The problem with roaming chargers

The problem with roaming chargers

In our daily lives we have become inseparable from our smartphones. We're always a phone call away from friends, family and the local Chinese restaurant. If we see something interesting on the street, we take a picture and upload it to Facebook. If we're lost while trying to locate a bar, then out comes the phone and we're drinking in minutes. 
How marvellous! 
But what happens when we're visiting another country? Well, that's when the headache begins. First we need to check the power plug for our destination and ensure that we have the correct adapter. Then, especially with Americans travelling abroad, we need to check if the country we're are visiting is on the same cellular network - many American networks use CDMA, whereas most other counties use GSM. Then, if and when, we start using our phone abroad, we're likely to get a nasty surprise when the bill arrives – sometimes in the form of hidden data charges that cost more than the flight! 
Those travelling to European countries are particularly hard hit by these roaming charges. Visitors to Europe may enjoy the ease of carrying a single currency and avoiding border checks, but the cost of calls, texts and data is a different story. Simply checking an email containing a picture can cost US$40! 
The European commission has for years been working to address this problem, but the phone companies are extremely reluctant to stop what has been a very nice cash cow for them. Phone calls while abroad can be up to 4 times more expensive than at home and data charges can be between 500 to 1000 times more expensive. Furthermore, we're so used to our phones that the idea of leaving them behind just isn't realistic anymore. 

The solution!

Fortunately, a solution in the form of a company called Tep Wireless 
What Tep offers is a unique service to visitors of 16 European countries including UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain (Australia and USA are to follow soon). The service lets you borrow either a local (but very up-to-date) smartphone. Or alternatively you can hire a Wireless dongle device, which they call a "Pocket WiFi". The Pocket WiFi is simply a portable WiFi hotspot that you can connect, or tether, your own smartphone or tablet to, wherever you are. 
While you are away you simply use Tep's smartphone or their Pocket WiFi device to make internet calls, send emails, post pictures or browse the internet. The beauty of the service is that you pay a relatively small up-front cost and Tep pays for everything else at local rates.
What's more, the phone or Pocket WiFi can be delivered to your home before you leave, picked up at the airport upon arrival or delivered to a place of your choice in the country you're visiting (i.e. hotel, office, private residence). When you're finished, you simply pop the device in the post using a pre-paid envelope that Tep provide. The service has been around since 2009 and is already very popular with American tourists visiting Europe. Tep, who were formally called Fonmigo, lan to roll out more countries soon. Their website also has a neat calculator so you know how much you'll save.
If you're planning on travelling to Europe, then this really is a no-brainer, but to be a little more helpful we've put together a brief FAQ. If you'd prefer to skip the question and answers, then visit Tep Wireless now!