“Roaming” means connecting to a network which is outside of your service provider’s (example: Rogers, Telus) local coverage area. What you get charged for being outside of the local coverage depends on your phone plan. Many phone plans now include calls and texts across Canada for no extra charge. So. if you are in Quebec say, you could use your phone to make or receive calls and texts with no “roaming” charges as long as your plan allows this. Just your normal monthly bill.
When you are outside of your “local coverage area” however, you are “roaming” and additional charges usually apply and can be large.
Here are some ways to be careful with this:
1. When you are near the US border, your phone may connect to a US network if it happens to be stronger than a Canadian network. Roaming fees will apply! You can set your phone to only connect to your provider – under settings, but since it is different for different phones ask for help if you cannot find the setting.
2. Get a travel plan. Your service provider likely has one, and it may be easiest to just use it, especially if you are out of Canada for a short period.
3. Buy a local SIM card, digital SIM card (eSIM), or a prepaid plan. Often you can buy these in airports upon arrival, or at lower cost in the city at a local phone shop. You can even buy SIM cards for Europe for instance from Amazon. You put the SIM card in your phone while on the plane, and turn your phone on upon arrival in Europe. eSIMs are even easier and can be purchased online and downloaded to your phone with a QR code. Note that in these cases you will not be using your regular number, but will have a new temporary number to use. Your phone can only hook to ONE network at a time, so your regular phone number is inactive when you use a different SIM ( both physical and eSIM).
4. Not changing SIMs nor getting a travel plan from your service provider means you need to switch off data roaming. This prevents your phone from connecting to other cellular networks for data. You will still be able to make calls or text, and these will be an additional charge. The amount depends on your phone plan, but if you only need to make occasional calls, it may still be the cheapest way to continue using your phone. You will also still be able to use the internet, but only with wifi, not cellular.
5. Turning on “airplane mode” prevents your device from using any data (except wifi), calling or texting. This will prevent you from getting charged extra from your service provider. You could opt to use an internet phone service like Skype with minimal charges when in wifi range, but other people won’t be able to call you.
The one issue with switching off your phone (even a temporary SIM card) is with 2FA. This is the second authorization often used now for sensitive websites like banks. Sometimes, banks use text messages to make sure it really is you trying to sign on. Without your phone number being active, this could lock you out of your bank account when travelling, since they would be texting your REGULAR phone number.
Many banks, however, are now switching to using a “push” technology to your “trusted device” and their app. This means that if your phone is on, and connected to wifi, you will get a request to approve your log-on for your bank via your phone, and all is well. Make sure that you are set up this way if possible so that you don’t have an issue while travelling. To be clear, you must set up your phone as your “trusted device” on the bank’s app in order to use this method. If you do this, your phone’s cellular connection is not used and you will receive the request to approve your log in via wifi.
I know it is a bit complicated. As always, if you have any questions, call the IT Doctors.