How to Avoid International Roaming Charges

In your excitement to travel overseas, don't let unexpected data charges leave you with a nasty cell phone bill as a souvenir.

It's a major headache for any traveler who didn't secure a mention on the Forbes list of the Richest People in America -- how to avoid getting whacked with excessive data and international roaming charges when traveling abroad.

Follow these tips to reduce the shock when you open your bill a few weeks after your trip.

1. Call your cellular provider before you depart.

Remember to call Airtel, Vodafone, Idea etc. before you set out, but know that you may have a hard time getting a straight answer from your service provider (each has varying coverage options for international trips). And not to mention their tariffs being very high.

2. Track usage while traveling to avoid big surprises.

It can also be a pain to keep track of your calling and data usage while you're trying to enjoy yourself abroad, but the financial consequences can be worse than your sunburn.

3. Use Wi-Fi for calling and data usage.

Most BlackBerry and Android phones come equipped with a Wi-Fi calling feature, which means you can sidestep international roaming and long-distance charges when calling the U.S. -- if you're connected to a Wi-Fi network. For U.S. customers, long-distance charges will come into play when calling non-U.S. destinations from abroad even when using Wi-Fi.

4. Text instead of e-mail.

Sending text messages instead of e-mailing can cut down on data costs if you're not on Wi-Fi.

5. Go incommunicado.

Staying off the grid isn't an attractive option for everyone, but if you want to avoid international roaming charges for phone conversations, forego making or answering phone calls while traveling around the world.

Power off your device to avoid text message charges. If you leave your Smartphone powered on, many mobile devices automatically access networks to fill your inbox with e-mails or to update your apps if they are set for automatic updates.

6. Buy a Matrix SIM card.

Matrix international SIM cards let’s you stay connected where ever you travel. Whether you're traveling to Europe or Asia you're able to find affordable rates and coverage where you need it. You can stay in contact with colleagues, friends and family while you are away from home. It's easy to find the best plan so you don't have to spend much when you are abroad and you never have to miss that important call. You save almost 80% on international roaming.

Here’s some information on Matrix Cellular Services:

Matrix Cellular (International) Services Pvt. Ltd. is the leading provider of complete telecommunication solutions for Indians travelling abroad. Matrix provides services in more than 30 countries all around the world and has its offices in more than 40 cities in India. They provide International SIM cards for business travelers, leisure travelers and students in both post-paid and prepaid. They also offer add-on data packs for using internet on mobile phones as well as data cards for accessing internet on your computer. And recently Matrix has forayed into traveler’s card by bringing Matrix Forex card, designed to give the customer a secure and hassle-free travel experience.

For any query on services provided by Matrix Cellular (International) Services Pvt. Ltd., one can call the toll free number: +91-5322232222 or write into: info@matrix.in

Matrix Cellular (International) Services Pvt. Ltd offers:

International Postpaid SIM cards

International Prepaid SIM cards

International Data Cards and

Forex Card

You have the power, but if you are not careful, it will cost you.

Matrix to partner Cathay Pacific Airways for their Diwali promotion

Matrix Cellular the leading service provider of international telecommunication services today announced that the Company will partner with Cathay Pacific Airways in its endeavor to reach out to all customers traveling abroad during Diwali. Cathay Pacific is a top rated international airline in India offering flight services to more than 110 travel destinations around the world. Our partnership offers true value-for-money proposition, not only providing free talk time but also giving benefits in the form of 24X7 helpline and a postpaid connection for their country of travel.

All customers traveling to Hong Kong and Bangkok with Cathay Pacific Airways will enjoy free incoming calls and free talk time minutes for their country of travel. To ensure that all travelers stay connected to their loved ones during the festive season, they also get free calls to India worth Rs. 500.

Speaking on the association, Mr. Arun Batra, CEO said, “This partnership is a natural fit for both the companies. Matrix’s wide range of country specific SIM cards overlaps with Cathay’s extensive international routes. We hope this ongoing partnership will make travelling easier and offer greater opportunities to international travelers who currently book trips through the Cathay Pacific network.”

Matrix Cellular (International) Services Pvt. Ltd offers:

· International Postpaid SIM cards

· International Prepaid SIM cards

· International Data Cards and

· Forex Card

Matrix Cellular (International) Services Pvt. Ltd. is the leading provider of complete telecommunication solutions for Indians travelling abroad. Matrix provides services in more than 30 countries all around the world and has its offices in more than 40 cities in India. They provide International SIM cards for business travelers, leisure travelers and students in both post-paid and prepaid. They also offer add-on data packs for using internet on mobile phones as well as data cards for accessing internet on your computer. Recently Matrix has forayed into travels card by introducing Matrix Forex card, designed to give the customer a secure and hassle-free travel experience.

Matrix has been acknowledged with many prestigious awards, such as:

· “HR Excellence Awards” by Amity Business School (2011)

· “Innovative Product – International Mobile Connections and Data Products” by Economic Times Telecom Awards (2011)

These awards re-affirm our dedicated efforts to set new industry standards and continued efforts to grow up the ladder.

Matrix Forex card – Convenience that fits in the wallet

Students studying abroad have many responsibilities they need to take care of, and cash is certainly one of the most important factors that need to be taken care of in the most appropriate manner. The reason for this is that since they are not at home, they need to manage their expenses, but since student life has a fair share of unprecedented expenditures, it often happens that they fall short of cash. In order to ensure that they are never high and dry in their times of need, parents and guardians need to set up an arrangement so that their ward always has access to monetary resources. One of the best solutions to tackle this situation is the Matrix Forex Card.

The card is a revolutionary step in globalising the flow of money across thousands of miles, with parents being able to deposit cash that instantly gets 'loaded' to the account, and students can use it at VISA ATMs, as well as merchant establishments and via the internet. This obviates the need to go searching for cash at many places, and even if one needs it, a VISA ATM is always nearby, since it is among the world's most accepted electronic funds transfer systems, and many of the prominent banks the world over are affiliated with the same. Also, one can check the account online to see how much cash is left in the card, so that parents/guardians can know when they have to recharge, and students would keep a tab on how much they can spend. There is also the option to check the transaction history, so that one can know where the expenditures were done.

Coming to the wide range of benefits being offered, first of all, one will save on the interest rates on international currency, in case a credit or debit card is used. Also, there is no need to go to foreign exchange traders, who also charge a hefty commission for the transaction. Hence, there are assured savings all around! Also, carrying cash is certainly a big problem for students, as they might misplace it, or someone might steal it. So, carrying a card is certainly a better option, since even in case it gets stolen, the chip and pin enabled cards ensure that the money can't be misused. Also, there are instant transaction alerts through SMS, so that whenever a transaction is carried out using that card, the person to whom it is issued gets a message on his mobile phone, adding on to the security factor. Further, there is also a comprehensive insurance cover, along with emergency medical and travel assistance to take care of unforeseen circumstances. A person visiting US, Canada, Singapore or the UK also has the privilege and benefit of an international toll free number. The card is available in 8 currencies, i.e., USD, GBP, Euro, Candian Dollar, Aus Dollar, Swiss Franc, Yen and the Singaporean Dollar, and can be reloaded from anywhere, at any time.

Matrix Forex card: The window to secure and convenient forex

While travelling abroad, foreign exchange, or forex, for short, is always a big area of concern, simply because money is needed practically everywhere, but unfortunately, a stack of notes that is worth quite a substantial amount in one country is probably just a stack of paper in another. If it's a short trip, i.e., 3-4 days, carrying cash probably makes sense (although there is always a risk of the same getting stolen, irrespective of the part of the world one is in), but in case it's a longer trip, or one requiring excessive purchases, there is a problem. Travellers' Cheques have, till date, sufficed as the preferred alternative. However, there is now another great opportunity in the form of the Matrix Forex card. One can get instant access to the currency of choice and use it across merchant establishments and VISA ATMs around the world, without paying any currency interest charges, which makes it a much better alternative than travellers' cheques.

Coming to other advantages, the moment one signs up, there is a standby card provided, to counter the unforeseen circumstance that the primary card is lost, as the secondary card performs all the functions of the former. Even in case of online transaction, one can use the Matrix Forex card for purchases. For instance, if any bill has to be paid, or an air ticket purchased, it's only a matter of a few moments! Another great advantage is that foreign exchange fluctuations, which are another grave area of concern, even though many don't pay attention to it till the time they face the consequences, are circumvented via this card. One can reload the card from anywhere, at any time, to maximise the convenience factor. Often, it so happens that one is unable to find the right shop for currency exchange, and when finally it is found, time has run out. However, that is not the case with the Matrix Forex card, and that is yet another reason why it is a preferred medium of transaction by millions of people flying abroad each year.

Another domain of prime importance is the security part. As mentioned earlier, it is not advisable to carry large amounts of cash for the fear of the same getting stolen. In a similar manner, even in case of a card, it is important for the same to be very secure while one is carrying out transactions. Matrix Forex card offers the very best of security with an embedded chip that stores encrypted and confidential information, so that the card cannot be misused in any manner. Also, there is no limitation regarding the variation of currencies, as the Matrix Forex card is available in 8 prominent currencies that are used in all the major countries across the world. One can also access the card account to check details like balance, etc. via the internet. And to top it all, there is and insurance cover that can be availed in case of emergencies. With so much to look forward to in one card, there is little reason to look anywhere else!

Matrix – an affordable SIM card for international travel

Communication is certainly one of the most basic needs of any individual, irrespective of the religion, cultural upbringing, geographical location, or for that matter any factor. Everyone wants to interact with his/her family, friends and acquaintances on a frequent basis. Mobile phones have been a big boon in this sense of the word, and the last few years have seen calling rates go down drastically as more and more players have come into the domain. However, there is one aspect of mobile telephony which is still not exactly affordable, i.e., international calling.

Since the globalisation factor kicked in about a decade ago, more and more people have been travelling on a rather frequent basis. And with the increase in travel, the need for constant communication has grown exponentially. These calls may be related to work, business or personal relations, but the fact of the matter is that the world has become like one big country, but the one thing that hasn't changed as yet is the apprehension against using a hotel room phone or a pay phone while one is abroad, since both these options are extremely expensive. However, with Matrix international SIM card, this problem is taken care of in possibly the best manner.

The card offers a flawless network coverage across hundreds of cities and countries across the world. Comparing this to the scenario wherein one chooses to take the existing SIM card to be used on international roaming, there are often problem related to dropped calls and unclear voice. Be it a professional call or a personal one, it is obviously irritating to find out that the other person is not able to hear what one is saying. However, with Matrix, the SIM card performs perfectly, since the company has associations with the leading network providers in every country.

Coming to the cost part, Matrix offers more than 80% savings on international calls from all around the world, which means that one can talk as much as he/she wants without having to fret about the increasing call costs. Also, another great advantage that international SIM cards score over taking a domestic SIM card on roaming is that the incoming calls would be absolutely free! Often, it so happens that even when one gets calls from the home country, there is a heavy charge, but not in case of international SIM cards. However, even if there is a charge, it is only a marginal cost compared to what one would have to pay with a domestic SIM card on international roaming.

Coming to the last part, the convenience factor is always there, as one has a ready solution of calling anywhere across the world at the push of a button, as opposed to the case wherein one would have to go to the hotel room to make a call, or search for a pay phone in unknown streets. In most of the cases, it's not as much of a problem, but when there is an option at hand, isn't it best to take it?

Truphone International SIM card review

While travelling abroad, one often takes it for granted that the journey on the whole would lead to heavy expenses, and that is the reason why many prefer to switch off their mobile phone to avoid the international roaming charges. Others, who can't afford to do so due to personal or professional commitments, do not have any other option but to go ahead with what is a sure-shot way to get exorbitant bills. On an average, a call costs a minimum of $2 per minute, to say nothing of internet access and data transfer, which is going to add on considerably to the already inflated telephone bill.

There are certainly options to counter this situation, like one could rent a mobile phone is meant to be used internationally, but even that would be quite the expense. The next thing one could do is to purchase a local prepaid SIM card and use it in an unlocked GSM phone. However, one would certainly not want to go hunting for a SIM card, irrespective of whether it is a business trip or a leisure one, to say nothing of the situation if one is travelling to numerous countries over a period of time. The best solutions in this case is provided by Truphone, a leading global mobile telephony services provider that offers lower rates for international calls while one is out of his/her home country. Also, data packages are available in conjunction with the calls. Not only are outgoing calls extremely affordable and convenient, with fantastic voice clarity, but even incoming calls cost do not come with any long distance charges for the other person. The reason for this is that Truphone gives users dedicated UK and USA phone numbers, which are perfect for people staying in the two regions, or constantly travelling to the same.

And while the calling part is a universal factor for everyone, even the internet access part, i.e., the data connectivity, is important for businesspersons and executives, for they might have to multi-task between their current assignment and other responsibilities. However, even casual tourists would certainly want to stay in touch with the rest of the world via mails, social networking sites, etc. and that is why one needs an affordable web surfing provision as well in the calling plan. For US customers, a basic level Truphone SIM card costs $29.99, and offers $15 worth of credit. One can also add a US number to the SIM card for a nominal additional cost of $8, or even transfer his/her own number. What's more, even a Tru Country number can be added to the SIM. By subscribing to the Tru membership plan, (costing $15 per month) one can call a landline in any of the Tru countries for $0.10 while travelling in the same. Presently, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom are Tru countries, but the brand is in the process of expanding the umbrella of Tru countries to nations like Spain, Germany, France and Italy, to name a few.

To sum it up, the Truphone international SIM card is a great means to communicate and stay in touch around the world in an affordable manner.

Factors to consider before deciding to study abroad

Owing to the expanding vistas in education and the relative ease of gaining admission to foreign universities, many students are considering studying abroad to improve their chances of a better career ahead. However, before taking this step, there are many things that need to be considered. Following is the list of the main areas of concern:

· Do the courses offered fit into the course of study? It is a very unfortunate situation if a student is forced to graduate one or two semesters late just because the course taken abroad does not fit into the planned curriculum. To avoid this, the moment a student realizes that the course offered at a particular institution is not as per his/her requirements, or does not give the required amount of credit for the courses it is offering, it's best to send emails to check for alternatives.

· Language: Often undermined by many as a very minute point of consideration, language does, in fact, play a big role, since the student not only has to study abroad, but also live, interact and socialize with people, things that can not be avoided. A majority of Indians prefer going to the USA, UK and Australia not only because these countries offer the highest quality of education, but because English is a known language in India, and one does not have to undergo training for the same.

· Social surroundings: Something that is seen as a welcome gesture of openness can easily be taken as an offence in another country, where the culture might be totally different. In a similar manner, something that is seen in India as socially unacceptable might be the order of the day in another country. So, before deciding where to pursue studies, it's best to study a bit about details like the night-life, social customs, gender dynamics, etc., since it might be the case that the city sleeps too early, or the culture is too open for one's liking. As mentioned above, the student does not only have to study there, but LIVE abroad as well.

· Food: Similar to the language factor, the kind of food available too, plays a vital role in deciding whether that the person will be able to survive in the country being considered or not. Many people are allergic to certain substances, which might be basic ingredients in all dishes at the new destination,while some might just not like the dishes being cooked in a particular cuisine. All in all, this factor also needs to be considered.

· Communication: Owing to the difference in the exchange rates, and the fact that calling rates in foreign countries are much more expensive compared to India only makes the situation all the more complicated. However, now there is a solution to allow students to keep in touch with family and friends without having to spend a fortune. Matrix international sim cards give as much as 80% concession compared to regular calling charges, and deliver fantastic voice clarity and network coverage.