5 Simple Steps to Mastering International Cell Phone Use
Staying connected while traveling doesn’t have to be complicated or cost a fortune. With some preparation and the right know-how, you can take control of your phone usage abroad and finally ditch those overpriced domestic plans. Trust me – this advice comes from hard-earned experience. About one year ago, I learned firsthand just how ruthless phone companies can be. Let me tell you, I was in and out of tears throughout the debacle. Candidly, I think it has taken me this long to recover from the ordeal, 😂. With a desire for you not to go through what I did, here are 5 simple and inexpensive steps to mastering international cell phone use.
This article is geared toward digital nomads, however if you travel often or live between two countries, you can still use some of these tips to your advantage. These steps to learning the best ways to communicate easily abroad will save you money, give you freedom and make staying connected on the road a breeze.
What Happened to Me?
Before we get into it, let me give you the cliff notes version of what happened to me. I was a devoted T-Mobile customer for years because they had the best priced international plans for US-based travelers. I was loyal, and I played by the rules. My plan covered the US, Mexico and Canada, which was perfect since I lived between Los Angeles and Mexico. Whenever I traveled beyond those three countries, I dutifully added an international pass ~ like a good customer 😇. Little did I know, my loyalty would cost me more than I expected.
Rewind to 13 months ago. When I landed in San Miguel de Allende, ready for a smooth Mexican adventure, I found my phone data wasn’t working. I couldn’t contact my Airbnb host, check maps, or do anything. I was stuck. Once I finally connected to WiFi, I called T-Mobile, only to hear something that floored me: my account had been flagged as an ‘extreme roamer’. Trust me when I say ATT and Google Fi will do the exact same thing to you, they have done it to our friends that live abroad.
They Revoked Access to My Account Entirely
Wait, what?! Apparently, even though Mexico was included in my plan, they didn’t really mean it for people like me. My usage didn’t fit their idea of ‘normal,’ so they ultimately restricted my account and access to my phone number without a heads-up. And because my US number was tied to work and security accounts, this wasn’t just inconvenient – it was disastrous. I was up a tree and scrambling, but it forced me to figure out how to never be in this position again.
I needed to port my number out of T-Mobile and figure out the rest ASAP. The catch? They would only give me my port-out code in person at one of their stores. With no plans to return to the US, you guessed it – I was stuck. After a failed POA attempt (thanks to them sending the wrong PDF 😭) and then the genius use of my identical twin sister, I finally regained ownership of my US number and said GOODBYE to T Mobile once and for all.
More layers to this story add to my trauma. After T Mobile banned me, my phone was stolen from my hands in Niroabi and then I was locked out of my Apple ID for almost 1 month due to a password reset typo. I’m simply trying to paint a picture of what could go wrong! I will never forget crying on the phone to Apple on Christmas Day. If I can save just one person from even a fraction of the heartaches I went through, my job will be done. So here’s to taking control of our communication while traveling – without the tears. Let’s dive into these simple steps!
Mastering International Cell Phone Use
1. Unlock Your Phone
You’ll need to unlock your phone before you can use it freely abroad. Many carriers tie your device to their network until it’s fully paid off. Once unlocked, you’re free to use it with any carrier worldwide. Call your provider to check its status. Pay it off and request an unlock if necessary. This is the most costly step, but it pays for itself quickly. Also, if you aren’t obsessed with having the latest and greatest phone like me, you can always buy used unlocked telephones, which is a fantastic money-saving hack.
2. Ditch Your National Phone Carrier
Ditch your national phone carrier. Your current carrier’s international roaming options aren’t great and are more costly than they’re worth. Before you leave, decide if you want to keep your cell phone number. If you do, you must port it out. Contact your carrier and request the unique code necessary for this process. This step ensures you don’t lose your number while breaking free from their services.
** Switching phone numbers used to be much easier than it is today. With so many security measures and 2FA codes tied to our current number, getting a new one has become much more work.
Why Are US Cell Phone Plans So Expensive?
The US telecom industry operates more like a monopoly – or as they like to call it, an ‘oligopoly’ (fancy word for ‘we control everything’). A few giants like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile run the show. With little real competition, they can jack up prices, tack on sneaky fees and trap you in contracts with penalties for trying to leave.
Now, let’s look at the rest of the world. In many countries, smaller carriers compete for customers, forcing prices down and offering more flexible plans. You’ll often find pre-paid SIMs or local plans that let you pay only for what you actually use ~ no hidden charges, no unnecessary extras, just good old-fashioned fairness.
And here’s the kicker: those US telecom giants? They spend big bucks lobbying to keep it this way. That’s why you’ve got fewer options and higher costs. So next time you’re staring at your bloated phone bill, remember – it’s not you, it’s the system. Not to go there, but welcome to America, where the system loves a good monopoly!
3. Port Your Local Number
Port your local number to keep ownership for life. Decide how you’ll manage your local number. Here are two options:
• No Access Needed? Port your number to a service likeNumber Barn. They will hold it for a nominal fee.
• Need Access Abroad?Use services like Skype or Tello (My Tello in the app store) to retain the full functionality of your number, allowing you to make and receive calls or texts seamlessly, no matter where you are in the world. Tello (I use them, my plan is $11/mo!) has even introduced international plans, which is fantastic!
4. Switch to eSIMS or Local SIM Cards
When traveling, you’ll need a local plan to stay connected. Switch to an eSIM or local SIM card, here’s how:
• eSIM (embedded SIM) – essentially a virtual SIM card built directly into your phone, perfect for instant access. Purchase an eSIM plan for your destination, you’ll have service when your plane lands. Cue the ‘I landed safe’ texts. When I opt for an eSIM, I buy it from the app Airalo.
Pro tip ~ An eSIM is often slower and less reliable than a local SIM because it typically connects to regional or global networks instead of directly to the strongest local carrier, impacting speed and coverage quality.
• Local SIM Card (physical SIM card) – often more affordable and reliable, especially for heavy data users or those who need to use their phone as a hotspot. Sometimes, you can purchase a local SIM at the airport, which I always do if possible. If not, take a quick trip to a local carrier store. Sometimes, they ask for your passport, so pack that on your way out. I prefer this as you can’t beat the prices, speed and directly accessing local networks. To give you an idea, I paid around $3 for a month of data in India and $6 in Vietnam 🤯.
** Wondering how to use your local number and an international SIM simultaneously? It’s simple ~ just activate both SIMs in your phone’s settings.
5. Enjoy Your Freedom From Overpriced Plans 🤘🏽
Enjoy your freedom from overpriced plans! Once you’ve set up your phone for international use, you’ll never want to return to those carriers pretending to have your back. By mastering these steps, you’ll feel empowered to travel anywhere while staying connected affordably. Between my Tello plan and local SIM cards, I pay between $14 – $25 per month, depending on where I am, to communicate with anyone anywhere without restrictions. It sure beats $130+ /mo for solely domestic use with a company that does not care about me.
Cracked the Code!
Mastering international cell phone use made me feel like a rockstar ~ like I’d cracked the code and finally said goodbye to the big guys while taking back control of my communication. Finding Tello was the icing on the cake. I’ll never forget calling them twice within minutes, asking if their services and prices were accurate. The first time I received a text to my US number after all this drama, I knew I was in the clear. On this side of the journey, there were happy tears!
No matter where you are in your travel story ~ living abroad, living between countries, or becoming a digital nomad, I urge you to explore solutions like these. There are innovative, more creative ways to stay in control of your connection. While these options take some effort to set up, this article on mastering international cell phone use is a great place to start.
Even if you live in the US, you can save a ton of money with services like Tello. They have fantastic customer service and can create a plan that fits your needs. We all deserve the freedom to work and communicate seamlessly without feeling like we’re sacrificing our cell phone number or paycheck. So take control, save money and stay connected wherever your travels take you – you deserve it!
