Here Is How You Can Use Your iPhone Overseas
If you are a business professional like I am, you probably use your iPhone for more than simply keeping in touch with your friends and family. In many cases your iPhone is your link to the business world when you are away from your laptop. Whether you are checking your e-mail, keeping track of your stocks or conducting conference calls while on your way to a business meeting, your Apple iPhone is literally your key to keeping connected with your professional life.
Like most business professionals, you probably also travel the world in order to keep your business active and profitable. One of the main concerns that business people have with cell phones is whether or not they will be able to use their phone in a foreign country, especially if they are visiting for an extended period of time. I know I do. That is why I want you to know that you can use your iPhone overseas.
Like most cell phones, the iPhone works with a particular cell phone carrier, and in this case you have your service through AT&T/Cingular. Many business professionals want the security in knowing that their cell phone service will not be disrupted simply because they travel from country to country. Since the iPhone is serviced by AT&T/Cingular, you will not have to worry about loosing service, or features, because the iPhone uses the GSM system. GSM is an acronym that stands for Global System for Mobile communication, thus allowing you to use your cell phone in many different countries. Actually, there are over one hundred countries around the world that use GSM. This allows you to keep using your Apple iPhone without any hindrance to cell service.
Many business travelers go to Europe and Asia, and since their iPhone uses GSM, they are able to have excellent service throughout both of these locations. However, there are some precautions that you will want to take before you leave the country with your Apple iPhone. Speaking as someone traveling from America — if you have ever traveled throughout the world and used your cell phone, you were probably surprised by extremely high charges for phone and data use.
This is because your number is an American telephone number, thus every call you make within another country is looked upon by your carrier as an international call. If you are overseas for quite some time, than it is easy to accumulate several hundred dollars worth of fees and roaming charges, this is why you will want to alter you calling plan if you travel overseas frequently.
AT&T/Cingular has really great international calling plans that are very cost effective. Thus you are able to still travel the world without having to worry about roaming and international call fees. Also, if you use data on your iPhone, which most of us do, you will want to make sure that you have an international data plan as well. The worst homecoming surprise you can get is opening your cell phone bill only to find several hundred dollars worth of extra charges and fees. However, if you plan ahead and make sure that you obtain a new service plan that includes international cell phone use, you will not have to worry about extremely high charges.
