3 Steps to Get Your Smartphone Ready for International Travel

How can you make your phone a great travel partner? Follow these three steps to “tech up” your smartphone before your next getaway.

1. Stay connected abroad
   • Contact your mobile provider a few weeks before your departure to learn how to use your phone without excess charges. Depending on your phone and service plan, you may need to:
     • Upgrade your plan for your trip’s duration.
     • Purchase a temporary SIM card when you arrive.
   • Avoid expensive data overages, too. Turn off roaming to help save your battery life, since your mobile device may be constantly searching for Wi-Fi. While public Wi-Fi is becoming more common, be cautious about what information and sites you’re accessing on public networks. Try to only access websites where the sites are HTTPS (secure with an encrypted padlock).
   • Consider using WhatsApp, a free instant-message and phone-calling service that works around the world.
2. Secure your finances
   • It may be tempting to check your banking and credit-card balances while away from home, but make sure you’re taking appropriate precautions:  to log in. Even better: Download the company’s app before you go, then enable two-factor authentication when possible.
3. Take advantage of helpful apps:
   • Mobile Passport Control provides quick customs processing where available.
   • TripIt is an itinerary organizer.
   • Google Translate helps you quickly communicate, translate, and interact with locals if you’re not familiar with the language.
   • EA+ members can use the EA+ mobile app for currency conversion, or the app Xe if you’re not yet a member.
   • Dateful is a time zone converter.

References:
How to Get Your Smartphone Ready for International Travel -Tech Guide
Using Your Mobile Phone in Other Countries | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)

What is Two-Factor Authentication – Authy