International text messaging: How to stay in touch while traveling without breaking the bank
Whether you travel internationally for work or pleasure, exorbitant roaming data rates mean you’ll probably turn off your mobile while travelling. Or at least restrict when you use it. But what if you want to stay in touch and keep sending and receiving text messages with your family or mates?
Web-based text messaging is the answer.
NetMessenger, our online messenger application, only requires a web browser and internet connection. You can send text messages over Wi-Fi from your mobile, tablet, or laptop without paying international mobile or SMS rates. We have many customers using our service for personal texting for this reason, and because it can be much cheaper than texting with a standard mobile plan.
And depending where you travel, Wi-Fi Internet access can be free. Many major cities offer free Wi-Fi with hundreds of hot-spots throughout the area. Paris, for example, has over 260 free hot-spots in public locations.
If there isn’t free Wi-Fi, then there are services allowing you to purchase access to hot spots around the world. A popular Wi-Fi access service is Boingo, with over a million hot spots spread around the globe. Boingo charges a low monthly fee for access (it varies by region) but you can cancel anytime.
All this makes sending messages easy and inexpensive while traveling. But if you want a reply, you’ll need to make sure you have a virtual mobile number. You’ll find all the messages you receive in your inbox in NetMessenger, much like your normal email inbox. In fact, you can forward all your text messages to email if you want. Interested in seeing how it all works? Sign up for an always free account or contact us and well help you get started.
Once you’re set up you’ll have no excuses for not staying in touch, when you travel. Unless you’re having too much fun and leave your mobile behind.
Related Articles
Travel Agents Should use SMS Messaging During the Off Season
Now that the peak travel season is over, how can travel agents stay top of mind in their customers? If you look around, you’ll notice everyone seems to have a mobile. That means SMS is the perfect way to reach them and make sure you’re not forgotten.
Personalising Your SMS Marketing
Using people’s names in marketing is great. It does provide a certain level of personalisation that can get people more interested in what you’re sending them. Of course in text messaging, you don’t always have the room for a name, your message, and the required opt out information … usually there just isn’t enough room. So how can you make your marketing messages personal?
Can Travel Agents Use SMS Messaging to Stay in Business?
“European travel agents don’t like it”. That’s a statement made by one of the gentleman at my table during the mCommerce Summit earlier this month. He is from Cruise America, a successful RV (camper) vacation rental company based in Arizona, but with 123 locations around the US. We were talking about his company and their online and mobile reservation options.
Proof SMS Messaging Gets Results: Business Growth
Can something as simple as adding SMS messaging propel your business to higher levels than you thought possible? That’s what happened to these two companies. Read the last blog in the Results series to see what happened, and how you can start growing your business too.
How the Travel Industry can use A2P Messaging
The travel industry has made some inroads into using SMS messaging, but hasn’t yet taken real advantage of the potential of A2P messaging. Find out how it can be used to save time and provide the high-quality service today’s mobile travellers expect.
Hоw Cоасh Tоur Companies Can Use SMS Mаrkеtіng
3 Examples of Using SMS Messaging for Hotel Customer Satisfaction Surveys
Even great hotels sometimes have a mix up or some sort of problem that can affect a guest. And with social media and hotel review sites, chances are a disgruntled guest isn’t going to keep their complaints to themselves. Here are three examples of how to use SMS messaging to gauge customer satisfaction.
SMS Marketing for Hotels – Upsells and Cross-Sells
With the summer peak season fast approaching, now is the perfect time for hotels to keep in touch with their guests and take advantage of upselling and cross-selling techniques to increase revenues. In this article, we demonstrate how to use SMS marketing to make the most of the opportunities in both and unlock added value for your business.
SMS Marketing for Travel Agents – the Key to a Sold Out Summer Season
How SMS Marketing can help guarantee a sold out summer season for independent travel agents and tour operators. In this article we explore how small and medium-sized independent companies in the travel and tourism sector can take advantage of the opportunities offered by SMS marketing to ensure a sold out summer season.
5 Ways Hotels Can Use SMS Marketing to Increase Brand Loyalty
More and more industries are tuning in to the advantages that SMS marketing can offer their business. SMS marketing is not only useful for acquiring new customers, it can be used to increase brand loyalty as well. This is particularly true for the hospitality industry, which faces challenges unique from other industries, in that they are on the front line when it comes to delivering customer service.