Many travellers are shocked when they return back home from their holidays to discover a hefty mobile phone bill to pay. What to do with your mobile phone when you go on holiday?
With the new technology you can still use your mobile phone and pay minimum fees whilst abroad. But firstly let’s underline that a mobile phone device is nowadays a combination of a telephone and a minicomputer at the same time. You can use it for mobile communication and Internet search, Email messages etc.
Secondly, let’s mention the two most important connection systems available and then choose the one that is more suitable: Mobile Network and Wi-Fi.
What is a Mobile Network?
It’s a system that allows a mobile phone to retrieve and send data through a mobile phone operator (Orange, Vodaphone etc). This is the regular system that we use to answer, make mobile calls or use the Internet on our mobile devices whilst at home. The use of this connection system whilst abroad is VERY expensive.
What is Wi-Fi?
It’s a wireless system that allows a personal computer, mobile phone etc. to connect to the Internet through a LOCAL internet connection device implemented in a hotel, restaurant, coffee shop etc. Nowadays Wi-Fi systems are widely spread. Most people have it at home as well. In some places it’s free to use a Wi-Fi, even in Egypt. You only need a user name and a password to connect.
As a conclusion you can either use a Wi-Fi connection or a Mobile Network to operate your mobile phone. When you are at home you can use the two connections simultaneously without paying high extra charges. However the problem occurs when you go on holiday.
What to do with your mobile phone when you go on holiday?
1. Turn off the use of Mobile Networks (data roaming). By doing so you:
– Disable all data traffic through a Mobile Network.
– Disable all automatic e-mail alerts, Facebook alerts, web browsing etc., but still allows incoming and outgoing international calls.
2. Connect your mobile phone to a local Wi-Fi system. Some hotels and other places offer this service free (especially in a hotel lobby), or they charge on hourly/daily basis (5- 10 USD per day in Egypt), regardless the amount of data used.
With a local Wi-Fi system you can:
– Send or receive as many E-mail messages as you desire.
– Search the internet continuously.
– Use your FaceBook, TripAdvisor and other networks.
– Communicate with your family/friends at home using applications such as Skype (many mobile phones support Skype).
– Play your Apps.
3. Buy a local SIM card to use for your local communication with guides, drivers etc. Your family/friends can also reach you. In Egypt it costs about 100 – 150 EGP to buy a SIM card, including call units. Note that if your phone is blocked by your operator at home then you can’t change the SIM card, but you can still use a Wi-Fi. Ask your home operator. If your new phone is blocked then use an old mobile phone device that you might still have to make local calls.