Saturday, February 17, 2007
Cell phone use can be expensive for those studying abroad.
CHESTER, Pa. -- Despite the rise in popularity of such online phenomena as MySpace and blogging, a majority of students heading overseas to study abroad say they are most apt to stay connected to their friends and family through what is, for them, the old-fashioned way -- e-mail.
More than 205,000 U.S. students enrolled in study-abroad programs in 2006. The number of students studying overseas has been rising in the last 10 years, with an increase of 144 percent. That's up from 84,403 in 1995.
According to a just-released survey by StudyAbroad.com in conjunction with IIEPassport.org, six in 10 students say they will stay in touch via e-mail. About half as many (28 percent) indicated they plan to use their cell phones. Decidedly less popular were relatively new Web-based forums, including Internet communities such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com (9.5 percent), as well as Web logs or blogs (2.5 percent).
"E-mail offers the perfect combination of privacy, convenience and individuality," said John Duncan, adviser for StudyAbroad.com, an online resource for overseas education opportunities.
"Regardless of where they are in the world, e-mail keeps study-abroad students grounded with their friends back home so that they don't feel like they are all that far away. This generation was raised on e-mail, and it has become their primary source for communication."
Standard communications technologies are readily available around most of the world and accessing the Internet is easy, but if students plan to use their mobile phone, it's not as simple as just bringing a cell phone overseas. There are some pitfalls students need to be aware of, Duncan said.
Tips
He offers these cell phone tips:
Find out if you have a GSM (global system for mobile) phone.
Some wireless network phones such as Cingular or T-Mobile can be "unlocked" so that it will work in other GSM locations throughout the world.
Weigh your wireless options.
Ask your wireless provider if you can continue with your current plan and pay a certain price per minute abroad. Sometimes you can pay an additional monthly fee to be charged less per minute or you can buy a whole new plan for the time you are in country.
Know your calling habits before you leave.
Be honest with the amount of time you spend on the phone so you can budget appropriately.
Consider using a phone card with your cell phone to subsidize charges.
High phone bills are frequent surprise contributors to fees for studying abroad. To avoid making this expensive mistake, know your habits, do your research and plan accordingly, Duncan said.