broadband service abroad without researching the different options available. When using mobile broadband in a different country you need to shop around to find the best mobile broadband deals to avoid being charged too much, as explained below.
Streaming services such as BBC’s iPlayer could put a major dent in your pocket if you don’t know what your service provider is charging for roaming services. Those who make use of high data usage services should consider alternatives to simply using their standard mobile broadband connection. For instance, one option would be to make use of free Wi-Fi available at many hotels and cafes. Buying a mobile broadband pay as you go dongle from a local mobile broadband service provider could also save you from receiving a hefty bill.
Tariffs differ from country to country, and it is advisable that you research mobile broadband tariffs of a country before taking for granted that their broadband tariffs will be the same as back home. One example of this is that most UK providers’ roaming charges go up in non-EU countries.
Check with your mobile service provider whether they can offer you a special “travel package” tariff, which offers lower charges for using mobile broadband outside of the United Kingdom. |
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