Roaming Fine Print

Rumor has it that roaming has become very inexpensive. As soon as the word spread, we’ve have been receiving a lot of questions about other U.S. and E.U. operators from our customers.

Somehow carriers tend to forget to mention that there are many restrictions regarding roaming usage. We decided to share some of these restrictions and limitations with you, and make sure you understand those restrictions.

Here are some frequently asked questions we’d like to answer:

What is data roaming?

Data roaming refers to the continued data service your phone receives when you go outside of your mobile operator’s cellular network (coverage area).

For example, you’re able to make calls or access the Internet when you travel internationally due to agreements between your provider and other network operators. Your phone connects to a network, that is not your usual everyday carrier.

Why turning off data if you need international wireless service when roaming is a bad idea?

Some people prefer to turn off their data roaming when traveling abroad and instead use Wi-Fi when possible. But if you are going on a business trip, chances are you need to be available to your colleagues and/or partners 24/7. You might need to access your email or some other information one way or another. You’ll find yourself using an unsecure Wi-Fi network or a location where Wi-Fi coverage is slow or nonexistent, essentially unplugging yourself from the world. That’s where Pond IoT comes in. Never worry about unsecure Wi-Fi connection or making yourself less productive. Doesn’t matter business or pleasure.

What is Data Roaming Throttling?

Some of us have seen the word “throttling” in recent years, but don’t quite understand what that means. Data throttling is the technique used by carriers to limit bandwidth. Throttling limits your data speeds to a certain speed usually under .1 Mbps. To understand what that number represents, you need to know that the average download speed in a U.S. household for 2017 was 64.1 Mbps. Although throttled speeds will still allow you to receive and send text only emails it will prevent you from uploading or downloading most attachments. For example, that last minute PowerPoint for your next meeting or your PDF itinerary for your travels.

This technique was first introduced to limit the impact/usage of “Data hungry consumers". Unfortunately, this has become common practice and implemented from the first MB you download on a roaming network.

Is unlimited worldwide calling even possible?

There are quite a few and to understand them all you would need to read all the fine print and the T&C’s. All U.S. & EU operators have “extended roaming usage” restrictions. This means that if you spend more than 30-60 days outside of your home country (i.e. U.S.A or EU) the service provider has the right to shut off your line or bill you the non-promotional rate. This is why all carriers still have pay-per-minute and pay-per MB rates on their website.

Companies have this in their fine print on their websites. For example, customers can visit verizonwireless.com or att.com. Other restrictions most likely include a provision that requires you to use more than half your minutes and data in your “home" country.

Majority of carriers only include calls back home or local calls. This means if you are roaming in the United Kingdom and calling a Russian or Swiss number, you will be charged an additional fee per minute. For example, you will be charged the daily fee + $3.00/ per minute or $0.25/ per minute depending on whether you have a discount calling plan in that type of scenario if you subscribe to a carrier like Verizon.

In conclusion, if you are planning a trip, be aware of the roaming fine print. Do your research and see what’s best for you. You can easily return home to a bill in thousands.

Global roaming can be quite expensive, but with POND IoT, you can forget about huge phone bills and roaming charges. Talk, Text, and Surf - from anywhere / to anywhere - for a fixed monthly fee and no roaming charges. You can also contact us any time and ask any questions you have.