If you have traveled to another country, you should know how chaotic it is to not be able to make calls or connect to the internet, due to not having direct coverage with your telephone company.. Fortunately, now the operators are focused on connecting the countries where they operate, so they have established agreements with each other to continue providing service to traveling customers. This is what is known as data roaming.
Previously, when you traveled to another country you had to use some of the operators available in the nation to make calls or connect to the internet. The problem was that the cost of that service was very high. Today, that is no longer a problem, because If you travel to countries that have the same company, the calls and connections you make with your plan will have the same price than if you were in your country of origin.
If you want to learn a little more about roaming or data roaming, then we will explain in depth what this term means and its importance. In addition, We will give you some advice so that you avoid ending up paying very high rates and keep your pocket safe.
What is data roaming or roaming and what is it for?
It is a service offered by telecommunications companies and regulated by the European Union, which allows users to use their telephone services abroad. The word roaming has no official definition, and translated into English it means roaming. Therefore, both terms mean the same thing.
Data roaming gives users the opportunity to use the internet and other functions of their service provider when they are outside the coverage area. Also, It is used when you are somewhere where the internet connection is weak or non-existent.
In some cases, the telephone provider may charge you an additional fee for the use of this function. The prices vary depending on the country where you connect, and the agreement that your operator has signed with the one whose network you start using.
It does not matter that the operator you are going to use is the same as in your country. Well, when crossing the border, the rates, conditions and the operator identifier change. So if you are thinking of traveling and using data roaming, it is best to contact your operator to check the telephone rates for the country you are going to.
How to activate data roaming
Activating data roaming on your mobile phone is very simple and will only take a few seconds to do so. The steps are the following:
- Go to the "Configuration” of the mobile.
- Enter in "SIM card and mobile networks".
- Click on "data roaming".
- In “International roaming”, choose between the options “Always display" or "Just for the exceptions"
- An on-screen notice will appear alerting you that your carrier may charge you additional fees if you choose to activate additional data roaming. If you have no problem with this, press "Activate".
And ready! In this way you will haveData roaming is on. Remember that the steps may vary depending on the device model, however, they are usually in the same locations.
Is it safe to use data roaming?
This feature is generally safe as long as you choose your carrier carefully, follow the restrictions, and only use the internet when you really need to. Well, if you are not careful with it, it could lead to high costs for excess use while you are outside the coverage of your telephone operator.
To avoid this, you can make use of mobile data settings to restrict your data usage. Also, you can enable automatic data throttling to limit your data speed when you're not using it.
Does it affect the use of WhatsApp?
Regarding data roaming in WhatsApp, it should be noted that this app uses the same internet data plan as web browsing and email. Therefore, if you use it with your mobile data while roaming, this will incur additional charges.
In other words, your mobile operator will most likely charge you extra for using WhatsApp while roaming. Thus, It is important that you contact the operators to find out about international roaming, policies and their rates.
What happens in the case of virtual mobile operators or MVNOs?
A virtual mobile operator or OMV, are those that offer mobile telephony service without having their own network. When you are from an OMV, you need to have data roaming activated to connect to a network because it is not owned by the company. The phone immediately detects that it is an unknown network, so you have to activate the roaming function.
If you have recently switched to a virtual mobile operator and you are having problems with the connection, it is probably because you do not have data roaming activated. By the way, depending on the brand of Android mobile you use, the lyrics will come out "R" where does the coverage tell you?.
How to avoid high bill charges
Here are some tips to avoid scares on your bill when using data roaming:
- Do not forget check with your phone operator the type of data plan they offer in data roaming.
- When you are traveling in another country, Try as much as possible to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots instead of using the mobile data connection.
- Lean on applications that allow you compress data to reduce data consumption. Chrome has an option for it
- Try to use a SIM card local prepaid
Ultimately, data roaming is a very useful feature of smartphones and phone companies, and although it is very simple to activate it, it is not something that you should do lightly. Before you do, it is best to contact your operator to inform you of the rates for this service.
Do you use data roaming when you travel or do you prefer to buy a crazy SIM card? Leave us your answer in the comment box.