Rogers March Break checklist: limit your roaming costs
By: calendar iconMarch 8th, 2012 a 1:28pm

Roaming tips from Rogers for March BreakWhether you’re hitting the beach or slopes outside of Canada this March break, you can stay connected with family and friends and keep it affordable by taking a few easy steps.

Once you leave Canada, you’re roaming off the Rogers network. When you “roam”, you’re accessing services through a foreign cellular network and can incur incremental charges for your usage (talking, texting, emailing, web browsing etc).

Here are a few tips from Connected Magazine, on how you can save on roaming this March Break:

1. Make sure your data roaming is on–Most devices have the data roaming set to off. If you plan on checking email or using other data services such as web browsing, BBM, MMS, Visual Voicemail & Apps while you are away, turn data roaming on. Also, remember to turn off Apps that you’re not using to help conserve data.

2. Learn more and purchase –Text TRAVEL to 7626 to view and purchase affordable and easy to use roaming options or visit rogers.com/roaming

For Data:

3. Get a Roaming Data Pass – Sharing a picture, web browsing or checking email requires data. Passes start at $5 and include the following customer friendly features that help ensure a worry free roaming experience:

  • Free near real-time text alerts that let you monitor your data usage.
  • Data service cut-offs upon data-pass expiration, so you never have to worry about “overage” fees.

For Voice & Text:

4. Get a Combo Travel Pack–Need Voice and Text while you’re down in the Caribbean? The Zone 3 Combo Travel Pack is good for one month from the date of purchase and if you use up the Pack, you’ll continue to enjoy discounted rates (per minute, sent text) for your usage until the month is over.

5. Save juice by:

  • Disabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (turn on Wi-Fi when looking for a hotspot).
  • Turning your screen’s brightness down.
  • Closing apps that run in the background.

For more useful tips on how to save on roaming this March Break and to download a handy travel checklist, visit Connected Magazine.

Michelle is a new contributor to RedBoard

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  1. Chris says: March 8th, 2012 a 2:06pm

    Geeze… My first tip on saving on roaming would be:

    1. Make sure your data roaming is OFF! (your on vacation you don’t need email)
    2. Use WIFI!!!!!!!
    3. If you have an unlocked device get a data plan from a local carrier.
    4. Check out travel mobile companies like ROAM.
    5. If you must use data with a locked phone then get a data pack from Rogers.

    Bonus tip: Turn off push services and only use fetch for your email while roaming.

  2. David says: March 8th, 2012 a 2:21pm

    Sorry, I don’t see how turning data roaming ON is going to save money on roaming. Having data roaming turned off will prevent you from being hit with data roaming fees when your phone or apps attempt to use data without your knowledge while roaming.

    • RogersMichelle says: March 8th, 2012 a 4:59pm

      Hi David, thanks for your comment. Data roaming on many devices defaults to off – which is a great if you don’t want to use your phone at all while travelling. However, if you plan to check in on email or look up directions while travelling, you’ll need to ensure data roaming is turned on.

      • Bruce says: March 9th, 2012 a 12:52pm

        That’s NOT what the article says. I quote:

        “Here are a few tips from Connected Magazine, on how you can save on roaming this March Break:
        1. Make sure your data roaming is on”

        It’s clear that you’re telling people they can save on roaming by turning roaming on, which is irresponsible, at best.

        Also, to be absolutely fair to your customers, you need to clarify that the $5 Roaming Data Pass mentioned only buys you 2 MB of data, and expires within a day of pruchase. You’d be lucky to check your e-mail, share a picture and browse the web for even a minute in just 2 MB of data.

        • RogersMichelle says: March 9th, 2012 a 4:56pm

          Thanks for your post, Bruce. Yes, the $5 Roaming Data Pass provides 2MB of usage while roaming in the U.S. and is applicable for 1 day. This is our entry level offer (starting price) and is primarily designed for people that are taking a day trip to the U.S. and want to be covered with a discounted rate if they consume minimal data – send/receive a few e-mails, quickly look something up on the web etc. If you frequently use your mobile device for email and web browsing while on vacation, a pass that offers more data is the right choice for you – like our Roaming Data Week Passes that will last 7 days and have larger buckets of MB included. In the U.S. our starting Week Pass is $25 and comes with 15 MB of data. The next Pass up from this is $50 and comes with 60 MB of data.

          • Chris says: March 9th, 2012 a 5:00pm

            Call me when we are at 10MB/$1… Or 1GB/$10

          • Jay says: March 9th, 2012 a 9:49pm

            RogersMichelle those price points are atrocius at best. I’m taking a trip to Europe in the summer, and have an Iphone. I pay $81 (taxes included) and now I have to pay $50 for ONLY 60 mb of data?

            Be realistic with what you have to offer, I realize roaming is more expensive but why would someone pay $50 for 60 MB?

            What am I going to do with 60 mb of data over a 3 weeks span? I can use that up in a day or 2, and that’s being generous.

            Customers will start caring when you can offer something decent like 250 mb for $20, which will let you surf, send e mail attachments and watch a couple of videos “comfortably” and not worry about how close you are to going over.

            This post is almost 2 days old and has barely generated any comments, which to me shows how out of touch Rogers is with reality.

  3. Chris says: March 11th, 2012 a 10:59am

    Under what circumstance will turning data roaming on keep costs down?

  4. Dwayne says: March 11th, 2012 a 8:12pm

    These posts are a good way for Rogers to stay in touch with the “community” which I assume is the intent. I would suggest that you go be very wary of any content that makes it look like you are “selling” extra services to Rogers customers… which this post suggests.

    We know that with a severe lack of competition in Canada, we consumers are subject to atrocious prices, like the $50 for 60MB of data in the U.S.. It’s best NOT mention anything to do with hinting that such services will “save” us money! Thanks

  5. David Allan says: March 15th, 2012 a 4:10am

    Consumers need to be educated here:

    1.The best thing for you to ever do is turn off any roaming services possible.
    2. Be sure not to purchase any roaming packages from Rogers.
    3. Make sure you have an unlocked smartphone, one that you buy on Amazon, eBay, Apple or elsewhere. That’s why you don’t buy any device from Rogers or go on any contract except for month to month term.
    4. Buy those pre-paid service from a local carrier that will give you great prices for your buck!

    Just to you an example, in UK, $50US prepaid can get you at least 1GB of data and 1000 minutes of talk time. In the US, $2 with T-mobile can get you unlimited talk a day and for another $3, you get unlimited 2G data. In Hong Kong, $50US can get you a few thousand minutes of airtime and a good several hundreds MB of data.