Arguably, the smartphone is that the greatest travel tool ever created. They permit you to be in a completely foreign place, yet immediately have access to maps, directions, restaurant recommendations, and more.

 

Unfortunately, consuming data while roaming tends to induce extremely expensive very quickly. Recently, U.S. carriers became lots more reasonable with data plans, but it’s off from perfect. Usually, you pay about $25 for 100 MBs of information. Compared, Verizon charges $70 for 4,000 MBs of information within the U.S. So 100 MBs tend to induce worn-out quickly, especially if you employ media-intensive apps like Instagram, Facebook, or Path.

In addition, international calling and texting plans tend to be really expensive, whether or not you aren’t actually trying to use them. A minimum of with AT&T, you’re charged when someone leaves you a voicemail, regardless if you wait until returning home to concentrate on the voicemail. To me, that’s crazy. If someone leaves you a 10-minute voicemail, you pay $10.

There are some small settings on your iPhone you’ll be able to change to safeguard yourself from unnecessary charges while traveling. Here are those I toggle when going out of the country (NOTE: all instructions are through with iOS 6):

Call the carrier to activate a world plan

This seems obvious but sometimes people forget to try and do it. You would like to inform your carrier you’ll be traveling so that they can put you on a data-roaming plan. If you forget to try and do this, some carriers will allow you to add it after and set the beginning date, but better to require care of this beforehand. Otherwise, things get very very expensive.

Forward your phone to a Google Voice account

To avoid any chance of voicemail/call charges, I founded a free Google Voice number and forward my phone thereto number. That way, if people call, they will leave a message so I buy an email with the transcription from Google.

To turn on telephony on your iPhone if you’re on a GSM carrier, move to Settings → Phone → telephone. If you’re on a CDMA carrier like Verizon, you would like to see it au fait their website. For Verizon, you dial *72 + your number to the line, and *73 to cancel.

Reset your Cellular Data Usage count

Your iPhone keeps track of what quantity of cellular data you’re using. Once your flight flies, reset this count so you’ll be able to keep track of what quantity you’re using internationally. I usually check this daily roughly just to determine how close I’m to hit the limit.

To reset this count, visit Settings → General → Usage → Cellular Usage (at the bottom) → Reset Statistics.

 

ALSO READ: 10 Ways To Keep A Healthy Gut While Traveling

 

Turn off Load Remote Images when receiving an email

Most carrier roaming plans make it possible to send/receive email and iMessages without fear of ever going over your limit. But email can be made a more data-intensive task by attachments and remote images. So I close up the Load Remote Images setting.

To toggle Load Remote Images, visit to Settings → Mail → Load Remote Images

Turn off Send as SMS for iMessage

iMessage is a global traveler’s dream. You’ll be able to be anywhere within the world and text message at no cost with an outsized amount of individuals. Carriers charge an outrageous amount for international text messages, which makes this nice. While you can’t stop SMS messages from coming in, you’ll be able to stop them from being sent in one case.

Your phone will send it as an SMS by default if an iMessage fails to send. This can be fine when home, but when traveling, it can get expensive. Turn this off when on the road.

Just go to Settings → Messages → Send as SMS

Alternatively, you can go to an overseas text site or 해외문자사이트 in Korean in case iMessage does not work.

Only use Facetime on Wi-Fi

Facetime has recently been enabled to figure with a cellular connection. You would possibly want to travel ahead and switch this off while traveling, just just in case you don’t realize it’s a call coming through when you’re not on Wi-Fi.

Just go to Settings → Facetime → Use Cellular Data Off

Turn off 3G data transfers in individual apps

If you’ve got data-intensive apps, like music streaming apps, you may be ready to set them only to sync data when connected via Wi-Fi. In Rdio specifically, you’ll be able to set it to only sync a set while on Wi-Fi (Rdio → Settings → Advanced → Allow 3G Syncing Off). If you forget to try and do this, you would possibly find your cellular data skyrocket while it pulls down new albums you’ve tagged.

Of course, this last tip all depends on what you employ. Just take a look at the apps you’ve got and be smart about it.

Reverse everything once you go back to

When you return home, just undergo the above list and reverse everything. The carrier will keep charging you a monthly international charge if you forget to call the carrier and switch the plan off.

Happy traveling!