Chapter 23
On the Road Again
IN THIS CHAPTER
Understanding roaming
Avoiding data roaming charges
Placing international calls
Entering Airplane mode
Using an Android in the air
Contacting friends abroad
Taking an Android overseas
You’re in a land far, far away. The sun shines warmly upon your face. A gentle breeze wafts over crashing waves. You wiggle your toes in the soft, grainy sand. And the number-one thought on your mind is, “Can my Android phone get a signal?”
For an Android tablet, the question is the same: “Do they have Wi-Fi on this beach?” Funny as it sounds, they probably do.
As a mobile device, your Android is designed to go wherever you go. And if you give the thing a good throw, it can go beyond where you go, but that’s not my point. Because it is wireless and has a generous battery, an Android mobile device is built to go on the road. Where can you take it? How can it survive? What if it runs off by itself? Does it need wheels? These are some of the issues regarding taking your tablet elsewhere.
Where the Android Roams
The word roam takes on an entirely new meaning when applied to an Android phone or LTE tablet. It means that your device receives a cell signal whenever you’re outside the service provider’s operating area. In that case, your Android is roaming.
Roaming sounds handy, but there’s a catch: It almost always involves a surcharge for using another cellular service — an unpleasant surcharge.
Detecting phone service roaming
Relax: Your Android alerts you whenever it’s roaming. The Roaming icon appears at the top of the screen, in the status area, whenever you’re outside your cellular provider’s signal area. The icon differs from device to device, but generally the letter R figures in it somewhere, as in the margin.
On an Android phone, you might even see the alien cellular provider’s name appear on the lock screen.
There’s little you can do to avoid roaming surcharges when making phone calls. Well, yes: You can wait until you’re back in an area serviced by your primary cellular provider.
If you’re concerned about roaming while overseas, place the phone into Airplane mode, as discussed elsewhere in this chapter.
Stopping MMS when roaming
Another network service you might want to disable while roaming has to do with multimedia, or MMS, text messages. To avoid surcharges from another cellular network for downloading an MMS message, follow these steps:
- Open the phone’s text messaging app.
- Ensure that you’re viewing the main screen, not an individual message thread.
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Tap the Action Overflow icon or the MORE button.
On Samsung’s Message+ app, tap the Side Menu icon to display the navigation drawer.
- Choose Settings.
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Choose Advanced or More Settings.
On Samsung’s Message+ app, choose When Roaming. Ensure that each item is unchecked. Tap OK. You’re done.
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Ensure that the Auto-Download MMS setting is off or disabled.
This item might also be called Auto-Retrieve or Roaming Auto Retrieve.
Disabling data roaming
One feature you want to disable on your Android phone or LTE tablet is data roaming. As with cellular service, the mobile data network also roams when you’re outside the provider’s operating area. To ensure that this service is disabled, work through these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
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Choose Network and Internet.
On some Androids, choose the More item located in the Wireless & Networks area.
- Choose Mobile Network or Cellular Networks.
- Ensure that the Data Roaming setting is disabled or denied.
On some Samsung gizmos, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
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Choose Connections.
If you don’t see this item, skip to Step 3.
- Choose Mobile Networks.
- Choose Data Roaming Access.
- Select the option Deny Data Roaming Access.
- Tap OK.
Your Android can still access the Internet over the Wi-Fi connection when it roams. Setting up a Wi-Fi connection doesn’t affect the mobile data network connection, because the device prefers to use Wi-Fi. See Chapter 18 for more information about Wi-Fi.
International Calling
A phone is a bell that anyone in the world can ring. To prove it, all you need is the phone number of anyone in the world. Use your Android phone to dial that number and, as long as you both speak the same language, you’re talking!
To make an international call with your Android phone, you must know the foreign phone number. The number includes the international country-code prefix, followed by the number. For example:
01-234-56-789
Before dialing the international country-code prefix (01, in this example), you must first type a plus (+). The + symbol is the country exit code, which must be dialed in order to flee the national phone system and access the international phone system. For example, to dial Finland on your phone, type +358 and then the number in Finland. The +358 is the exit code (+) plus the international code for Finland (358).
To type the + character, press and hold down the 0 key on the Phone app’s dialpad. Then type the country prefix and the phone number. Tap the Dial icon to place the call.
- Dialing internationally involves surcharges, unless your cellular plan provides for international calling.
- International calls fail for several reasons. One of the most common is that the recipient’s phone service blocks incoming international calls.
- Another reason that international calls fail is the zero reason: Oftentimes, you must leave out any zero in the phone number that follows the country code. So, if the country code is 254 for Kenya and the phone number starts with 012, you dial +254 for Kenya and then 12 and the rest of the number. Omit the leading zero.
- Know which type of phone you’re calling internationally — cell phone or landline. The reason is that an international call to a cell phone might involve a surcharge that doesn’t apply to a landline.
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The + character isn’t a number separator. When you see an international number listed as 011+20+xxxxxxx, do not insert the + character in the number. Instead, type +20 and then the rest of the international phone number. - Most cellular providers add a surcharge when sending a text message abroad. Contact your cellular provider to confirm the text message rates. Generally, you find two rates: one for sending and another for receiving text messages.
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If texting charges vex you, remember that email has no associated per-message charge. You also have alternative ways to chat, such as Google Hangouts and Skype; Skype can also be used to place cheap international calls. See Chapter 11.
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In most cases, dialing an international number involves a time zone difference. Before you dial, be aware of what time it is in the country or location you’re calling. The Clock app can handle that job for you: Summon a clock for the location you’re calling and place it on the Clock app’s screen.
You Can Take It with You
You can take your Android with you anywhere you like. How it functions may change depending on your environment, and you can do a few things to prepare before you go. Add these items to your other travel checklists, such as taking cash, bringing an ID, and preparing to wait in inspection lines.
Preparing to leave
Unless you’re being unexpectedly abducted, you should prepare several things before leaving on a trip with your Android phone or tablet.
First and most important, of course, is to charge the thing. I plug in my Android overnight before I leave the next day. The device’s battery is nice and robust, so power should last until well after you reach your destination.
Second, consider loading up on some media, plus a few new apps before you go: eBooks, movies, music, saved web pages, games. The more stuff, the more you’ll have to occupy your time.
Finally, don’t forget your tickets! Many airlines offer apps. The apps may make traveling easy because they generate notifications for your schedule and provide timely gate changes or flight delays — plus, you can use the touchscreen as your e-ticket. Search Google Play to see whether your preferred airline offers an app.
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If you plan to read books, listen to music, or watch a video while on the road, consider downloading that media to your Android before you leave. See Chapter 16 for information.
- I save a few of my regular morning web pages for offline reading before I go. See Chapter 10 for details on saving web pages in the Chrome app. To access saved web pages, tap the Action Overflow and choose Downloads.
- For entertainment, consider getting some eBooks for the road. I prefer to sit and stew over Google Play’s online library before I leave, as opposed to wandering aimlessly in some airport sundry store, trying hard to focus on the good books rather than on the salty snacks. Chapter 17 covers reading eBooks.
- Picking up some music might be a good idea as well. Visit Chapter 15.
- I usually reward myself with a new game before I go on a trip. Visit Google Play and see what’s hot or recommended. A good puzzle game can make a nice, long international flight go by a lot quicker.
Arriving at the airport
I’m not a frequent flier, but I am a nerd. The most amount of junk I’ve carried with me on a flight is two laptop computers and three cell phones. I know that’s not a record, but it’s enough to warrant the following list of travel tips, all of which apply to taking an Android phone or tablet with you on an extended journey:
- Take the Android’s AC adapter and USB cable with you. Put them in your carry-on luggage or backpack.
- Nearly all major airports feature USB chargers, so you can charge the Android in an airport, if you need to. Even though you need only the cable to charge, bring along the AC adapter anyway.
- At the security checkpoint, place your Android phone or tablet in a bin by itself or with other electronics. You might be able to get away with leaving the tablet inside a pouch or backpack, though first confirm that possibility with the security personnel.
- You can never walk through the metal detector or scanner wearing a cell phone. Well, you can, but you’ll be directed to secondary search and get dirty looks from others waiting in line. (Yeah, I’ve done that.)
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Use the Calendar app to keep track of your flights. The event title serves as the airline and flight number. For the event time, use the take-off and landing schedules. For the location, list the origin and destination airport codes. And, in the Description field, put the flight reservation number. If you’re using separate calendars (categories), specify the Travel calendar for your flight. See Chapter 16 for more information on the Calendar app.
- If you ordered your tickets online and use your Gmail account, the Calendar app automatically grabs the flight information from the confirmation email message. Pretty cool.
- Scan for the airport’s Wi-Fi service. Most airports don’t charge for the service, though you may have to use the web browser app to agree to terms before getting full access.
Flying with an Android
Readers of the future: The title of this section applies to mobile Android devices, popular in the first part of the 21st century. What you probably want is the title Personal Robots For Dummies, first published in 2049.
It truly is the trendiest of things to be aloft with the latest mobile gizmo. Still, you must follow some rules:
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Obey the flight crew.
When they say to turn off your mobile device, do so. They might also ask you to unplug the device from the in-cabin power. And do pay attention to the safety instructions.
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Place your device into Airplane mode.
This direction applies to both phones and tablets. The easy way is to use the quick settings and tap the Airplane Mode icon. See Chapter 3 for details on using the quick settings.
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If you want to use the in-flight Wi-Fi, turn on Wi-Fi after the service is available.
Yes, it’s possible to have the device’s Wi-Fi radio on while Airplane mode is active.
- During descent, or whenever asked to, turn off or lock your Android.
When the Android is in Airplane mode, a special icon appears in the status area, similar to the one shown in the margin.
- To exit Airplane mode, tap the Airplane Mode icon on the Quick Settings drawer.
- Airplane mode disables the device’s cellular, GPS, and Bluetooth radios. You are admonished not to use these radios while flying. That means you can’t effectively use the Maps app to confirm that you see Greenland down there.
Getting to your destination
After you arrive at your destination, the Android may update the date and time according to your new location. One additional step you may want to take is to set the time zone. By doing so, you ensure that your schedule adapts properly to your new location.
To change or confirm the device’s time zone, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
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Choose System and then choose Date and Time.
On some Androids, the Date and Time item appears on the main Settings app screen. On Samsung devices, choose General Management, where you’ll find the Date and Time item.
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If you find an Automatic Date & Time setting, ensure that it’s active.
If so, you’re done; the Android automatically updates its time references. Otherwise, continue with Step 4.
- Choose Select Time Zone.
- Pluck the current time zone from the list.
If you’ve set appointments for your new location, visit the Calendar app to ensure that their start and end times have been properly adjusted. If you’re prompted to update appointment times based on the new zone, do so.
When you’re done traveling or you change your time zone again, make sure that the Android is updated as well. When the Automatic Time Zone setting isn’t available, follow the steps in this section to reset the time zone.
The Android Goes Abroad
Yes, your Android works overseas. The two resources you need to consider are how to recharge the battery and how to access Wi-Fi. As long as you have both, you’re pretty much set. You also must be careful about mobile data (cellular) roaming surcharges when using an Android phone or LTE tablet.
Calling with your Android phone overseas
The easiest way to use a cell phone abroad is to rent or buy one in the country where you plan to stay. I’m serious: Often, international roaming charges are so high that it’s cheaper to simply buy a temporary cell phone wherever you go, especially if you plan to stay there for a while.
When you opt to use your own phone rather than buy a local phone, things should run smoothly — if a compatible cellular service is in your location. Not every Android phone uses the same network type and, of course, not every foreign country uses the same cellular network. Things must match before the phone can work. Plus, you may have to deal with foreign carrier roaming charges.
The key to determining whether your phone is usable in a foreign country is to turn it on. The name of that country’s compatible cellular service shows up on the phone’s lock screen. So, where your phone once said Verizon Wireless, it may say Wambooli Telcom when you’re overseas.
- You receive calls on your cell phone internationally if the phone can access the network. Your friends need only dial your cell phone number as they normally do; the phone system automatically forwards your calls to wherever you are in the world.
- The person calling you pays nothing extra when you’re off romping the globe with your Android phone. Nope — you pay extra for the call.
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While you’re abroad, you must dial internationally. When calling home (for example, the United States), you need to use a 10-digit number (phone number plus area code). You may also be required to type the country exit code when you dial. See the earlier section “International Calling.”
- When in doubt, contact your cellular provider for tips and other information specific to whatever country you’re visiting.
Using overseas power
You can easily attach a foreign AC power adapter to your Android’s AC power plug. You don’t need a voltage converter — just an adapter. After it’s attached, you can plug your phone or tablet into those weirdo overseas power sockets without facing the risk of blowing up anything. I charged my Android nightly while I spent time in France, and it worked like a charm.
Accessing Wi-Fi in foreign lands
Wi-Fi is universal. The same protocols and standards are used everywhere, so if your Android can access Wi-Fi at your local Starbucks, it can access Wi-Fi at the Malted Yak Blood Café in Wamboolistan. As long as Wi-Fi is available, your Android can use it.
- Internet cafés are more popular overseas than in the United States. They’re the best locations for connecting to the Internet and catching up on life back home.
- Many overseas hotels offer free Wi-Fi service, although the signal may not reach into every room. Don’t be surprised if you can use the Wi-Fi network only while you’re in the lobby.
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Obtain Skype Credit to use your Android to place phone calls overseas. Skype’s international rates are quite reasonable. The calls are made over the Internet, so when the Android has Wi-Fi access, you’re good to go. See Chapter 11 for more information on making Skype calls.