By-passing the roaming ripoff

I've previously made the point in this blog that the most pervasive scams against travellers are perpetrated by phone companies. They're known as roaming charges and data charges and they're a much bigger threat to your wallet while you're travelling than dodgy taxi drivers and petty scammers. The telcos are engaged in an industrial scale ripoff.

What's worse is that a plethora of great apps from maps to guides are making smartphones ever more useful on the road - and your phone company is making it unnecessarily difficult for you access them.

Enough whinging then and let's focus on how you can avoid falling victim to the great roaming ripoff and still enjoy plenty of calls and data during your travels.





International roaming charges on calls are brutal the world over, but they're not as outrageous as data charges. If you're using your home based SIM card for downloading data to a smartphone like an iPhone while abroad, you'll face charges up to 1000 times those you're accustomed to at home. That sounds unbelievable. But it's true.

Many travellers have returned home to be hit with roaming data charges in the thousands of dollars after a few weeks away.

The good news is that for the most part, it's possible to avoid these charges.

This is how I do it.

First of all, here's the hardware I currently travel with - Apple iPhone 4, the cheapest Nokia phone I can get my hands on (around US$20 in Asia), Apple iPad 1 (wifi only - I tether to the iPhone when I need a 3G service - which is cheaper and equally effective), Apple MacBook Pro.

The advice below works just as well with most Android phones and tablet devices.

First, some things to do before you leave home.


1. Unlock your phone.

Yes, iPhones and many other smartphones, are frequently locked to the carrier from whom they're purchased. It's the first indication of the weird anti-competitive world of communications that awaits international travellers.

Talk to your carrier to unlock your phone so that you can use any SIM card you choose when you're on the road. It's a straightforward process that usually only involves a phonecall.


2. Setup a Skype Online Number.

I'm going to assume you aleady know what Skype is.

You may not be aware though, that for around US$60 per year, you can set up a number in your home country (available in most countries) that will follow you around the world - without any roaming charges. It's a normal local phone number - that connects with your Skype account wherever you are.

This is how it works in my case.

I have a Sydney based Skype Online Number. When someone calls me from Sydney and I'm in Hanoi, they pay local call charges to a Sydney number, I receive the call in Hanoi to my smartphone, iPad or laptop without charge. It's all covered in the annual fee. All of those nasty roaming charges and international charges are wiped out in one hit.

The only charge is for the internet connection you're using. And Skype isn't very data hungry. It's pretty reliable on 3G networks too.

A Skype Online Number also allows unlimited calls to landlines in the country in which it's set up. In my case, this means I can make unlimited calls to any landline in Australia from anywhere in the world, without any additional charge. It's all included in the US$60.

If you want to use Skype for additional calls, you'll need to buy additional credits. Global call charges are very cheap and shame the roaming tariffs of conventional phone companies.

There's more info on the Skype Online Numbers here.


3. Divert your mobile number to your Skype Online Number.

Before you head off, divert your normal mobile number (and any other phone number you want to stay in touch with) to your Skype Online Number. Pass your Online Number around to friends and colleagues too.

Instead of attracting ugly roaming charges, this means calls to your home based mobile number will reach your Skype Online Number and from there, you, wherever you are in the world. No more roaming ripoffs.


So you're ready to hit the road. This is what you need to do when you hit your destination.


4. 2 phones?

Because I make lots of calls locally, I like to keep data and calls on separate phones. It's all about optimising battery life.

I use my US$20 Nokia phone as a phone - that's all it does. The battery life on this little guy is 2 or 3 days with normal use.

If you're depending on an iPhone for lots of calls AND data downloads, you'll struggle to get a day of battery life. And a dead battery is the bane of the traveller. So, if you're on the road lots, especially in remote places, I suggest 2 phones.


5. Local SIM Cards

On arrival in your new destination, pick up one or two prepaid SIM cards (depending on whether you're using one or two phones). You'll need 3G data of course.

I've recently been through this routine in London, Paris, Sydney, Saigon and Phnom Penh. Paris was definitely the most difficult. The French don't seem to like foreigners buying 3G enabled cards.

In Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia and the UK, it's straightforward. Make sure you test your phone/s before you leave the store for both calls and data. And make sure you know how to check your balance and add credits to your SIM card.

It's worth emphasising that your Skype number will only work when you're in a wifi or 3G enabled spot.

If you're expecting important calls, send your newly acquired local mobile number to friends and colleagues too.

Don't be too worried about missing calls on your Skype Online Number though since it includes voicemail and also fires off an email each time you receive a call.

This will give you more control over how much time you allow phone calls to interrupt your travels.


6. Download Viber.

Viber is a new free service for smartphones. It's a little like Skype but it has some very impressive additional features - including amazing call clarity.

While Skype gives you access to the fixed line network, Viber only connects you with other Viber users. User numbers are growing rapidly though. This is a product with a huge future.


You're set! For the slight inconvenience of setting up a Skype Online Number and purchasing a SIM card/s in each country as you travel, you effectively by-pass the extortionate roaming charges while staying totally contactable.

I've been using this setup on the road for the past year. I've managed to keep monthly telco costs (using the 2 SIM cards) at between $30 - $60 - including plenty of local and international calls, as well as data downloads (excluding my home based mobile contract and the Skype Online Number). I tether the iPad to my iPhone and that works well too - and saves money both on the initial iPad outlay and on SIM cards and plans.

3G services are surprisingly widely available and reliable in Vietnam and Cambodia as well as France, the UK and Australia. Free wifi is also ubiquitous in Vietnam and Cambodia's hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars. Something the "developed" world is slowly catching up on.

I wonder how long it will be before a telco offers a competitive global roaming product for data and calls? Or will they miss the boat altogether (again) and be overtaken by services like Viber?

Happy travels and I hope this helps you avoid any nasty bill shocks!