International text messaging: How to stay in touch while traveling without breaking the bank
Whether you travel internationally for work or pleasure, exorbitant roaming data rates mean you’ll probably turn off your mobile while travelling. Or at least restrict when you use it. But what if you want to stay in touch and keep sending and receiving text messages with your family or mates?
Web-based text messaging is the answer.
NetMessenger, our online messenger application, only requires a web browser and internet connection. You can send text messages over Wi-Fi from your mobile, tablet, or laptop without paying international mobile or SMS rates. We have many customers using our service for personal texting for this reason, and because it can be much cheaper than texting with a standard mobile plan.
And depending where you travel, Wi-Fi Internet access can be free. Many major cities offer free Wi-Fi with hundreds of hot-spots throughout the area. Paris, for example, has over 260 free hot-spots in public locations.
If there isn’t free Wi-Fi, then there are services allowing you to purchase access to hot spots around the world. A popular Wi-Fi access service is Boingo, with over a million hot spots spread around the globe. Boingo charges a low monthly fee for access (it varies by region) but you can cancel anytime.
All this makes sending messages easy and inexpensive while traveling. But if you want a reply, you’ll need to make sure you have a virtual mobile number. You’ll find all the messages you receive in your inbox in NetMessenger, much like your normal email inbox. In fact, you can forward all your text messages to email if you want. Interested in seeing how it all works? Sign up for an always free account or contact us and well help you get started.
Once you’re set up you’ll have no excuses for not staying in touch, when you travel. Unless you’re having too much fun and leave your mobile behind.
Related Articles
SMS Marketing for Hotels – Upsells and Cross-Sells
With the summer peak season fast approaching, now is the perfect time for hotels to keep in touch with their guests and take advantage of upselling and cross-selling techniques to increase revenues. In this article, we demonstrate how to use SMS marketing to make the most of the opportunities in both and unlock added value for your business.
Hotels Use SMS Messaging to Head Off Bad Reviews
Online travel and review sites are great for travellers. They are good for hotels too, but they offer a double edged sword. User reviews are unfiltered – that is the travellers can say whatever they like both good and bad. And managing a bad review can be difficult, but how can SMS help?
How Campsites Can Use SMS Messaging to Get New Business
The campervan and caravan industry grew 16% this past year. Campsite and holiday park owners can connect with the thousands of new travellers using SMS messaging. After all, 76% of travellers prefer to take their mobile on holiday rather than a friend.
How the Travel Industry can use A2P Messaging
The travel industry has made some inroads into using SMS messaging, but hasn’t yet taken real advantage of the potential of A2P messaging. Find out how it can be used to save time and provide the high-quality service today’s mobile travellers expect.
Don’t Believe The Myth of The “Cashless Shopper”
Sometimes bloggers or journalists get a bit carried away. They see some data or fact, and run off to declare there’s a trend you need to know about. The latest one I’ve seen is all about how to reach the generation of “cashless shoppers”. The argument goes that you need to use SMS messaging to reach customers because they are all shopping online – where you obviously can’t pay in cash.
Do hospitality trends in 2016 include SMS messaging?
SMS Marketing for Travel Agents – the Key to a Sold Out Summer Season
How SMS Marketing can help guarantee a sold out summer season for independent travel agents and tour operators. In this article we explore how small and medium-sized independent companies in the travel and tourism sector can take advantage of the opportunities offered by SMS marketing to ensure a sold out summer season.
SMS Marketing: Four Sectors Successfully Using Text Messaging
SMS marketing has seen a huge uplift in popularity in recent years, with big brands investing in the technology to better engage with their customers. There are so many benefits of SMS marketing, from the ability to directly to reach customers with your communications, to the fact that over 80% of SMS texts are read. With over approximately 90% of the world receiving mobile coverage, you’re highly likely to be able to reach your audience, regardless of where they are. SMS marketing is cost effective, and campaigns are quick to develop, in as short a time period as the time it takes to write a text message. This gives you the advantage of being able to communicate quickly, and effectively with customers, reacting to information almost instantaneously. With so many reasons to use SMS marketing, we’ve highlighted four sectors successfully using SMS messaging as case studies to highlight the advantages of investing in the technology.
How The Tourism Industry can use SMS Marketing
Today we’re bringing our technology with us on our travels - using our smartphones to create a more personalised experience, one that points us towards tailor-made itineraries. This means those who promote certain sectors of the travel industry are in a strong position to have their SMS marketing campaigns favourably received.
3 Ways Travel Agencies Can Take Full Advantage of SMS Messaging
The recent weather likely has many people thinking about their summer holiday. It's great news for travel agents looking to book ahead for the coming months. If you're a travel agent, SMS messaging is fast becoming a primary way to communicate with your clients.