problem: I need to stay in touch with family and friends and/or business associates

solution: There are many. Read on, get informed

Just do a google search for cell phones and foreign countries. You will experience information overload that will probably leave you feeling more confused. If you’re looking for answers to how to stay in touch during your vagabonding or nomadic pursuits – we’re here to help.

It really shouldn’t be that difficult, and in fact, it’s not. What’s tough is sorting out which of the many options will be best for you. In this article, we will explore some of the options available to the neo-nomad, their advantages and disadvantages and hopefully get you on the right path to keeping in touch with the people you want to.

The first step in figuring out which type of communication method you want to use. To do that, you should be aware of which ones are available.

The mobile (cell) phone
in summary:

advantages:
You already know how to use it
Extremely convenient
Widely available – in some parts of the world where electricity availability is sketchy at best, mobile phone communications are available.

disadvantages
was confusing – before you read this article
pricing for calls is unclear
working out how to dial from/to a mobile phone can be a hassle

the scoop
Cell phones in the U.S. use different frequency and protocol than the phones in most other countries. The technicality of all of this is outside the scope of this article – and we don’t want to leave you any more confused than you may already be, so just trust that they call them “mobile” phones for a good reason – it’s not the same as spelling colour differently – or saying ‘zed’ instead of ‘z’(ee). The technology shouldn’t be important – you might not understand how a car engine works, but you are still able to use your car, right?

Buying a mobile phone and air time is far easier than it might seem. It is also reasonably economical. The easiest way to approach this is to simply buy a phone from a vendor at your destination. Vendors run the gamut from branded stores to people selling phones from card tables on the street. Just verify that the phone you are buying is ‘unlocked’ – meaning you will be able to use it on any network. If it’s not unlocked, you can usually find someone to unlock it for you for a nominal fee. Phones are available with a wide array of features – expect to find the same features or more as you would find on phones back in the U.S.

Problem: I don’t want my sensitive data to fall into the wrong hands.

Solution: Secure your sensitive personal data and take precautions while using public computers.

Increasingly, our work/personal lives are becoming irreversibly intertwined. This can be especially true for the freelancing neo-nomad who really has no dividing line between work/leisure time. Because of this, we at The Life Nomadic believe it is important to come up with a strategy for securing your essential data while traveling.