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3 Steps to Get Your Smartphone Ready for International Travel


Published on March 23rd, 2023 in Travel Tips

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
  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

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