Travel smart with your cellphone
Smartphones can be handy for travellers. They can also be costly if you travel abroad and don’t take precautions. You’ve heard of people racking up thousands of dollars in extra phoneusage fees.
When I am out of the country, I keep my phone on airplane mode; this keeps me from getting charged for incoming calls and for roaming. When I’m in a known Wi-fi spot, I use it for smartphone applications, maps and to check my call log.
I still add an international calling plan in case in case of an emergency. The international calling plan lowers the per-minute calling cost, but it will still cost at least 99 cents per minute, depending on where I’m travelling. You can also add an international data plan to your phone if you think you will need to use data when you are not in a free Wi-fi spot.
It’s a good idea to check with your carrier before you leave to see what kind of plans it offers. trips to South America and Europe. Magicjack at magicjack.ca.
Magicjack also has an app that allows you to make calls from your cellphone or ipad to the U.S. or Canada or to any Magicjack number. If you’re travelling with someone, make sure you have two different Magicjack numbers so you can use the Magicjack app to call each other free.
There are other options such as Skype, which offers a phone plan to call the United States and Canada for $3 a month or $36 per year.
I make sure I have Wi-fi in my hotel room. With Wi-fi, I can use my Magicjack system and the Slingbox app on my phone and my laptop to watch hometown news and sports. Slingbox, which allows me to control my home TV and DVR from my phone, saves me from paying for in-room movies at the hotel. My Slingbox is hooked up at home to one of my satellite dishes, and it’s connected to my phone or laptop by the Internet. things like public transportation, travel guides and more.
I use a currency converter because it is a good tool to help me figure out what I am spending on things. Google Voice allows you to text for free.
With any apps, you should get familiar with them before you leave so you have a full understanding of how they work and what they will do.
Other helpful apps
I’ve used many helpful apps while travelling. Google Translate helps you communicate by offering translation into 60 different languages. The app also allows you to speak the text instead of typing, in 23 languages including English, and you can have the translations spoken aloud in many different languages.
I use my phone for maps at home and abroad, and you can surf the web or use an app for
Magicjack an option
I do radio shows and media interviews when I am out of the country, and I love using MagicJack for these calls. I also use it to return any calls I have received. Magicjack is a small device that plugs into a USB port on your laptop. Plug a telephone handset into the device to make calls to the U.S. or Canada free, as long as you have an Internet connection. The clarity has been great. The device starts at $19.99 depending on which service you buy.
Before I get on the airplane, I forward my cellphone number to my Magicjack number. I can also check voicemails on Magicjack if I am not at the hotel when the call comes in. This has allowed me to keep my extra phone fees down to $10 to $15 when I have gone on