GPRS (mobile broadband) Roaming Tips

GPRS (mobile broadband) roaming allows you to access your e-mails and use internet on your mobile telephone while you are travelling. Usually you don't have to change GPRS settings of your mobile phone or BlackBerry when using GPRS roaming.

Before you travel check with your home operator:

• Your subscription type (pre-paid or post-paid) which might be limiting the availability of the GPRS service.
• The networks where the service is supported. In some countries you might be able to use GSM services (voice, sms) in all networks, while GPRS service could be available with a particular operator only.
• Always check the costs of using email and internet. Some operators charge per 100 KB, while others per 1 MB (1 MB is approximately 100 text-only emails, 18 emails with attachments or eight web pages).
• If you are using 3G* services note that many countries and operators still operate on 2G networks meaning slower internet operation and absence of such services as video telephony.
• Some 2G operators allow their subscribers to use 3G networks of their roaming partners provided that end users have handsets that support 3G (often referred as ‘smartphones’). If you are in the area of 3G network coverage as a rule the special icon lights up on the phone display.

*3G (Third Generation) is a marketing name of the new mobile standard that provides customers with a high speed broadband on their mobile devices and a possibility to use such services as video telephony. 3G is also known as UMTS, FOMA or W-CDMA .

Practical advises for using your mobile or broadband abroad:

• To avoid extra charges always disconnect your modem or data card when you’re not using them.
• Work offline when possible (i.e. you can draft your emails first, then connect and send them all together).
• Send emails as plain text (meaning less kilobytes). Go to Tools > Options > Mail Format and in the message format section, select 'Plain Text' and click ‘Apply’.
• When sending files by email, always compress/zip them first – this reduces the size of the files and saves on data usage.
• Set Outlook to only download headers. Right click on the ‘Connected’ icon on the bottom right hand side of the Outlook Window > Tick Download Headers.
• Sometimes your modem or card can be switching between 3G and GPRS. In order to avoid it, before you connect go to  Settings Menu > Connection > Network Type and choose a '3G only' profile. In the areas where 3G Broadband is not available you can follow the same steps to change back to GPRS.
• Turn off automatic updates. Just go to Start > Control Panel > Security Centre > Automatic Updates, select ‘Turn off automatic updates’ and press ‘OK’.
• Turn off ‘Show Pictures’ in Internet Explorer as pictures download brings a cost. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced and untick the ‘Show Pictures’ option. If you want to see an individual picture, just right-click on where it should be in the page (you will see a box with a red 'x' in it where the picture should be) and click on ‘Show Picture’.

And the last but not least remember that using Wi-Fi is cheaper than GPRS roaming! Therefore if you device supports Wi-Fi try to use it where possible instead.