- Get a local SIM. If you have an unlocked smartphone that’s compatible
with the frequency bands at your destination, the cheapest way to get online is
to buy a local prepaid SIM card. First, use FrequencyCheck.com to see whether
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a prepaid card in a local mobile-phone store from one of the major carriers. If
you don’t speak the local language, you could run into a language barrier. So try
to get the card fully set up before you leave the store, including loading a
webpage on the phone’s browser and making a call. Be aware of how much data
\RXXVHDQG¿QGRXWZKHUHWREX\UH¿OOFDUGV - Rent a hotspot. The advantage of renting a Wi-Fi hotspot is that it can
work with all your devices: phones, tablets, and laptops. And of course, you can
carry it with you to use your phone on the go. In general, hotspots cost $7 to $10
per day for between 500MB and 1GB of data. Globally, Skyroam.com,
RoamingMan.com, and My-Webspot.com are good companies to start with, but
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have better data plans or more convenient delivery systems. - Use Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi is available at many locations in cities around the
world, although coverage isn’t always reliable (even when they claim it is).
Barcelona, for instance, has citywide Wi-Fi, theoretically—but I’ve found it
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Some free Wi-Fi networks are open and highly insecure; on the other hand, in
countries such as Korea and China, you need to provide a local phone number
to connect to public Wi-Fi. The crowdsourced app WiFi Map can help you locate
free hotspots wherever you are. If you intend to use free Wi-Fi frequently,
consider also using a VPN.
If you’re going somewhere service just isn’t available, you can still stay
connected. SatModo.com rents satellite phones and hotspots, but it’ll cost
you $35 per week and up. The SPOT line of satellite messaging devices are
better for frequent hikers or adventure travelers; a $149 model just sends
SOS messages, and a $249 model allows texting. Service plans start at $11.95
per month.
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I JUNE 2019