What is international roaming for cell phones?
If you have a cell phone you can take it with you when traveling to another country and you can place or receive calls without changing its SIM card.
How does it work?
Cell phone carriers from most countries have mutual roaming agreements that basically allow you to use their wireless network when traveling abroad. Generally you do not need to do anything - the foreign carrier will take over so to speak and you will see another carrier name on your cell phone's screen once you are in another country. What you do have to do is call your wireless carrier before leaving your country and activate your roaming service. This may not be a default feature (it involves extra costs).
Cell phone compatibility
There are two main technologies used with cellular phones: GSM and CDMA. A CDMA phone won't work on a GSM network (the opposite is also true). This used to be an issue, especially for US subscribers to Verizon, US Cellular and Sprint which all use CDMA - many countries have GSM networks only. Luckily, most mobile devices manufactured in the last few years are capable of connecting to both types of networks with their numerous frequency ranges. Double checking with your wireless provider wouldn't hurt, but chances are, if you are using a modern phone you will be able to use it anywhere in the world.
How do I make calls while in another country?
Note that you can not dial the numbers in your Contact list as they are - you must add/drop some digits. Use these international dialing tools to find the codes you must dial.
To make local/national calls within the country you are traveling to just dial the numbers locals dial without adding any international codes. In other words, while in another country your cell phone becomes a local phone for all outgoing calls.
One other thing you can do, especially if you are a frequent international traveler, is to store all your contacts using +country code - national subscriber number. This way, when you are abroad, your international calls will connect without adding any extra digits, whereas dialing domestic calls will also work this way in most cases. For instance, US numbers would be stored using +1 ??? ??? ????, UK numbers +44 ?? ???? ???? and so on.
How do people call me abroad?
While traveling abroad your cell phone number does not change for incoming calls, no matter where they come from. In other words, people from your home country will dial your number without adding any extra international codes whereas people dialing your number from abroad, including your travel companions, will have to use your full international number including your home country code.
Who pays international charges for calls I receive?
You do, the person traveling to another country. Make sure you inquire about rates and special international traveling offers with your wireless provider BEFORE you leave.
Additional resources:
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FAQs
7 Simple Ways To Prepare Your Phone For Traveling Abroad
- Download Your Photos and Contacts to a Safe Space. ...
- Free Up Some Space or Invest in Cloud Space for Photos. ...
- Turn on Your Phone's Tracker. ...
- Download Useful Apps Before Traveling. ...
- Download Music, Movies, and Maps Ahead of Time. ...
- Buy an eSIM.
Option 2: Use Your Phone, but Swap in a Foreign SIM or Activate an eSIM. One way to avoid the expensive international roaming fees charged by some U.S. cellular companies is to switch your business to a foreign provider when you arrive.
What is international roaming on cell phone? ›
International mobile roaming is a service that allows mobile users to continue to use their mobile phone or other mobile device to make and receive voice calls and text messages, browse the internet, and send and receive emails, while visiting another country.
Will I be charged for roaming if I use Wi-Fi? ›
Can I be charged for roaming if I only use my device on WiFi? Some services like iMessage can work on WiFi alone but may still send a message as an SMS or MMS if an internet connection can't be found. These messages will result in roaming charges.
What setting should I put my phone on when traveling internationally? ›
When traveling abroad, you can avoid high roaming and carrier rates by investing in alternative plans. The cheapest way is to turn off roaming and data usage in your settings and keep airplane mode on whenever you aren't connected to Wi-Fi.
Do I need to keep my phone on airplane mode when traveling internationally? ›
But once you arrive at your destination, you don't actually have to keep Airplane Mode on. It is true that Airplane Mode can help you to avoid international roaming charges.
Will I still get texts if I turn off data roaming? ›
If you toggle off Data Roaming, your phone won't have any data, but you can still call/text on your regular phone number. TARGET AUDIENCE: People who want to make sure they're reachable on their phone number, always, but don't care about having data all the time.
Will turning off cellular data stop international charges? ›
Turn off Data Roaming or prepare for a trip. Need to avoid roaming charges because you arrived at your destination without an international data plan? Check your Cellular Data options and turn off Data Roaming.
Can you text without roaming charges? ›
Turning off data roaming on your phone prevents it from connecting to other cellular networks. You won't be able to browse the Internet unless you connect to a Wi-Fi network, but you'll still be able to call and text. However, extra charges will apply if your plan does not include calling and texting while travelling.
How do I know if my cell phone is roaming? ›
How to know if you're roaming domestically. The best way to check your active network is to go into the phone settings and check for the mobile network or phone status options. The process varies by device, and you can find it in your user guide.
This is known as "roaming" or "roam like at home". Your calls (to mobile and fixed phones), text messages (SMS) and data use (web browsing, music and video streaming etc.)
Do you get charged if someone calls you internationally? ›
If someone calls me while they're outside the US, will I be billed the international rate? No, you won't be charged international rates if you're in the US and someone calls you while they're outside the US.
Does receiving texts count as roaming? ›
All calls made or received, text messages sent, and data used will cause roaming charges. Regardless of how long a call you make or receive is, it will lead to being charged for roaming. This also applies to any amount of data used, whether intentional usage or background usage.
Can I receive calls without roaming? ›
Turning Data Roaming off and Cellular Data off does not prevent you from placing and receiving calls and the same for SMS. Calls and SMS are expensive when roaming internationally as well, but not as expensive as data or internet access via the cellular network when roaming internationally.
What triggers roaming charges? ›
Once you leave your coverage area, you're no longer able to use the local data within your home network. Instead, your device needs to “roam” and latch onto the nearest available network. Because this isn't your home network, you'll pay a premium to use it.
Can I just turn off cellular data when Travelling? ›
1. Turn off data roaming or switch to airplane mode. This will eliminate all data usage. Then connect for calls or to check email or text whenever a Wi-Fi spot can be found.
What should I turn off on my iPhone when traveling internationally? ›
Always turn off data roaming to avoid unexpected charges. Disable cellular data entirely while in transit for added security, but remember to keep it on if you have an eSIM data plan. To turn off data roaming, go to "Settings," select "Cellular," and disable "Data Roaming" and "Cellular Data."
