The sky-high cost of using mobile phones abroad has been hittingthe headlines in recent weeks, but with some careful planning it ispossible to make unlimited calls back to the UK while overseaswithout being charged a penny.
Mobile operators have ramped up charges for using their handsets -especially when outside the EU - as a result of a clampdown on whatthey can charge for connecting calls within the UK.
Using your phone abroad to call the UK can cost up to pound(s)2 aminute while receiving calls can cost as much pound(s)1.50 a minute,warns website uSwitch.com.
The website's Ernest Doku says: "Even if you don't plan to makecalls while abroad, the minute consumers switch on their phoneabroad, it will register onto a local network. This means anyactivity on the handset will be billed at overseas rates, which aremuch higher than standard charges in the UK."
Charges could be incurred for someone leaving a voicemailmessage, and to pick up voicemail messages - which in the UK costjust 21p a minute at the most.
Most mobile providers offer bolt-on deals which offer reduced-rate overseas calls, depending on the territory. From the US, forinstance, O2 callers would save money on a bolt-on if they make morethan seven minutes of calls while away.
However, the march of Voice over the Internet Protocols (VoIP),coupled with the advent of smartphones and tablet computers such asthe iPad and BlackBerry's Playbook, mean that you can use the wififunction on these devices to make and receive calls while abroadabsolutely free.
Skype was the first to harness the internet to allow its membersto make free international calls over the internet, but a host ofothers have been quick to follow in its wake and some have improvedthe user-friendliness of making these so-called VoIP calls. Thismeans that where as Skype requires all users to have a Skype addressin order to make free calls, Vopium and Rebtel use technology in thebackground of a user's smartphone (BlackBerry, Android and iPhone)to make the calls using the numbers stored in the phone's contactsbook. Both parties to the call, however, still have to have the sameVoIP app on their phone to capitalise on free calling - if only oneperson has the app, calls are cheaper but not free when made fromthe UK on a UK-contracted handset.
However, those considering taking their UK phones and tabletsoverseas need to do a bit more legwork to ensure they can make freecalls while abroad. And it is vital not to skip these steps if youdon't want to end up clocking up massive roaming charges.
Consumer group Which? found that regular phone use on a two-weekholiday would cost less than pound(s)40 in France, up to pound(s)190in the United States - and up to pound(s)300 from Russia. Thosebrowsing the internet could rack up even higher bills with theirmobile providers' data roaming charges.
Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?, said: "Until datacosts come down, anyone considering their tablet or mobile for usingthe net abroad should steer well clear of 3G data-roaming and usefree wifi access where available instead."
At present only Skype and Vopium work through wifi. What thismeans is that someone by the Rebtel app on their UK mobile would behit with their provider's roaming charges if they made calls withtheir mobile while abroad.
In contrast, those with Skype and Vopium can call for free whilein a wifi zone. Likewise, the video calling applications on iPad2,iPhone4 and BlackBerry's Playbook (set to launch in the UK in June)all route calls through the internet so are free, provided they aremade in a wifi zone.
An Apple spokeswoman said: "FaceTime is a feature of iPhone 4,which allows you to make video calls over a wifi network to anothercompatible device. You can now make FaceTime video calls to iPad 2,iPhone 4, the new iPod touch and Mac all without incurring yournetwork's call or data charges."
Holidaymakers need to check if the hotel they have bookedprovides free wifi access. Many hotels see charging for wifi accessas an extra revenue stream and so it is important to check beforetravelling. Those who find their hotel or resort does apply a chargewill need to investigate free wifi locations before they jet off.
Here BT Broadband customers are at an advantage over those whohave Virgin or Sky. BT Broadband customers can sign up to freeaccess to something called Fon which gives them free access to wifiin thousands of places around the UK, including Starbucks and CafeNero. It also gives them free access while abroad as well.
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