13 July 2012 - Communication
Taking the smartphone on the holidays is practical.: Google Maps shows you the way to the restaurant, another app calculates the price of dinner in CHF, and still another app translates unknown words into German. But look out: using your smartphone abroad can be very expensive. Data services abroad are shamelessly expensive. It is therefore recommended, to set your phone so that no data is transferred via the mobile network while you are abroad. It makes more sense to use free Wi-Fi networks, which are now available in many hotels, but also in restaurants, fast food chains like McDonald's and coffee shops like Starbucks.
Whoever does not want to go without mobile internet, just because Wi-Fi is not available, should definitely find a solution. The most interesting option for surfing around Europe is the "Data Travel 50 MB" option from Swisscom. For 24 CHF you receive a package that allows you to 50 MB over 7 days. This data volume should be large enough for most customers. Sunrise customers should choose the “Roaming“ option, where you pay 1 CHF per MB. Orange customers have it a little more difficult, since Orange`s data roaming options are not very transparent. With the most common option, customers have to pay 2 CHF per Megabyte, but not less than 4 CHF per day.
Telephone calls abroad are also expensive: Swisscom is the cheapest for flat rate customers, with calls costing 75 centimes within Europe. Sunrise and Orange are more than twice as expensive. Here, a roaming option is usually worth getting. It is best to order the option via telephone from the service provider, or to stop by at one of their stores. Although there is base charge of 3 to 9 CHF, the prices per minute are considerably lower. After the holiday, Orange and Sunrise customers must not forget to cancel these options.
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