Using your iPhone or other smart phone overseas can cost a fortune due to the way they use data, and the cost of data roaming. Every time your iPhone checks for emails it can cost you over ten dollars, and your phone will do this every minute unless you make changes to your settings!  Bills of over $3,000 are not uncommon for unsuspecting travellers accessing data overseas.

For example an average 1GB movie downloaded from iTunes, charged at a standard data roaming rate of $20 per MB will end up costing you over $20,000!

The key tips to reduce your data roaming charges are: Stick to the basics – only do the minimum required on your smartphone and make sure that you keep data roaming switched off, and only turn it on when you actually want to connect to the Internet.  Use free Wi-Fi hotspots wherever possible. Popular cafes, restaurants and hotels often have free wifi available, especially in the USA and throughout Europe, McDonalds is a great spot for a coffee and a Wi-Fi session.

Buy a prepaid roaming simcard before you leave home, you will get one number and one sim and will save up to 80% on your global roaming bill in over 190 countries. Simply swap sim cards and save. Business options where you are contactable on your number are usually available as well.

How do you save money when you use your mobile phone overseas?  That’s easy you can save a fortune on your next overseas trip by using a pre-paid Global SIM Card in your phone?

Do you know that if you make and receive 20 minutes of calls to/from  Australia with normal roaming it will cost on average $700. With a prepaid Global SIM, the bill will be around $170, saving you over $500!

The top tips for saving on your mobile phone bill when travelling overseas are:

First use more SMS, this is an excellent way to communicate cheaply when international roaming. However, avoid texting conversations as these can quickly become more expensive than one quick call.

Have people call you, it is cheaper to receive a call when overseas than to make one back to Australia. Even with normal roaming where you pay to receive calls, this is a cheaper way to stay in touch. Send a text to your family and friends to call you back. With most Global SIM cards it is free to receive calls in a large number of countries.

When I travel overseas I always carry a Global SIM, there are plenty of options available so do your research to out find what suits you best. For the last three years I have used a company called BackChat Mobile; I find them to be most efficient and supportive and they have most certainly saved me money.