Understanding International Data Plans for Wireless Phones
If your travel plans include international travel and your phone allows you to access the data network, sending photos and accessing websites can be convenient. However, it can also be very expensive. Before departing, call your carrier and get the specifics for not only international calling plans, but also data plans.
If you decide to go with an international data plan, here are some things to consider so you buy enough, but not more than you need.
- Estimate how much data you need. For example, AT&T has a calculator that allows you to enter how many pictures, emails, attachments, and downloads you expect to access, and it then totals your data needs.
- Carriers may allow you to only be charged for the days that you are abroad, however, that means that the MB you purchased for the month will be prorated based on the days you have the plan activated. Therefore, if you buy a 20 MB/month package and cancel it after two weeks, you only have approximately 10 MB at that fee.
- Monitor your data usage once you’re out of the country. Reset the usage tracker to zero —this is usually under Settings —when you arrive overseas and then track your data usage while abroad.
- Cancel your plan when you return.
And, always remember, if you don’t have a plan, turn off data roaming unless you are able to access a wi-fi hot spot and download data using that network.
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